Counsel - Procurement & Project Execution

Tallgrass•Lakewood, CO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Tallgrass is seeking an attorney to provide legal support for traditional midstream operations and energy transition ventures, with a primary focus on services, procurement and construction contracting, project support, procurement-related cost enforcement and recovery, insurance and risk management, contract lifecycle process improvement, and special projects. The Counsel serves as a legal partner to Procurement, Project Management, Operations, Commercial, Finance, and other internal stakeholders, supporting the development, negotiation, administration, interpretation, enforcement, and closeout of procurement and project-related agreements. The role advises on contract compliance, change orders, claims documentation, preservation of legal rights, cost recovery, and dispute avoidance and resolution. It also provides training and day-to-day guidance to business personnel on contracting processes and risk issues, and supports responsible use of contract management and AI-enabled tools such as DocJuris to improve consistency, efficiency, and risk visibility. The ideal candidate is nimble, resourceful, organized, and motivated to support energy transition projects. The role is based in Tallgrass’s Leawood, Kansas, or Houston, Texas, office. Occasional overnight travel may be required, and the employee must carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours as needed. A post-offer drug screen and background check are required; a credit report may be included for certain positions.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an accredited institution.
At least 5 years of experience in-house or with a law firm supporting corporate and business operations.
Significant experience in construction, procurement, and project support.
Experience reviewing, negotiating, drafting, interpreting, and enforcing procurement and construction contracts.
Experience advising on contract administration, contractor claims, change orders, invoice disputes, cost recovery, and preservation of contractual remedies.
Working understanding of risk management and commercial insurance programs.
Familiarity with federal and, as applicable to the Company, state laws and regulations governing the energy field.
Experience partnering with business stakeholders to develop practical contracting processes, templates, and training.
Experience using contract lifecycle management systems, redlining tools, and online legal research tools, including Practical Law, Westlaw, and Lexis.
Intermediate proficiency in MS Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.
Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. state.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record satisfactory to the Company and its insurers, if travel is required.
Strong analytical skills and logical thought processes, with the ability to identify legal, regulatory, commercial, and compliance issues.
Sound judgment balancing legal risk, business needs, project execution realities, and commercial objectives.
Ability to organize and prioritize work, maintain strict confidentiality, work independently and collaboratively, take initiative, and complete multiple tasks under strict deadlines.
Ability to appreciate how internal processes, documentation, and Company risk profile affect procurement contracting and project outcomes; identify contract administration gaps affecting cost control, claim preservation, contractor accountability, and dispute posture.
Ability to explain legal concepts clearly to non-lawyers and provide practical, business-oriented training.
Ability to use contract review platforms, workflow systems, and AI-assisted tools efficiently while applying legal judgment and verifying outputs for accuracy and policy compliance.
Ability to meet the described physical requirements, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.
Successful completion of the required post-offer drug screen and background check; a credit report may be included for certain positions.

Nice To Haves

Experience with DocJuris or similar contract review, workflow, or AI-assisted legal technology tools; ability to learn and use such tools effectively is strongly desired.
Seven or more years of experience supporting corporate and business operations.
Experience with IT contracts and drafting statements of work that protect the Company’s interests.
Previous in-house experience with an interstate gas pipeline company.
Experience in energy, pipeline, construction, infrastructure, or other highly regulated business environments.
Experience supporting major capital projects, contractor claims, lien issues, schedule disputes, cost recovery efforts, and project closeout.
Ability to translate recurring legal issues into scalable processes, training, and operational improvements.

Responsibilities

Negotiate or assist stakeholders with selecting, preparing, reviewing, and negotiating goods, facilities, and service agreements; equipment purchases; facilities leases; construction contracts; statements of work; work orders; amendments; change orders; and other vendor agreements.
Assist with bid documents, requests for proposals, scopes of work, pricing frameworks, contractor qualification materials, and contract exhibits for construction, operations, maintenance, and IT engagements.
Provide legal support throughout the project lifecycle, including project kickoff, procurement strategy, template management, contractor engagement, contract administration, performance issues, change management, claims documentation, and project closeout.
Advise on interpretation, enforcement, and administration of procurement and project contracts to protect the Company’s contractual rights and commercial position.
Review pricing structures and payment terms; identify noncompliance, unsupported charges, scope creep, unauthorized work, and deviations from agreed commercial terms; advise on documentation and resolution of disputed charges; and support positions concerning backcharges, offsets, invoice rejections, cost disallowances, liquidated damages, warranty enforcement, and other contractual remedies.
Partner with Procurement, Projects, Finance, and business teams to improve cost validation, approval authority, change order discipline, and claim preservation controls.
Assist with enforcing and improving contract governance processes and playbooks for procurement contracting, project support, and cost enforcement.
Advise internal stakeholders on key contractual provisions and provide legal counsel on corporate activities to support compliance, protect legal rights, and keep operations within the limits prescribed by law.
Assist in defending the corporation against suits or claims and prosecuting claims against others, including vendor and contractor claims, procurement disputes, project delays, deficient performance, and cost recovery.
Prepare reports, presentations, summaries, risk assessments, and briefing materials for the Assistant General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and General Counsel.
Collaborate with Legal Department attorneys and work independently with Procurement, Engineering, Project Management, Operations, Commercial, Finance, Internal Audit, IT, and HSE.
Attend staff, project, contractor, claim strategy, and meetings with outside counsel, counterparties, and opposing parties and their counsel.
As needed, manage and direct outside counsel on vendor and project disputes, lien issues, construction claims, and procurement-related litigation or arbitration.
Develop, update, and deliver practical legal training for non-lawyer personnel; coach contract owners and business stakeholders on issue spotting, documentation, and internal contracting processes.
Support use and continuous improvement of contract review and workflow technologies, including DocJuris and other AI-enabled or automated legal tools, subject to Company policy and Legal Department guidance.
Help create and maintain clause libraries, negotiation guidance, approval matrices, intake procedures, and standard operating procedures for procurement and project support contracting.
Communicate tactfully and professionally, maintain regular and dependable attendance and strong performance, and maintain regard for personal, company, employee, and public safety.
Work non-traditional hours as needed and perform other assigned duties and special projects.