Director and Associate General Counsel

CenterPoint Energy • Houston, TX

63d

About The Position

The Associate General Counsel – Commercial will lead the Company’s Commercial legal team and serve as a senior legal advisor supporting the execution of the Company’s $66.7 billion 10-year capital plan. This role will oversee and provide strategic legal support for variety of commercial and transactional legal matters, including equipment purchases, services, technology, supply chain and other business matters. This role works closely with executive leadership across-functional business teams to structure, negotiate and execute transactions that advance business objectives while appropriately identifying, allocating and mitigating legal, commercial, operational, and regulatory risk. This position also is responsible for developing the commercial legal team, improving contracting processes, supporting governance and compliance expectations, and delivering practical, business-oriented legal advice in a fast-paced utility and energy environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and a J.D. (Doctor of Jurisprudence) degree required from an accredited law school.
• Must be licensed to practice law and in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; eligibility to practice as in-house counsel in the applicable jurisdiction is required.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible legal experience, including significant experience advising on complex commercial transactions, construction, procurement, supply chain, operations, capital projects, or other business-critical agreements.
• Deep knowledge of commercial contracting principles, with demonstrated expertise in risk allocation, indemnities, limitations of liability, warranties, insurance, payment terms, performance obligations, remedies, change management, dispute resolution, and governance requirements.
• Experience leading, managing, or mentoring attorneys and legal professionals, including demonstrated ability to build trust with business clients, set priorities, develop talent, and drive performance in a collaborative environment.
• Excellent negotiation, drafting, analytical, communication, and executive advisory skills, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical, and business-focused guidance.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders, business partners, project teams, supply chain professionals, finance personnel, outside counsel, and other stakeholders in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, sound judgment, leadership presence, problem-solving ability, and capacity to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, significant matters, and competing deadlines while maintaining responsiveness, quality, and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the energy, utility, infrastructure, construction, engineering, procurement, or regulated industry sectors is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and manage the Commercial legal team, including setting priorities, providing mentorship and coaching, allocating resources, and ensuring high-quality, timely legal support for business clients.
• Serve as the primary senior legal advisor for complex commercial transactions supporting capital projects, supply chain, operations, construction, procurement, technology, real estate, and other strategic business needs.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and oversee a broad range of sophisticated commercial agreements, including, construction, equipment purchase, master services, professional services, consulting, technology, licensing, confidentiality, procurement, settlement, and other business-critical agreements.
• Partner with executive leadership, supply chain, finance, operations, engineering, project management, compliance, and other stakeholders to develop practical legal strategies that support business objectives and protect the Company’s interests.
• Identify, evaluate, and advise on legal, commercial, regulatory, operational, performance, indemnity, insurance, warranty, payment, lien, force majeure, change order, schedule, and dispute-related risks in commercial arrangements.
• Support all phases of major projects and transactions, including planning, procurement strategy, contract development, negotiation, execution, implementation, project administration, claims avoidance, dispute resolution, and closeout.
• Develop, improve, and maintain contracting playbooks, templates, policies, approval processes, risk frameworks, and related tools to promote consistency, efficiency, compliance, and sound risk allocation across the organization.
• Coordinate with internal subject matter experts and outside counsel, as appropriate, to manage specialized legal issues, significant negotiations, disputes, and strategic transactions.
• Monitor relevant legal, regulatory, market, and industry developments and advise business partners on impacts to commercial contracting, procurement strategy, project execution, and risk management.
• Develop and deliver training to legal, supply chain, project, and business teams on contracting best practices, risk allocation, legal compliance, and commercial legal processes.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule
• paid holidays
• paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs
• an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs
• tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director