General Counsel (In-House)

Georgia Ports Authority•Savannah, GA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Chief Financial Officer, and in consultation with the Georgia Attorney General's Office or external counsel, the General Counsel assists in the oversight of legal affairs, risk management/sustainability, compliance, contracts, and grants functions for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). This person will provide legal advice, counsel, and strategic guidance to executive leadership, GPA Board. Coordinates with other GPA executives on enterprise risk and operational initiatives, and ensures regulatory compliance, manages and mitigates organizational risk, and supports the Authority's mission of driving economic growth through safe, efficient, and innovative port operations. The General Counsel exercises a high degree of initiative and judgement in developing, coordinating, organizing, planning and executing policies, programs, methods and procedures relating to legal compliance and administration and associated activities. Upholds the values of the GPA to promote Safety, Integrity, Respect, Community, Creativity and Opportunity. Promotes a safe work environment by participating in safety initiatives and reporting unsafe conditions and behaviors.

Requirements

High ethical standards and sound judgment in a public governance environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
Understanding of regulatory environments affecting port, logistics and stakeholder operations.
Strong business acumen with the ability to make decisions tactfully under pressure, balancing legal risk and operational objectives.
Exceptional communication, leadership, negotiation and strategic thinking skills.
Proven ability to manage complex legal matters and high-stakes risk scenarios.
The ability to interact and communicate effectively, respectfully, and professionally with the GPA staff on all levels of administration including management and co-workers required.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Willingness and ability to travel, be on call, work nights and weekends as needed.
7-9 years Progressively responsible legal experience with significant experience in corporate, government, regulatory, contracts, insurance, litigation management, compliance, and public authority matter Required
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school Required
TWIC - Transportation Worker Identification Credential Required
Driver's License - Valid state driver's license Required
Member of the State Bar of Georgia, or admission within a timeframe acceptable to GPA Required Upon Hire

Responsibilities

Serve as the legal advisor to the President and CEO, executive leadership team, and GPA Board of Directors.
Coordinate with outside counsel, as needed, on strategic legal guidance on commercial transactions, contracts, governance, regulatory matters, and major initiatives.
Develop and maintain legal review protocols for contracts, procurement matters, grants, real estate matters, public-private partnerships, and other significant transactions.
Serve as a liaison between GPA, the Georgia Attorney General's Office, and external counsel regarding litigation, claims, and dispute resolution.
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including maritime, environmental, labor, and public authority regulations.
Represent GPA in legal matters with regulatory agencies, governmental bodies, and industry stakeholders.
Manage relationships with external legal counsel, insurers, brokers, and consultants.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments impacting port operations and advise leadership accordingly.
In coordination with the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, develop and lead a comprehensive risk management program aligned with GPA's strategic objectives and provide legal and governance support for sustainability initiatives related to carbon reduction, energy efficiency, waste management and water conservation.
Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, financial, legal, environmental and reputational risks.
Oversee insurance programs, including property, casualty, marine, liability, and self-insured risk structures.
Lead incident response and crisis management planning in coordination with operational leadership.
Provide leadership on the design and execution of grant policies to ensure compliance.
Ensure all applications strictly conform to funding agency parameters, instructions, and electronic portals.
Monitor active award spending against proposed budgets to ensure costs are reasonable, allocable, and allowable.
Supervise the timely preparation and submission of technical progress reports and closeouts.
Establish and maintain compliance frameworks, policies, and internal controls.
Ensure adherence to public sector governance standards, ethics requirements, and transparency obligations.
Advise on procurement, Georgia Open Records Act, record retention contracting, grants administration and public-private partnership structures.
Support GPA Board governance, including preparation of materials, resolutions, legal opinions, and work with outside counsel as needed.