Senior Counsel-Transmission EPC Projects

CenterPoint Energy • Houston, TX

8d

About The Position

The Senior Counsel, Transmission EPC Projects will advise on and negotiate complex commercial agreements for electric transmission capital projects serving large-load growth, with a focus on EPC, construction, procurement, engineering, and related project agreements. This role offers the opportunity to work at the center of a busy, high-volume transmission buildout, helping deliver major infrastructure that supports safe, reliable, and resilient energy service for the communities CenterPoint Energy serves while contributing to the Company’s customer-driven, 10-year capital investment plan of more than $65 billion. This attorney will work closely with legal, supply chain, engineering, construction, project controls, regulatory, real estate, environmental, finance, commercial, and operations teams to drive practical legal and commercial alignment across contract formation, project execution, claims avoidance, dispute resolution, and closeout. This role will also help shape CenterPoint Energy’s transmission EPC legal function through templates, playbooks, training, contracting processes, and practical guidance for project teams.

Requirements

• Requires a J.D. (Doctor of Jurisprudence) degree from law school at an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant legal experience involving EPC, construction, infrastructure, energy, utility, industrial, procurement, project development, transmission, substation, oil and gas, or other capital project contracts.
• Significant experience with major capital project contracts is preferred.
• Substantial relevant non-legal capital project contracts experience may count toward this requirement.
• Strong working knowledge of EPC contracts, construction agreements, procurement agreements, major equipment supply agreements, and related project execution documents.
• Experience supporting project execution and construction-related commercial issues, including change order management, warranty issues, schedule impacts, delay claims, performance security, liens, force majeure, payment disputes, contractor performance, acceptance criteria, and closeout.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in one or more of the following areas is helpful, but not required: electric utilities, transmission, substations, large load, interconnection, facilities extension, renewable energy, battery storage, oil and gas, LNG, petrochemical, industrial infrastructure, mission-critical infrastructure, manufacturing, or other complex capital projects.
• Experience with Owner’s Engineer agreements, engineering services agreements, facilities extension agreements, interconnection agreements, EPCM, design-build, construction management, operations and maintenance, AIA-based construction documents, or similar project agreements.
• Experience with open-book EPC structures, conversion-to-lump-sum pricing, contractor entitlement issues, contested change orders, claims avoidance, and informal or formal dispute resolution.
• Construction litigation, arbitration, or mediation experience is a plus.
• Prior non-legal experience, training, or certifications in engineering, construction management, project management, project controls, procurement, field construction, contract management, technical operations, or capital project execution.
• Experience contributing to contracting standards, risk frameworks, claims strategies, governance processes, or legal playbooks for major capital projects is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiation and legal risk assessment for assigned EPC-related agreements supporting a diverse portfolio of transmission capital projects, including commercial terms, progressive EPC structures, risk allocation, open-book pricing discipline, and contracting strategy.
• Draft, review, and negotiate Master EPC agreements, subordinate scopes and addenda, complex work orders, interim bridging agreements, limited notices to proceed, construction agreements, engineering services agreements, procurement agreements, major equipment supply agreements, and related project documents.
• Provide practical legal support throughout project execution, including change orders, schedule impacts, delay claims, warranty issues, performance security, liens, force majeure, payment disputes, contractor performance, acceptance criteria, turnover obligations, and closeout.
• Partner with supply chain, engineering, construction, project controls, operations, regulatory, real estate, environmental, finance, and commercial teams on scopes of work, pricing models, milestones, liquidated damages, bonuses, warranties, bonds, insurance, indemnities, reporting cadence, change processes, and project risk allocation.
• Identify legal and commercial risks in EPC and construction arrangements and recommend practical mitigation strategies consistent with Company policies, project objectives, and risk tolerance.
• Develop and refine EPC templates, playbooks, training, contracting processes, and practical guidance for transmission project teams.

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
• 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: Senior