Senior Counsel

Pedernales Electric Cooperative•Johnson City, TN

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is responsible for providing legal advice to the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel, the management team and other employees, as needed. The Senior Counsel will develop and manage the internal legal strategy planning for power supply contracts, electricity delivery, operations, tariffs, relationships, regulations and agreements. They will also manage and direct real estate matters and physical facilities arrangements, assist with researching and responding to legal and governance issues, and manage legal matters involving facilities, financing, bond and debt obligations. Additionally, this role involves managing and directing litigation support, serving as back up to the Associate General Counsel, and researching and resolving a broad range of legal issues. The Senior Counsel will provide advice on legal risks, attend Cooperative and Board of Directors meetings, monitor industry legal issues, ensure compliance and ethics standards, draft and review legal documents, and respond to legal inquiries. This role also includes preparing and presenting status reports, coordinating with outside counsel, ensuring adherence to procedures and quality standards, supervising administrative staff in the absence of the Associate General Counsel, and supervising employees in handling complex problems and disputes. The Senior Counsel will also implement corporate and departmental policies, teach job duties, interpret policies, develop operating procedures, establish work priorities, establish metrics, prepare monthly reports, coordinate with other departments, travel to Cooperative offices, maintain confidentiality, and stay abreast of technology changes. This position requires regular and prompt attendance and may perform other related duties as necessary or assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
Juris Doctor Degree
Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas
Ten years of experience practicing law
Valid Driver’s License
Knowledge of business and management principles including strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques and budgeting
Knowledge of using computer systems, which may include setting up and using hardware and software programs, entering data or processing information
Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations that affect the utility industry
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service
Skilled in monitoring and managing performance
Skilled in establishing and communicating performance expectations and metrics
Skilled in time management
Skilled in prioritizing and managing changing priorities
Skilled in anticipating, identifying, analyzing and resolving conflict and problems
Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
Ability to listen and understand information verbally and in writing

Responsibilities

Develop and manage the internal legal strategy planning for power supply contracts, electricity delivery, operations, tariffs, relationships, regulations and agreements
Manage and direct real estate matters and physical facilities arrangements
Assist the General Counsel or Associate General Counsel with researching and responding to legal and governance issues
Manage and direct legal matters involving facilities, financing, bond and debt obligations
Manage and direct litigation support in assigned cases, including discovery responses, witness preparation, strategy, mediation, negotiation and resolution
Serve as back up to the Associate General Counsel
Research and resolve a broad range of legal issues for management and Cooperative departments
Provide advice to the management team on legal risks, mitigation options and actions
Attend and participate in Cooperative and Board of Directors meetings, as needed
Monitor and maintain awareness of industry legal issues and update management
Ensure compliance and ethics standards by assisting with administration of Ethics and Compliance Reporting and advising and consulting with the Ethics and Compliance Officer
Draft and review legal documents, policies and negotiate contracts
Research and respond to legal inquiries, subpoenas and other requests
Prepare and present status of Legal Department programs to management and the Board of Directors as required
Monitor and ensure compliance with ethics and other policies and initiatives
Coordinate and monitor activities with outside counsel
Ensure adherence to proper procedures, quality standards, deadlines and proper procedures, correcting errors and problems
Provide supervision and direction to the administrative staff in the absence of the Associate General Counsel to ensure adherence to proper procedures, quality standards and deadlines
Supervise employees and provide guidance in handling difficult or complex problems and in resolving escalated complaints or disputes
Supervise and implement corporate and departmental policies, procedures and service standards in conjunction with management
Teach and instruct employees in job duties and company policies
Interpret and communicate work procedures and company policies to staff
Develop and review operating procedures
Establish work priorities and activities
Establish metrics and prepare monthly reports
Coordinate activities with other departments
Travel to various Cooperative offices across the service territory
Maintain the confidentiality of information
Stay abreast of changes in technology
Demonstrate regular and prompt attendance
Performs other related duties as necessary or assigned
Manage and direct strategic and legal management over assigned subject areas providing direction to other department personnel in assigned subject areas.