Vice President, Legal - Natural Gas

Tallgrass•Houston, TX

10d

About The Position

The Vice President, Legal manages a team providing comprehensive legal support to the natural gas business segments, including interstate regulated pipelines, gathering and processing, and trading. The role advises on matters involving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Natural Gas Act, other applicable federal, state, and local energy regulations, natural gas trading, and commercial contracting. The successful candidate will both manage the team and actively work on projects, and will serve as a key internal legal resource on company regulatory matters. The position includes responsibility for the FERC Compliance Program and regulatory filings, proceedings, and litigation, as well as drafting and negotiating commercial, operational, and gas-related agreements. The employee may work non-traditional hours, must carry a cell phone and be available during working and non-working hours, and may travel overnight occasionally. Supervisory responsibility is included.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an accredited institution.
Fifteen years of relevant legal experience and command of FERC rules, regulations, and procedures relating to natural gas pipelines.
Experience working at a highly regulated energy pipeline or other midstream energy business.
Experience supporting natural gas pipelines and midstream businesses.
Intermediate proficiency with MS Office applications, which may include Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Licensed to practice law in the United States and eligible to practice in the state of residency.
Valid driver's license and driving record satisfactory to the Company and its insurers for travel.
Ability to work independently and quickly, take initiative, perform multiple tasks, and balance competing demanding deadlines.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to listen carefully.
Strong analytical skills and logical thought processes.
Ability to write clearly and effectively.
Proficiency with relevant legal research tools, including FERC eLibrary and Lexis.
Ability to work with a team, take management direction, adhere to work schedules and rules, and maintain attention to detail.
Ability to organize and prioritize daily work and meet strict deadlines.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
Ability to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.
Ability to interact with a wide variety of people with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.
Regular, dependable attendance and consistently high performance.
Ability to clear a drug screen and complete a background check, including a credit report for certain positions, after an offer and before employment.

Responsibilities

Manage a team providing legal support to natural gas business segments, while actively working on projects.
Advise on compliance with applicable FERC and other regulatory tariffs, regulations, orders, policy statements, and standards of conduct.
Draft commercial contracts supporting regulated businesses, including precedent agreements and storage agreements.
Draft, review, and negotiate operational agreements, including interconnection agreements, operational balancing agreements, and nondisclosure agreements.
Draft pleadings, open season notices, tariff changes, transmittal letters, regulatory applications, comments, and responses to proposed rulemakings or inquiries.
Manage the FERC Compliance Program, including ensuring compliance with the plan, conducting annual training, and addressing non-compliance events.
Provide real-time advice on regulatory implications of commercial arrangements and opportunities.
Interpret tariffs, contracts, and other governing documents to identify limitations, restrictions, and opportunities.
Facilitate and oversee outside counsel and expert witnesses in FERC and other regulatory proceedings involving natural gas.
Coordinate or assist with preparation of testimony, statements, schedules, data responses, pleadings, settlement negotiations, and litigation related to FERC rate cases.
Manage regulatory litigation, including drafting discovery responses, objections, and briefs.
Negotiate NAESBs and ISDAs.
Support disputes or force majeure events under NAESBs.
Draft, revise, and amend gas purchase contracts, gas gathering and processing contracts, reimbursement agreements, and other agreements concerning gas gathering and processing and NGL marketing.
Assist with regulatory filings and postings.
Attend and participate in staff, internal, customer, investor, partner, third-party, FERC, and state commission meetings as requested.
Perform other daily, weekly, monthly, or special-project duties as identified and defined.
Work non-traditional hours as needed and remain available by cell phone during working and non-working hours.
Travel overnight occasionally as required.

Benefits

Industry-competitive pay.
Health insurance package options, including Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts.
Infertility coverage.
Parental leave.
401(k) with up to a 6% match that vests immediately, plus an employer discretionary contribution of up to 4%.
Wellness programs and mental health resources.
Employer-paid life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Critical illness and accident insurance.
Vacation, sick days, paid caregiver leave, and paid volunteer and bereavement time off.
Identity theft protection.
Annual discretionary bonus.
Tuition reimbursement program.
Company-paid holidays and floating holidays.
Company vehicle, if applicable.
Employee discounts on vehicles, tires, cellular plans, and more.
Networking and employee engagement events.
Personal development opportunities to grow a career based on strengths and interests.