VP Legal Transmission

American Electric Power•Austin, TX

3d•$221,489 - $287,935•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President Legal, Transmission serves as the principal legal advisor to the President of Transmission and the Transmission leadership team. Reporting directly to the President of Transmission, this role provides strategic, practical, and business-focused legal counsel supporting Transmission operations, investments, growth initiatives, and overall business objectives. The Vice President is responsible for leading legal strategy across commercial transactions, procurement and contracting, real estate matters, and other significant legal and business issues impacting the Transmission organization. This individual partners closely with executive leadership to structure and negotiate complex transactions, assess business opportunities, manage legal and commercial risk, and support informed decision-making. The role leads a small, specialized legal team, expected to include two direct reports with primary responsibility for real estate, easements, rights-of-way, and procurement contracting matters. The Vice President also works closely with the company's broader legal organization and manages outside counsel as needed to ensure efficient, high-quality legal support and alignment with enterprise legal standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree from an accredited law school.
Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
Ability to obtain any additional licenses or authorizations required for the role.
Minimum of 14 years of legal experience in private practice, corporate, government, or regulatory environments.
Significant experience advising senior leaders on complex commercial, transactional, and business matters.
Strong background in negotiating commercial agreements and supporting strategic transactions.
Experience supporting procurement, construction, infrastructure, real estate, energy, or other capital-intensive operations.
Proven leadership experience managing legal professionals and outside counsel.
Ability to assess and communicate legal risk to support sound business decisions.
Experience working effectively across legal, operational, financial, and commercial functions.
Strategic legal and business judgment.
Strong commercial, transactional, and contract negotiation experience.
Ability to assess complex issues and deliver practical business solutions.
Executive presence with strong communication and influencing skills.
Proven leadership and team development capabilities.
Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, outside counsel, and legal resources.
Commitment to ethics, governance, compliance, and safety.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting utilities, energy, infrastructure, or other capital-intensive industries.
Experience with transmission, major projects, or regulated operations.
Experience with strategic transactions, procurement, construction, and real estate matters.
Experience serving as lead counsel to a business unit and partnering with enterprise legal teams.
Experience managing complex, cross-functional legal matters.
Advanced degree in business, finance, public policy, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Serve as the principal legal advisor to the President of Transmission and leadership team.
Provide strategic counsel on business priorities, investments, risk, and organizational matters.
Translate legal issues into practical business solutions.
Identify emerging risks and opportunities and recommend proactive strategies.
Lead legal support for complex transactions, partnerships, investments, and commercial initiatives.
Structure, negotiate, and draft key commercial agreements.
Advise business leaders throughout the transaction lifecycle, including due diligence, negotiation, and closing.
Provide guidance on contract disputes, interpretation, and risk allocation.
Advise on procurement strategies, sourcing activities, and commercial risk.
Draft, review, and negotiate vendor, construction, supply, technology, and service agreements.
Partner with business teams to support contract performance and risk management.
Establish contracting standards and best practices.
Oversee legal matters involving acquisitions, easements, rights-of-way, title, and land use.
Advise on real estate issues related to projects, operations, and asset strategy.
Lead resolution of significant property disputes and risks.
Direct legal resources supporting real estate activities.
Lead legal risk identification, assessment, and mitigation efforts.
Advise on regulatory, governance, compliance, and policy matters.
Support executive decision-making, approvals, and risk acceptance processes.
Promote ethical conduct and sound business judgment.
Advise on significant commercial, procurement, and real estate disputes.
Develop dispute resolution strategies aligned with business objectives.
Manage outside counsel, legal budgets, and specialized legal resources.
Coordinate litigation and complex legal matters as needed.
Lead and develop a small legal team supporting the Transmission business.
Establish priorities, allocate resources, and ensure responsive legal support.
Coach, mentor, and develop team members.
Foster collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Partner with enterprise legal teams to align strategy, policies, and standards.
Collaborate with internal subject matter experts on complex matters.
Leverage enterprise resources while supporting Transmission business priorities.
Escalate matters with broader enterprise impact as appropriate.