Senior Counsel

We are engineers, high line workers, power plant managers, accountants, electricians, project coordinators, risk analysts, customer service operators, community representatives, safety and security specialists, communicators, human resources partners, information technology technicians and much, much more. We are 3,500 people committed to enhancing the lives of the communities we serve. Together, we are powering the growth and success of our community progress every day!

Position Summary

CPS Energy is seeking a Director, Senior Counsel to join the Legal Services team to provide legal advice to the company on a wide variety of legal matters and manage assigned team member(s). The successful candidate will be a skilled lawyer who can provide proactive advice and strategic input to internal clients on a number of complex issues, communicate effectively with clients, customers and external stakeholders, and operate independently while at the same time observing the need for close internal coordination and communication with peers, clients and upper management. This position reports to the VP & Deputy General Counsel (DGC).

Tasks and Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide advice and strategic input to internal clients on a number of complex issues, communicate effectively with internal business clients and external stakeholders, and operate independently while at the same time observing the need for close internal coordination and communication with peers, clients, and upper management.
• Develop solutions and guide internal business clients along the path to implementation by performing a structured legal analysis for each issue presented.
• Proactively identify and escalate key roadblocks to the DGC early in the process.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with business clients to proactively assist with achieving business objectives in a high-volume, dynamic environment.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements.
• Represent the company in pre-litigation and litigation matters.
• Performs other duties as required.

Additional Responsibilities

• Represents the company on legal matters as assigned.
• Engages and collaborates with other legal experts within the company and - at times - outside counsel.
• Applies critical thinking to review non-legal material for legal implications that may pose a risk to the organization.
• Prepares supporting legal documents, such as agreements, memoranda, policies and procedures, and other filings.
• Directs staff in the completion of tasks.
• Provide legal counsel and advice regarding organizational compliance with all applicable laws, statutes, policies and procedures.
• Negotiate, review and prepare documents for commercial transactions such as procurement of goods and services, financial agreements, real estate leases, etc.
• Oversee and manage complex business matters including litigation with responsibility for managing outside counsel and controlling costs.
• Advise clients concerning the effect of and guide their participation in state and federal regulatory proceedings, including contested cases and rulemaking proceedings.
• Advise clients concerning the applicability of and restrictions on business transactions arising from Texas law governing municipalities and municipally-owned utilities.
• Understand and provide advice to clients concerning legal and regulatory compliance issues and assist in preparing for audits by regulators.
• Research, advise and prepare memoranda and reports to clients concerning legal issues, regulatory and market activities and electric and gas operations in monopoly and competitive markets.

Minimum Skills

• Texas State Bar license (or ability to obtain such licensure within 12 months) and member in good standing with the applicable state bar.
• Demonstrated experience as a practicing lawyer.
• Legal experience counseling clients regarding employment law issues, preferably with a large law firm or a corporate legal department.
• Extensive knowledge of employment laws and experience giving advice and counsel to HR professionals on employment matters.
• Strong communication skills, particularly drafting, negotiation and responsiveness.
• Unquestioned ethics and integrity.
• Ability to handle both long term and short-term goals simultaneously.
• Ability to provide practical, creative advice and high-quality work product in a fast-moving business environment.
• Strong business acumen and ability to understand business consequences of legal advice.
• Ability to work with ambiguity about legal requirements under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a team, including interfacing effectively with other members of the legal department, other departments, senior management, vendors, and external partners.
• Valid Class C Texas Driver's License with ability to maintain license and a safe driving record history that complies with CPS Energy's policies, procedures, safety standards and applicable state laws and regulations.
• Critical skills include excellent time mgmt skills; eff analytical, org skills; learn strat; speak; instruct; active listen; coord; critical think; active learn; mgmt of per resr; monitor; read compre; soc perceptive; comp prob solving; & presentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise and strength in an additional legal specialty including Commercial, Transactional, Litigation, State and Federal Regulatory, Environmental, Energy, and Privacy/Data Security.
• Strong preference will be given to multi-skilled lawyers with knowledge of the Texas energy markets and municipal procurement in Texas.
• Knowledge of Texas energy markets and municipal procurement in Texas.
• Experience with the Texas Public Information Act ("Open Records") and the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Competencies

• Demonstrating Initiative
• Communicates Effectively
• Evaluating and Implementing Ideas
• Delivering High Quality Work
• Learning Quickly
• Acting Decisively

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university and J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school with strong academic credentials.

Working Environment

Indoor work, operating computer, manual dexterity, talking, hearing, repetitive motion. Use of personal computing equipment, telephone, multi- functioning printer and calculator.

Ability to travel to and from meetings, training sessions or other business related events. After hours work may be required.

Physical Demands

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

CPS Energy does not discriminate against applicants or employees. CPS Energy is committed to providing equal opportunity in all of its employment practices, including selection, hiring, promotion, transfers and compensation, to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, veteran status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information or any other protected status. CPS Energy will comply with all laws and regulations.