Energy Counsel, Commercial Services/Commodity Trading

Job Description

Supports the commercial services and wholesale energy trading activities of NRG Energy, Inc., and its subsidiaries, within the continental United States and Canada. This individual will be a team oriented and commercially focused attorney that will be a critical part of the commercial services legal team. The attorney will be capable of collaborating frequently with team members, originators, traders, and other stakeholders within the organization, including, maintaining a value-added relationship with commercial, credit, risk, and compliance teams. Day-to-day responsibilities include advising leadership and other stakeholders on legal risks, strategies, and structures for a variety of commercial energy transactions, including, derivatives, swaps, options, and physical purchases and sales of power, natural gas, environmental attributes, and other commodities. In addition, responsibilities will include reviewing and negotiating master trading agreements, credit support arrangements, transaction confirmations, RFPs and NDAs. This individual will ideally be highly versatile and self-motivated, capable of exercising sound legal and business judgement under time sensitive and fast paced conditions, to deliver a high quality and well-conceived work product that furthers the organization's business objectives.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Structure, draft, negotiate and facilitate commercial transactions around a variety of commercial energy activities (both physical and financial) in power, natural gas, renewable energy, environmental attributes, and other commodity, derivatives, and energy management services, including, negotiating master trading agreements, such as ISDAs, NAESBs, EEIs and WSPPs
• Proven track record of exercising sound business and legal judgment, with appropriate attention to detail, in a fast-paced and high-volume environment
• Ability to work across various segments of the organization that may be out of the area of direct responsibility to assist corporate, commercial and industrial and retail teams
• Ability to work well both independently and in a team environment
• Efficiently work with outside counsel as necessary within budget and/or timing constraints

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so assigned.

Working Conditions

• The preferred location for this position is Princeton, New Jersey or Houston, Texas.
• Some travel may be required

Minimum Requirements

• JD degree from an ABA accredited law school
• Licensed to practice law in NJ, TX or another state
• Four (4) to eight (8) years of relevant legal experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding of master trading documentation, such as ISDA, NAESB, EEI and WSPP
• General working familiarity of regulatory regimes governing derivatives and energy market activities, such as FERC, CFTC, Dodd-Frank, ICE and similar exchanges, RTOs/ISOs and public utility commissions
• Specific knowledge of CAISO and WPP markets, in addition to ERCOT, MISO, PJM, ISO-NE, and/or NY-ISO will be viewed favorably

Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent contract drafting and communication skills, particularly to assist non-legal stakeholders in understanding complex legal and regulatory risks and requirements
• Ability to work independently and as a team member, demonstrated ability to set priorities and to respond to changing demands from multiple sources
• Basic working knowledge of the UCC, bankruptcy and insolvency law, and general commercial law is preferred
• Familiarity with Canadian derivatives regulations or energy/commercial law is not required but would be considered a valuable attribute

The base salary range for this position is: $178,000 - $220,000 The base salary range above represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonus, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition the position may be eligible to participate in the benefits program which include, but are not limited to, medical, vision, dental, 401K, and flexible spending accounts.

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Protected Veteran Status/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

EEO is the Law Poster (The poster can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf)