DescriptionAs an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
WM, a Fortune 250 company, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. We are strongly committed to a foundation of operating excellence, professionalism and financial strength. WM serves nearly 25 million customers in residential, commercial, industrial and municipal markets throughout North America through a network of collection operations, transfer stations, landfills, recycling facilities and waste-based energy production projects.
I. Job Summary
The Sr Legal Counsel – Renewable Energy position will primarily support the Company’s renewable energy group within its broader sustainability organization. As one of the fastest growing groups within the Company, this role would involve corporate transactional and project development work, as well as regulatory compliance support in coordination with the Company’s government affairs group.
We are seeking a candidate with strong corporate/transactional experience, preferably with prior experience in the corporate or energy transactions practice group of a mid-sized or large law firm. Specific experience and expertise in the renewables, natural gas and/or power industry, as well as relevant regulatory experience (EPA, FERC, CFTC), is a plus. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated to lead deals and projects to completion. The individual should be open to handling an evolving set of responsibilities for a rapidly growing group within the Company.
The Sr Legal Counsel will report directly to the Assistant General Counsel – Recycling & Sustainability. This position is based in Houston, Texas.
II. Essential Skills, Duties and Responsibilities
To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the skills and be able to satisfactorily perform the duties and responsibilities set forth below. Other minor duties and responsibilities may be assigned.
Advise internal clients with respect to, and draft, review and negotiate contracts relating to, transactional matters supporting the Company’s renewable energy group, including power purchase agreements, RNG offtake contracts, marketing agreements for renewable credits or environmental attributes, interconnection agreements, construction and project development related contracts, vendor contracts, non-disclosure agreements, among others.
- Review and provide legal advice on creative deal structures to beneficially use landfill gas, carbon and other byproducts of the Company’s core disposal business.
- Support regulatory matters alongside the renewable energy group’s compliance personnel, and coordinate with the Company’s Government Affairs team to provide broad-based legal counsel on strategy relating to regulations impacting the business.
- Review and provide legal advice on renewable energy related disclosures and external materials, such as in the Company’s annual Sustainability Report and similar disclosures in SEC filings and other communications/publications.
- May be responsible for management of outside counsel activities as necessary, including determining overall effective legal strategy.
- Provide proactive legal and practical business advice to internal clients.
- Engage, collaborate, and build strategic business relationships with numerous departments and functions within the Company to work efficiently and effectively while providing a high-level of service to business partners.
III. Supervisory Responsibilities
This job has no supervisory duties but may occasionally act as a team lead. However, the individual will not regularly have support from another in-house attorney and must be able to perform legal functions independently.
IV. Qualifications
The requirements listed below are representative of the qualifications necessary to perform the job.
A. Education and Experience
Required:
- Juris Doctorate and 8 (eight) or more years of previous experience.
- Large or mid-sized law firm experience in a corporate or energy transactions group.
Preferred Experience: The following experience areas are a plus, but not required.
- Renewables
- Natural Gas
- Power
- Regulatory (EPA, FERC, CFTC)
B. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations or Other Requirements
- State Bar Licensure, Texas preferred.
C. Other Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Required
V. Work Environment
Listed below are key points regarding environmental demands and work environment of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Required to use motor coordination with finger dexterity (such as keyboarding, machine operation, etc.) most of the work day;
Required to exert physical effort in handling objects less than 30 pounds rarely;
Required to be exposed to physical occupational risks (such as cuts, burns, exposure to toxic chemicals, etc.) rarely;
Required to be exposed to physical environment which involves dirt, odors, noise, weather extremes or similar elements rarely;
Normal setting for this job is: office setting.
Benefits
At WM, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Short Term Disability. As well as a Stock Purchase Plan, Company match on 401K, and more! Our employees also receive Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Personal Days. Please note that benefits may vary by site.
If this sounds like the opportunity that you have been looking for, please click “Apply”.
