Lead Counsel
Status: Exempt
Department: Legal
Position Summary
The Lead Counsel will support Plug’s commercial expansion and mission to grow the green hydrogen economy. This role will work directly with Plug’s General Counsel and Managing Counsel on all aspects of advising Plug’s leadership team on legal and regulatory matters, including addressing commercial, real estate, financial, employment, sales, and corporate governance issues arising from Plug’s global business and the expansion of its products and services. This individual will coordinate across the Finance, Engineering, Sales, HR, Business Development, Manufacturing, and Operations organizations within the Company. The Lead Counsel will work closely with colleagues across multiple departments and functions and provide guidance to the Legal Team’s Legal Specialists and more junior attorneys as needed. This individual must be self-motivated, able to handle multiple competing priorities at once, and willing to adapt within a fast-paced organization.
Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist the General Counsel and Managing Counsel on all legal aspects of operating Plug’s business including sales, real estate, compliance, product expansion and research and development.
- Advise on preparing, reviewing, negotiating, and closing a wide variety of contracts, including, but not limited to, product development agreements, land leases and subleases, real estate agreements, research collaboration agreements, supply agreements, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property agreements, and other construction, land acquisition, operation, financial, sales, energy, and marketing arrangements.
- Participate in project teams for investigating and developing business opportunities.
- Assist in the negotiation and structuring of project SPVs, project finance opportunities, power purchase agreements, to lien given for non-recourse financing.
- Provide legal input to the Chief Financial Officer and other in-house and external financial analysts to negotiate, review and close the Company’s project finance transactions.
- Assist with government relations efforts related to laws, regulations, policies, and incentives relevant to the business.
- Ensure work product of the highest quality that furthers Plug’s strategic goals.
- Open to international travel as and when required.
- Represent Plug in a professional manner at all times and in all interactions.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
- J.D. degree and membership in at least one U.S. state bar (preferably NYS).
- A minimum of eight (8) years’ experience in an in-house legal department of a publicly traded corporation, or ten (10) years’ experience in a law firm or a combination of law firm and in-house legal department.
- Experience working directly with business clients, providing day-to-day input on business, commercial and financial strategies, resolving issues that arise in commercial relationships, responding to legal inquiries in a timely manner, and delegating tasks to and providing guidance to more junior attorneys.
- Strong knowledge of contract, commercial, real estate, technology, energy, or intellectual property law in a technology and business-growth context and significant experience advising on commercial, transactional and technology issues.
- Experience in the Oil and Gas, Chemical and/or Renewable Energy sectors welcome.
- Knowledge of domestic and foreign policy as pertains to emerging renewable energy/hydrogen markets welcome.
- Demonstrable analytical abilities with strong attention to detail.
- Superior communication, task-management and time-management skills.
- Ability to manage projects and competing priorities and multi-task effectively.
- Ability to role model high standards of professionalism.
- Excellent follow-through.
- Self-motivated drive to improve and excel.
- Highest ethical standards and a supreme commitment to quality work.
- Fully proficient in English required.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office software required.
Plug Power Inc. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
