VP, General Counsel

Summary

The VP, General Counsel (VP, GC) will help drive the company's growth while balancing business risk. The VP, GC is a business-minded senior leader that must work seamlessly across corporate, real estate, finance, development, employment, and general legal issues. As VP, GC, it will be your responsibility to ensure that we do the right thing and focus on long-term impact. You will develop legal and compliance guidance and strategies that mitigate the company’s legal risks, and help the company thrive in an ever-changing, challenging environment. The VP, GC will be a crucial partner to our development teams, always having an eye towards creating the most value of any portfolio project, while also mitigating company risk. This is a role that reports to the CEO and will work closely with the entire executive and broader leadership teams.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Lead and build the legal team in support of our strategic plan and meet business objectives. 
• Ensures that company legal matters are handled in a manner that protects the company’s position in the marketplace and its reputation with the solar industry, off-takers, finance partners (existing and potential), the general public, and government and its regulatory agencies. Coordinates efforts with peers and internal teams accordingly.
• Provide sound legal advice on all issues affecting the existing and future business, including development of legal strategies to support business initiatives and appropriately mitigate exposure to risk.
• Co-lead and manage all corporate deal structuring, negotiation, and execution activities. 
• Guide and structure, the contracting and maintenance of licensing agreements, strategic alliances, research partnerships, complex commercial transactions, and other corporate collaborations.
• Manage external counsel for all legal activities, ensuring high quality and cost-effective support. 
• Managing, negotiating, and structuring material commercial contracts including but not limited to M&A agreements, EPC agreements, as well as complex land use agreements.
• Managing the legal team and directing workflow and allocating legal resources as appropriate.
• Forming part of the senior management team for the region and developing and implementing a strategy for the in-house legal team.
• Managing and leading commercial disputes, as well as material collection and payment disputes.
• Providing advice on a broad spectrum of topics such as real estate law, EPC, environmental law, corporate and other matters as necessary.
• Supporting human resources and providing employment law advice as needed.
• Providing and developing commercial and compliance training.
• Leading and implementing compliance and governance programs.
• Managing company secretarial and corporate tasks.
• Managing outside counsel. 
• Attract, engage, and develop the company’s legal team, including managing performance and driving career growth. 
• Performs other projects as assigned.

Requirements

Required Education

• A law degree is required (J.D. or equivalent) from an ABA-Accredited Law School and an active attorney license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Required Experience

• Ideal candidates will have a minimum of ten (10) or more years of US legal experience, at least five (5) of which is in a head of legal function.
• This role is for an attorney with broad and well-developed skills, excellent judgment, high EQ, and good business sense. 
• M&A, commercial lending, and general corporate experience preferred. 

Other Skills

• Interested in renewable energy technology with an eagerness to learn more about the industry.
• Experience supporting business teams as they grow and scale.
• Experience hiring and leading a team of legal professionals.
• A strategic thinker who can quickly identify key issues and navigate the complex landscape in the renewable energy space.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to take the initiative and build productive relationships internally and externally.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects at once, follow through, and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated, self-directed, and eager to take ownership of opportunities to ensure solutions even in ambiguous situations.
• Positive, empathetic team player skilled at collaboration and communication.

Physical Requirements

The VP, General Counsel may be required to endure the following physical activities, environmental conditions, and physical demands:

• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces,
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods,
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another,
• Adjusting or moving objects up to 20 pounds in all directions,
• Communicating with others to exchange information,
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers, and
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.