General Counsel

About the Job

At Canadian Solar, our vision is to make lives better by bringing electricity powered by the sun to millions of people worldwide. As a leading manufacturer of solar panels, inverters, and energy storage solutions, we've been an industry front-runner since our founding in 2001. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in all parts of our organization as we navigate the complexities of a booming industry.

Throughout Canadian Solar's subsidiaries, e-Storage, Recurrent Energy, MSS and CSI Solar Co., we invest in our employees' growth. Our training programs and promotional opportunities ensure we all can continue to learn. We understand the importance of work-life balance and provide various flexible work options to support our employees' well-being. Join our team to "Make the Difference" by creating a lasting positive impact on the world and the communities where we operate.

This role involves supporting Canadian Solar’s US manufacturing operations in the United States.

Responsibilities:

The candidate will act as the lead in-house counsel supporting Canadian Solar’s US manufacturing facilities and operations. In particular, the candidate will:

• Advise and assist on commercial transactions for the manufacturing business, including real estate and construction contracts, vendor agreements and supply chain related agreements
• Manage corporate housekeeping for Canadian Solar’s US manufacturing subsidiary
• Work closely with internal and external trade compliance professionals to ensure that components and raw materials can be timely imported and that issues that arise are effectively addressed   
• Work with internal regulatory and EHS compliance teams to develop legal policies, processes and procedures for the US manufacturing business
• Provide proactive, timely and effective legal advice and analysis relating to risks faced by the business
• Coordinate and supervise outside counsel on an as-needed basis and with a view to balancing legal costs with business goals.
• Ensure that all activities are performed with the highest ethical standards and in compliance with Canadian Solar policies, code and procedures

Qualifications and Experience:

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and experience:

• A J.D. from a reputable law school and strong academic credentials, generally
• Licenced to practice law in the State of Texas or in another US jurisdiction with the ability to become licensed in Texas
• 15+ years of legal experience, with a combination of large law firm and in-house experience preferred.
• Experience advising manufacturing businesses, with a general corporate transactional background. Supply chain, Labor and employment, real estate and/or construction experience is a plus.  
• Possess a demonstrated ability to effectively provide sound legal advice, exercise good business judgement, and work with senior management, outside counsel and state and local officials
• Have a team-first attitude with excellent communication skills
• Be a leader, i.e. take ownership of matters, direct outside counsel, and drive innovation within the legal department and in concert with commercial leaders to achieve the company’s goals

Be willing to travel on occasion to meet legal and business needs