Counsel or Senior Counsel

The Counsel/Senior Counsel will provide legal support for Southern Company Gas in a dynamic in-house legal department supporting operations in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and other states in which the Company operates. This individual will report to the Chief Counsel, Land and Environmental. Primary focus will be providing advice on a broad range of environmental issues, including regulatory, permitting, enforcement, compliance management, safety, transactional support, and environmental liability matters. As needed, the Counsel/Senior Counsel will also support litigation, transactions, and other special projects.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Primary responsibilities (Environmental):
  • Oversee regulatory, administrative, and enforcement matters, including managing outside counsel.
    • Includes matters under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and state equivalents. Experience with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), historic preservation, and coastal and wetland issues is a plus.
  • Monitor and advise on policy, regulatory, and legislative developments.
  • Conduct and support internal audits and investigations.
  • Provide strategic advice on commercial transactions.
  • Draft agreements and negotiate environmental provisions for transactions across the enterprise.
• Additional responsibilities (as needed):
  • Review and negotiate supply chain contracts, nondisclosure agreements, and other ancillary agreements.
  • Assist with managing the legal budget, including oversight and approval of outside counsel spend.
  • Identify opportunities to improve legal processes and operations.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Certifications/Licenses: 

Required: 

• Graduate of an American Bar Association accredited law school with a J.D. degree.
• Active license to practice law.

Preferred:

• Active license to practice law in one or more of the states in which the Company or its subsidiaries operate.

Related Work Experience:

Required: 

• Minimum of 3 years of environmental law experience.

Specific Skills & Knowledge: 

Required: 

• Excellent writing, organizational, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint) skills and computer skills.
• Ability to prioritize, manage tight deadlines, and manage own workload.
• Strong client service orientation.
• Strong communication skills, including ability to liaise and develop relationships with other business units.
• Ability to work well on a team and individually in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated initiative and proactive approach to challenges.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements: 

• Keyboarding = Constant 67-100%.
• Travel = Occasional 1-33%.