Senior Counsel Officer (Hybrid)

Description:

Overview:
Job Summary:
As part of the Authority's expanding legal team, the Senior Counsel Officer will support the delivery of the New Jersey Wind Port, a major Greenfield infrastructure project located in Southern New Jersey, which the Authority's Infrastructure Division is developing on behalf of the State. The position will also provide legal support and counsel to the Authority's broader programmatic activities, including other major capital and infrastructure projects and economic initiatives. The position will help to manage legal work streams, including coordinating with the New Jersey Attorney General's Office to ensure project/program development and compliance with state law and the Authorities' policies. The position will also participate in negotiations towards contractual close with a range of the Authority's counterparties.

Success in this role will require an ability to provide effective counseling across a broad spectrum of legal issues, as well as representation in negotiations with sophisticated private counterparties. The position requires the ability to quickly comprehend state law and complex regulatory issues as it relates to major infrastructure projects, including areas such as but not limited to labor, construction, real estate/property, and environmental/permitting. An ability to effectively work with outside legal counsel, as well as to work effectively with the New Jersey Attorney General's Office and other state entities, is also critical.

Responsibilities:
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports the ongoing development of the New Jersey Wind Port, which the Authority's Infrastructure Division is delivering on behalf of the State, as well as the Authority's other major capital and infrastructure projects and economic initiatives;
• Provide general legal advice and support across all departments of the Authority, including real estate, procurement, commercial, and transactional matters;
• Participates in negotiations on behalf of the Authority with various project counterparties, such as the landowner, prospective port tenants, contractors and other entities as needed;
• Helps to draft terms sheets and contract documentation, such as sublease, development and operator agreements and related supporting documents;
• Provides legal counsel and support related to project procurements, from upfront method selection to document drafting and review, and bid process management. This will require effective communication with the Authority's Procurement and Infrastructure divisions;
• Works with the New Jersey Attorney General's Office and outside legal counsel, helps to manage any legal disputes that may arise with project/program counterparties (e.g. contractors, landlords, and vendors);
• Promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer-focused work environment; and
• Performs legal research, provides legal analysis and opinions, and monitors and tracks changes in applicable law, ensuring management and staff are informed of relevant changes;
• Must complete annual and semiannual self-assessment as required.
• Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Skills and Abilities:

• A proven ability to research, analyze, and apply complex regulation, laws and policies;
• A proven ability to prepare legal documents, memoranda, and reports;
• Capacity to participate in negotiations on behalf of the Authority and state;
• A proven ability to quickly acquire an understanding of offshore wind market dynamics;
• A proven ability to coordinate with the NJ Attorney General's Office in seeking its review and approval;
• A proven ability to communicate effectively at senior levels, including at a Board level;
• Ability to prioritize workload, must be highly organized, detail-oriented, handle various tasks simultaneously and work independently within limited time constraints with little or no supervision
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and deal effectively and diplomatically with business professionals and Authority staff;
• Demonstrates respectful behavior and promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer focused work environment among division, Authority staff and external customers; and
• Proficient in online legal research applications (such as LexisNexis and Westlaw), with the ability to learn new software packages.
• NJEDA utilizes Microsoft as the core application platform and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is preferred.

Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:

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