Senior Corporate Counsel

Job Description

Job Description

The Senior Corporate Counsel (“Senior Counsel”) is a critical business partner to the Board, Board Committees, NEEA executives, and NEEA employees cross-functionally. Additionally, this position creates, revises, and finalizes complex legal documents, conducts negotiations, and manages external counsel relationships. The Senior Counsel oversees a team responsible for all legal documents and transactions to which NEEA is a party.

The Senior Counsel provides coaching and guidance to team members who work with staff to ensure documents are properly drafted, reviewed, signed, and tracked. They’re responsible for protecting the organization from legal issues that may threaten NEEA or prevent the organization from achieving its purpose. This must be done in a manner that balances an appropriate risk tolerance that aligns with NEEA’s entrepreneurial spirit, while also ensuring legal compliance and protection of NEEA. Senior Counsel is responsible for the implementation, troubleshooting and reporting of NEEA’s risk management activities and reports to NEEA Executive Leadership.

As a leader of the procurement function at NEEA, Senior Counsel leads a team that partners with staff to ensure maximum value is received from vendors while adhering to federal and other procurement guidelines. A key component of this job is knowledge of federal, state, local and non-profit regulations.

This position is based in the Portland, OR metro area, with a hybrid work location. We are looking for candidates who can meet the requirement of working at least 3 days per week onsite at NEEA’s office location. Finalists must have eligibility to work in the US as NEEA is not able to provide VISA sponsorship or have remote work outside of the US.

Salary range: $135,000 - $155,000, exempt

• Salary is based on the applicants Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

The Typical Day May Include…

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to executive leadership, business units, and project teams, providing practical, business-oriented counsel on matters affecting the organization.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and negotiation of standard and complex agreements, ensuring consistency and compliance with internal policies and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the development and maintenance of internal systems, policies, and procedures that support legal, contracting, and procurement best practices, including confidentiality and data/IT security compliance.
• Partner with leadership to define and communicate the organization’s risk tolerance, aligning legal strategies with business objectives and guiding teams in decision-making.
• Resolve legal issues that may impact the organization’s ability to achieve its mission and manage relationships with outside counsel to ensure appropriate legal actions and mitigations.
• Provide legal and governance support to the Board and its committees and advise on the legal implications of business decisions and strategic initiatives. Develop and review Board Policies, in partnership with the Board of Directors.
• Oversee procurement activities, ensuring vendor risk mitigation, compliance with federal and other applicable guidelines, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Collaborate across departments (e.g., Finance, HR, IT, Compliance, Executive, Program Teams) to address multidisciplinary legal and operational challenges.
• Refine contract management practices, tools, and training to support consistent excellence and appropriate risk management.
• Monitor and improve Key Performance Indicators (“KPIs”) related to contracts and procurement to ensure transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Prepare, review and assist in the execution of Funding Agreements, in alignment with NEEA’s core funding cycle(s), or as new opportunities arise.
• Training and Mentorship: Provide guidance and mentorship to junior legal staff and cross-functional teams. Deliver training sessions on evolving legal topics and risk mitigation.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

As a first-line supervisor, responsibilities include hiring and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; evaluating performance; recognizing achievements; addressing concerns; and resolving problems.

What Are You Good At?

A top performer in the Senior Corporate Counsel role at NEEA demonstrates exceptional legal acumen and strategic leadership, serving as a trusted advisor to the Board, executive leadership, and cross-functional teams. This individual consistently delivers high-quality legal counsel that balances risk management with NEEA’s entrepreneurial spirit, ensuring compliance while enabling innovation. They lead with integrity and clarity, overseeing complex legal transactions and guiding a team that produces precise, compliant documentation.

Their proactive approach to procurement maximizes vendor value and aligns with federal and nonprofit regulations. Through mentorship and collaboration, they foster a culture of excellence, continuously refining internal systems and contract management practices. Their ability to navigate multidisciplinary challenges and provide actionable insights makes them indispensable to NEEA’s mission and operational success.

Your Experience, Education, and Skills:

• A minimum of 8-10 years of experience in an organizational business environment, representing and advising on organizational best practices.
• Law Degree required; must be (and remain) an active member of the Oregon State Bar Association.
• Non-profit and/or Energy Industry experience is preferred.
• Strong experience in structuring, negotiating, reviewing, and drafting a variety of government and commercial contracts.
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for leadership teams.
• Proven management experience in leading a high performing team and development of staff.
• Demonstrated proficiency in negotiation, facilitation, and communication across all levels of the organization, with the ability to influence outcomes and build alignment through clear, strategic engagement.
• Proven ability to organize multiple complex tasks, prioritize competing issues using limited resources to accomplish results within established timeframes.
• Possesses strong active listening skills to understand stakeholder needs and respond with curiosity, clarity and empathy.
• History of maintaining a solution-oriented mindset, proactively identifying paths forward and resolving challenges effectively.
• Operates with a business partner mentality, building collaborative relationships and aligning legal guidance and risk tolerance with organizational goals.
• Experienced in synthesizing complex information and data using deep expertise to design workflows, recommend procedures, and develop actionable plans that address stakeholder needs.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the successful performance of the essential job duties.

Highlights of NEEA’s Benefits:

• 90% of medical/dental premiums paid by NEEA, including for dependents
• Employer funded Health Savings Account
• 136 hours of PTO/year
• Automatic 6% retirement contribution with an additional 2% matching
• Flexible work environment, including hybrid work location and 9/80 schedule options
• Professional development opportunities

About NEEA

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is an alliance of more than 140 electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency organizations working on behalf of Northwest energy consumers to increase the adoption of energy-efficient products services and practices. Since 1997, the region has achieved more than 959 average megawatts (aMW) of Co-Created electric energy savings – the equivalent of enough energy to power more than 700,000 Northwest homes each year.

NEEA welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and fields of expertise, with or without previous experience in the energy industry.

Follow this link to our website and learn more about the organization.

NEEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer