Closing Date: 31st January, 2025

Description:

Position Summary:
Key responsibilities include providing comprehensive legal support and advice to the An In-House Firm executive leadership team, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations while proactively mitigating legal risks. Counsel will be responsible for drafting and reviewing contracts, representing the association in legal matters, and ensuring that the association operates within the legal frameworks governing non-profit organizations. Counsel will serve as the liaison for TVA wholesale power contract compliance, pole attachment agreements, and to the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers. This position will work in collaboration with local power companies and TVA to gain an understanding of current issues and develop solutions that provide benefits to the membership.

This includes accountability for ensuring that An In-House Firm's member local power companies' (LPC) interests and concerns are understood and considered as part of all negotiations, contractual compliance issues, and concerns around the cost and pricing of SEPA hydro generation. This position reports to the President and Chief Executive Officer.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Advise the executive team and board of directors on legal risks and compliance issues affecting the association
Ensure the association adheres to federal, state, and local laws relevant to non-profit entities and the utility sector
Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with vendors, partners, and stakeholders
Ensure all agreements reflect the association's best interests and mitigate potential legal liabilities
Identify and address potential legal risks in organizational operations and projects
Develop policies and procedures that ensure legal compliance and risk mitigation
Provide proactive strategies to address and resolve legal disputes or issues before they escalate
Represent the organization in legal proceedings, including litigation, arbitration, and mediation
Handle dispute resolution, including those related to contracts, employment, and other operational matters
Assist in the creation and implementation of organizational policies, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
Advise on employment law, labor relations, intellectual property, and other areas as required by the organization
Coordinate with An In-House Firm Board general counsel and other external counsel as needed
Assist with legal aspects of board meetings, including drafting minutes and providing guidance on governance issues
Ensure compliance with the association's bylaws and state non-profit regulations
Conduct training sessions for staff on legal and regulatory matters to ensure awareness and compliance
Represent An In-House Firm and its members with the Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA), including assessment and recommendations on contractual, economic, and rate issues pertaining to SEPA, other preference customers, the Army Corps of Engineers, TVA, and An In-House Firm members
Interface with Contract Compliance Advisory Group (CCAG) members, LPCs, and TVA as needed to fully understand the contractual issues that come before the CCAG, the positions of the Advisory Group members, and of TVA
Work with the CCAG to achieve a consensus solution to advocate to TVA on behalf of the CCAG and all An In-House Firm LPCs
Create LPC/An In-House Firmcounter-proposals to proposals under consideration as appropriate
Analyze and clarify complex contractual provisions for LPCs and other involved parties, often with competing interests and widely varying needs
Report out to the membership through committees, advisory groups, and the An In-House Firm Board as needed through meeting summaries, district reports, board reports, etc.
Coordinate creation and approval of wholesale power contract language as needed to implement and administer decisions by the Rates & Pricing Committee
Promote and enhance decision-making by reviewing, evaluating, and clarifying analyses, documents, proposals, and presentations from LPCs, consultants, TVA, and other third parties to advocate for LPCs and to achieve consensus among members as to the best choices overall for LPCs and their customers
Manage and respond to ad hoc day-to-day issues and concerns at An In-House Firm and with members, their consultants, and other third parties
Maintain responsibility for An In-House Firm fleet and facilities management
Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications, Skills, and Knowledge Requirements:

Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
Active license to practice law in Tennessee
Minimum of 5 years of experience as a practicing attorney, preferably with experience working with local power companies in the Tennessee Valley
Experience in contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, and litigation
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work under pressure
High ethical standards and integrity
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders

Working Conditions:

Office environment with occasional travel to attend meetings, hearings, or conferences
Some evening or weekend work may be required

General Information:
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required for the position. Applicants must be able to work in a complex, confidential, and changing environment. They must have a demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands, and to seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.