Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Corporate Counsel

Work Location : Helena, MT Preferred (Other major office locations in Montana and South Dakota may be considered)

Pay range : $117,600 to $190,000 per year

Employment Status: Regular Full-Time

External candidates apply at northwesternenergy.com

Internal candidates apply through iConnect.

About this position:

Serve as in-house corporate counsel, providing legal support for Energy Supply operations, including electric generation (hydro, wind, solar, and thermal), Electric and Natural Gas Transmission, and the Lands and Environmental teams. This role encompasses negotiating and drafting various contracts, managing litigation related to land and environmental issues, collaborating with federal agencies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on licensing and compliance matters, and delivering timely legal guidance on a wide range of issues across multiple jurisdictions.

We offer great benefits:

NorthWestern Energy is a fully regulated electric and natural gas utility serving Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. We employ over 1,500 amazing people and serve 775,300 customers who are our neighbors in our communities. We are a top employer and offer competitive benefits, including:

• 401K with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7%
• Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision for you, your spouse and dependents, Health Savings Account (HSA), healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Programs (Offering up to six free counseling sessions, per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses and dependents to include financial heath)
• Life Insurance (Company pays basic employee policy; spouse, dependent insurance also available)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Competitive pay (Scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.)
• Paid company endorsed volunteer opportunities
• Paid parental leave
• Paid bereavement leave
• Paid training opportunities
• Paid time off starting on your first day, plus 11 paid holidays

Benefits may vary by position or as negotiated as part of a collective bargaining agreement.

About this job:

• Advise internal energy supply, distribution, transmission, and other corporate clients on transactional and other legal issues
• Conduct legal research
• Develop legal assessments, interpretations, recommendations, and opinions on transactional, operational, regulatory, and other corporate issues
• Draft all forms of legal documents, including contracts, pleadings, motions, briefs, affidavits, memos, reports, and presentations
• Collaborate with other in-house counsel and take on primary responsibility for certain areas of law, based on experience
• Perform special assignments and other duties as request by the General Counsel
• Work with outside counsel as needed
• Representation in court on civil matters and periodic appearance before city council and county boards
• Present NorthWestern Energy before various courts, federal and state agencies and local governments
• Travel up to 15% per year
• All NorthWestern Energy employees are required to adhere to company safety standards and the Code of Business Conduct & ethics
• Ensure all actions are consistent with NorthWestern Energy's safety standards, values, mission, goals, strategic business objectives and Code of Conduct and Ethics

Am I right for this job? Here's the success profile:

• Must be a member of the State Bar of Montana or South Dakota or are you able to be admitted as a member on motion in Montana or South Dakota
• 10 years practicing law in a legal department of a corporation, law firm or governmental agency is required
• Expertise in real estate law and contract law is required.
• Expertise in water law and experience as a litigation attorney is highly desirable
• Prefer familiarity with the state and federal regulations relating to land use, Federal Power Act, FERC hydropower licensing, the Endangered Species Act, environmental law, air and water quality certifications, and multi-agency agreements
• 5 years of experience drafting, interpreting, and negotiating contracts, including real estate, and commercial contracts.
• 5 years of experience in working with governmental agencies.
• Must excel at working effectively with resource management agencies
• Must have dispute resolution skills that promote collaborative decision-making
• Ability to independently handle numerous, discrete matters
• Knowledge of law and legal research techniques, document drafting and interpretation
• Must maintain a high degree of confidentiality
• Must think strategically
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required
• Must be a self-motivator with excellent organizational skills
• Must excel at working in a team environment but also be able to work independently without supervision
• Must be organized, detail-oriented, and maintain a high degree of accuracy and comply with company policies and procedures
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and balance the needs of multiple internal clients
• Must be willing to work under and have a demonstrated ability to meet rigorous deadlines
• Must be proficient in the use of Microsoft Outlook and Word. Experience with SharePoint, Excel, and PowerPoint is a plus
• Must be able to demonstrate a good safety record

Requisition #4659

Posting Dates: January 21, 2025 through Open Until Filled

Department/Division: Legal

Employment Physical: Not Required

Drug Test: Required

Background Check: Required

Relocation Benefit: Negotiable

Telecommuting: Part-time Negotiable within NorthWestern Energy Service Territory

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal or state laws and statutes. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act, should you have a disability that requires assistance and/or reasonable accommodation with the job application process, please contact the Human Resources department at 1-800-245-6977 or at job.inquiries@northwestern.com .

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