Associate General Counsel

Job Description

Summary

The Associate General Counsel assists the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) in the legal representation of Chugach Electric Association, Inc. (Chugach), and manages such legal representation as directed by the CLO.

Essential Functions

• Assist the CLO with corporate governance and related legal matters.
• Assist the CLO in conducting litigation or monitoring the conduct of such litigation by outside counsel. Supervise and provide direction to outside counsel and experts. Takes appropriate action to minimize the costs of outside counsel and experts to Chugach.
• Assist the CLO in matters of advising the Board and management on legal issues concerning the formulation and implementation of legal strategy.
• Assist the CLO in local, state, and federal regulatory, statutory, and legislative processes by reviewing existing and proposed regulations, statutes and other legislation, drafting proposed regulations, statutes and legislation, and/or identifying and summarizing possible legal issues involved.
• Assist in the tender and defense of matters covered by Chugach’s insurance policies. Coordinate and assist attorneys retained by Chugach or its insurance carriers in defending covered claims.
• Assist the CLO in the representation of Chugach in state and federal courts and before municipal, state, and federal administrative agencies.
• Conduct in-house training seminars on various legal matters.
• Assist the CLO in development of standard language for use in Chugach contracts. Draft, negotiate, and review contracts between Chugach and third parties as requested.
• Identify areas of legal exposure for Chugach and recommend preventive action to the CLO.
• Assist the CLO in review and development of necessary policies and procedures.
• Assist the CLO in the preparation of legal department budget and monitor actual to budget expenses.
• Attend Chugach member committee meetings and provide assistance and guidance to member committees as needed.

Relationships

Internal

• Chief Legal Officer (CLO): Reports to, receives direction and guidance from.
• Board of Directors: Present information to, as directed by CLO.
• VP/Division Leadership: Assist, coordinate, and work closely with.

External

• Regulatory Commission of Alaska: Assist in matters before. Consult with for resolution of consumer complaints. Communicate with regarding tariff and policy matters.
• Outside Consultants: Communicate with and coordinate work of.
• Other Utilities: Assist in coordination and resolution of issues with.
• Chugach Members: Assist in communication and resolution of issues with.

Competencies

• Must have a thorough knowledge of the municipal, state, and federal laws affecting electric utilities.
• Must have specialized legal skills including legal research and writing, contract drafting and negotiation, and litigation skills.
• Must be comfortable speaking in public.
• Proficiency with standard office PC and Microsoft Office suite required.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a standard office environment. Occasional travel required. Considerable after-normal-working-hours work required, particularly for Board and member committee meetings.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience

Education

Juris Doctorate from accredited US law school. Licensed to practice law in Alaska or Licensed to practice in any state in the US that has reciprocity with Alaska, required.

Experience

Three (3) years of progressively responsible legal experience, required.

Preferred: Experience in corporate transactions, commercial contract negotiations, and/or regulatory litigation. Experience working in the utility or energy industry. Experience working in a corporate in-house setting.

Company Description

Chugach Electric Association is a member-owned cooperative, headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Anchorage itself sits at the base of the Chugach Mountains. Chugach is pleased to provide reliable, affordable power to more than 92,000 members from Anchorage to the northern Kenai Peninsula, and from Whittier on Prince William Sound to Tyonek on the west side of Cook Inlet. We service over 113,000 locations with 3,782 miles of transmission and distribution lines. We have many services that make it easy to power homes and businesses with Chugach.

A little more about us: Chugach has been around for a long time, recently celebrating 75 years! We are a stable company, in a stable industry. And while we may have stability, we are modern, sustainable and forward-thinking to ensure that we provide reliable services for generations to come. We also pride ourselves on the longevity of our employees. We have several 20, 30 and 40 + year tenured employees who continue foster an inclusive, innovative corporate environment. Find your spark!

Chugach's corporate vision:
Responsibly developing energy to build a clean, sustainable future for Alaska.

Chugach's corporate mission:
We provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity through superior service and sustainable practices, powering the lives of our members.

Chugach's corporate values:
Guided by our values of safety, accountability, and sustainability, we are committed to serving our members, the community, and the Chugach team.

Equal Employment Opportunity
It is a policy of Chugach Electric Association, Inc., to recruit, hire, train, promote, and compensate persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, physical or mental disability, veteran's status, age, or any other classification protected by applicable, federal, state, or local law.
Chugach is also an affirmative action employer.

Benefits

HEALTH BENEFITS

Premium & Deductible are paid for by Chugach Electric. The plan includes coverage of:

• Medical, RX, Dental & Vision
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Telemedicine

FINANCIAL SECURITY

• 401K Plan
• Defined Benefit (Pension)
• Retirement Investment services
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Chugach Electric
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Flex Spending Account (Health, Limited Use, Dependent Care)

WORK, LIFE & HEALTH

• 20 days vacation for first year of employment
• 9 Paid Holidays + 2 Float Holidays + 1 Birthday Holiday
• Employee Assistance Program
• MetLife Will Preparation