Corporate Counsel

Join our Growing Team and see why Summit Utilities, Inc was named as one of the Fastest Growing Denver Area Private Companies 2019 and 2020; Best Places to Work in Maine 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and Best Places to Work in Arkansas 2020 and 2023, Oklahoma 2022 and 2023 and Missouri 2023. Summit was also recently named one of Forbes 2023 America’s Best Small Employers.

Summit is a growing natural gas utility company providing safe, reliable and clean burning natural gas service to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri and Oklahoma. Being part of the Summit team means embracing excellence, diversity and innovation, committing to safety each and every day, and doing all that we can to serve each other, our customers and the communities where we live. We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do.

We have an exciting opportunity open for a Corporate Counsel based in either Little Rock, AR, Fort Smith, AR, or Fayetteville, AR  with the option to work remote/hybrid from any of these three locations.

POSITION SUMMARY

Summit Utilities, Inc.’s Legal Department is looking for an attorney with general corporate skills to join its team as Corporate Counsel.  This role will provide comprehensive legal counsel and legal risk analysis for Summit’s business operations and initiatives with a particular focus on managing the company’s transactional matters.  We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys working on a vast array of issues on a day-to-day basis. 

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Provide day-to-day legal counsel to internal stakeholders on general corporate and compliance matters and proactively mitigate risk

•    Provide ongoing legal guidance and support throughout the contract lifecycle, including drafting, negotiating, and revising contracts 

•    Provide ongoing legal guidance and support for land matters, including easements, permitting, rights-of-way, condemnations, commercial leasing, and land acquisitions 

•    Support development and implementation of contract management strategy

•    Provide legal support for company insurance program, including advising on policy interpretations and risk transfer guidance 

•    Review, draft, and provide general legal counsel on corporate policies

•    Collaborate with legal team and internal stakeholders to identify and implement process improvements  

•    Build cross-functional relationships across the company 

•    Obtain and maintain a solid knowledge of the company’s business 

•    Other assigned duties

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

•    JD from an accredited law school 

•    Licensed to practice law and in good standing in at least one state bar  

•    Three to eight years of experience in a law firm or corporate setting 

•    Solid contract drafting and negotiation experience is required 

•    Experience with contract compliance, real estate, contract administration, business continuity/disaster recovery, or utility regulation is preferred 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

•    Exercise sound judgment with a business-friendly approach to legal problem solving and being able to effectively counsel with concise, practical advice and creative solutions 

•    Ability to influence value-added outcomes utilizing legal expertise 

•    Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including an ability to interface effectively with all levels and keep stakeholders regularly and timely updated 

•    Possess a strong desire to learn the business and new areas of law 

•    Able to quickly build internal relationships and gain a rapport with business personnel to encourage proactive use of in-house legal counsel 

•    Able to work effectively and cooperatively with cross-functional colleagues in a geographically dispersed organization 

•    A proven ability to manage multiple projects with an excellent ability to set priorities and manage expectations on deliverables and deadlines 

•    Self-starter who is sharp, quick to pick up new concepts, and willing to dig in and become an “expert” as needs arise 

•    Must be able to travel as necessary and utilize other strategies to ensure effective collaboration and productivity 

Summit offers competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice and support to our employees when they need it most. We understand that home and family are essential pieces of your life, and our benefits are designed to support you both at work and at home. 

Summit Utilities, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.