Senior Corporate Counsel (Environmental and Transactions)_ZA2154
About The Position
The Senior Corporate Counsel (Environmental and Transactions) is responsible for a wide range of matters in the legal practice areas of environmental and transactions.This position provides legal advice and support to internal Ameren clients relating to the areas of specialty.
Key responsibilities include:
Environmental Counseling
Advising on various aspects of regulatory compliance and provide practical advice to internal clients on permitting and compliance requirements for all aspects of the business including fossil generation, gas operations, and natural resource implications of wind farms, transmission lines, etc.
Provide strategic advice on implementation of business plans to overcome expected local and federal opposition. Development of proactive strategies will require organizing across business segments and advising C Suite as necessary. Awareness of local, state and federal political forces and trends is essential.
Secure and defend requisite authorizations (i.e., permits, local-siting approvals, ordinances, etc.) to facilitate ongoing operations of generating facilities (fossil, wind, solar) and transmission projects.
Working with Environmental Services and other departments, develop strategies for the preparation of technical submissions to support permitting applications and compliance submissions to mitigate third-party legal challenges.
Working with internal clients, providing legal support for cleanup activities at contaminated sites, familiarity with state brownfield programs a plus.
As appropriate, negotiate Consent Decrees with federal or state environmental agencies regarding remediation of legacy sites or other compliance obligations.
Litigation and Administrative Law
Defend and/or challenge permitting decisions of state and federal agencies (i.e., IEPA (Illinois Environmental Protection Agency), MDNR (Missouri Department of Natural Resources), USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), MDC (Missouri Department of Conservation), USFWs (United States Fish and Wildlife Service), and USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers)).
Supervise outside counsel, as necessary.
Corporate Governance
Work with accounting, shareholder services, corporate communications and accounting on public disclosures and collaborate with corporate counsel to address disclosure issues including ES&G (Environmental Social and Governance) matters.
Federal and State legislative Initiatives
Provide support to Federal, Missouri and Illinois legislative teams in reviewing legislative proposals, providing alternative statutory and regulatory language and background briefing support.
Evaluate the impact of proposed legislation on business operations and provide strategic counseling regarding same.
Evaluate and provide comments on new regulations and legislations impacting Company's business.
Transactional and Real Estate Support
Provide expertise and support to transactional lawyers on acquisitions and divestitures of assets regarding environmental risks and mitigation strategies.
Advise internal clients on real estate transactions including the buying and selling of impacted properties.
Additional Information
Ameren’s selection process includes a series of interviews and may include a leadership assessment process. Specific details will be provided to qualified candidates.
Qualifications
Juris Doctorate Degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school required. Ten or more years of experience in a law firm, corporate legal department or other comparable legal setting with experience in an area of specialty required. Licensed, eligible to practice or able to seek admission in Missouri and/or Illinois required. Proficient knowledge of legal primary practice area required.
In addition to the above qualifications, the successful candidate will demonstrate:
Candidate must be a business-minded lawyer with the ability to drive the organization to achieve strategic objectives and provide practical advice and solutions.
Candidate must be able identify and analyze environmental issues that impact the operation, execution, and success of the business.
Candidate must be a self-starter who can work across business segments and departments in partnership with business clients.
Candidate must have a broad environmental background and experience in all major environmental laws including the following:
solid, hazardous, and special waste under RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act), CERCLA, TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act).
the Clean Air Act.
Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts (and state corollaries)
Natural Resources including the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act).
Ameren Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AEE. It is the parent company of Ameren Illinois, based in Collinsville, Ill., and Ameren Missouri in St. Louis. Ameren Transmission Company, also based in St. Louis, designs and builds regional transmission projects.
Ameren was created by the combination of three Illinois utilities (CIPSCO Incorporated, CILCO Inc. and Illinois Power Company) and Union Electric Company of St. Louis. The name comes from combining the words American and Energy.
Employing more than 9,000 personnel, Ameren powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers across a 64,000-square-mile area.
Ameren Missouri ranks as the largest electric power provider in Missouri, and Ameren Illinois ranks as Illinois' third largest natural gas distribution operation in total number of customers.
Ameren companies generate a net capacity of nearly 10,200 megawatts of electricity and own more than 7,500 circuit miles of transmission lines.
Ameren's rates are some of the lowest in the nation. View our Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rates.
