This position represents South Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. (STEC) in legal matters, ensuring Cooperative alignment with the overall strategic direction. This role involves drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and advising the General Manager and staff on all legal issues. Responsibilities include providing advice on governance, code of conduct, ethics issues, and compliance. The position also manages legal representation and policy advocacy to navigate market and regulatory processes and proceedings in a manner that promotes STEC’s interests and those of its Member cooperatives and their member consumers.
Working Conditions
May frequently be required to walk; sit; stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Use of personal computing equipment, telephone, multi-functioning printer, photocopiers, filing cabinets, fax machines, and calculator. Manual dexterity, ability to lift files, open file cabinets, ability to reach, and bend, and use 2-step stool while safely lifting and lowering boxes. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally with or without accommodation, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Ability to travel to and from work sites, meetings, training sessions or other business related events. May be required to work after hours to include weekends and holidays.
Essential Functions
Coordinate work with attorneys, outside counsel, and other legal staff to efficiently achieve goals and objectives.
Supervise maintenance of contract and other legal files related to responsibilities.
Confer with other staff to achieve mutual understanding of business goals and risk issues relevant to transactions and policies.
Confer and coordinate with General Counsel and outside legal counsel in performing legal work related to regulatory, legislative, environmental, employment, real estate and market advocacy.
Provide legal advice and problem solving to managers and staff in various matters as needed.
Manage and provide effective reporting to Staff and Board of Directors on significant matters.
Draft, review and edit pleadings, comments, testimony, correspondence, opinions, briefs, and other legal documents; assists in preparing, reviewing and interpreting policies, guidelines and procedures.
Interpret, review, draft, and negotiate complex contracts that mitigate risk to the organization.
Assist in the development and drafting, review and maintenance of corporate procedures and policies.
Provide sound advice and counsel to personnel, managers, and executive management to further business objectives and minimize risk.
Research issues and produce well drafted correspondence, opinions, and other legal documents as needed.
Conduct thorough and sound legal research and record searches, including related to contract and statutory interpretation.
Communicate effectively across the organization and with outside attorneys and consultant to support and provide legal advice on assigned transactional and organizational policy work areas.
Performs other duties, tasks and special projects as assigned.
Requirements
JD from an accredited law school required
A minimum of 2-5 years in regulatory or litigation in private practice or as corporate or government counsel
South Texas Electric Cooperative is a cutting-edge Generation and Transmission Cooperative and a leader in providing a diverse portfolio of affordable energy, a reliable power delivery system, and services customized to the needs of the members. STEC was formed in 1944 to provide wholesale electric services to member distribution cooperatives. STEC’s membership consists of 9 distribution cooperatives that serve over 241,000 members in forty-two South Texas counties.
STEC's headquarters facility is located at the Sam Rayburn Power Plant Complex on the Guadalupe River just outside Nursery, Texas. Transmission line and substation service facilities are also located in Pearsall, Texas and Donna, Texas.
Power provided by STEC to its members is generated from a variety of energy sources, including wind, lignite, natural gas (NG), diesel fuel, and hydroelectric.