Attorney III

Job description

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team! About Essential Utilities Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. We have an exciting opportunity to join our legal team as Attorney III/Sr. Counsel reporting to the VP and Sr. Managing Counsel. This position is directly responsible for the legal affairs of the Company’s operating subsidiaries, including providing legal counsel to specified business units of the Company and serving as the subject matter expert for certain specified legal topics. ESSENTIAL DUTIES: Provide legal advice and counsel regarding Company affairs as the primary responsible legal counsel to certain specified business units of the Company, including advice on contracts, acquisitions, litigation, employee matters, real estate transactions and public utility matters (excluding rate cases). Review laws and regulations affecting the Company’s business and utility operations and provide guidance to management on such matters. Responsible for acting as the primary in-house legal expert for certain legal affairs of the Company, as designated in conjunction with the General Counsel. Prepare, negotiate and/or review contracts and other documents to be executed by the Company, in accordance with the rules and regulations applicable to the Company, including utility service requirements, and other procedures and practices. Draft, negotiate and review documents in preparation of Company acquisitions and related regulatory approvals. Retain and manage the use of outside legal counsel for specific projects, acquisitions, litigation, corporate activities, and daily operation of the Company. Serve as primary responsible legal counsel to certain subsidiaries and/or geographic regions as designated by the General Counsel. Formulate and/or review policies and procedures to guide operating departments on legal-related issues. Work on special projects at the request of various Company officers and provide coordination between various Company departments. Managed the legal matter management, case tracking, e-billing, and analytics systems for the company. Provide periodic reports to various Company officers on matters of interest. QUALIFICATIONS: Juris Doctorate degree required. Minimum ten(10) years of Legal practice experience; Utility Industry preferred Minimum two (2) years’ experience in corporate environment required. Experience with corporate transactional and Mergers & Acquisitions (utility industry preferred) Experience leading an acquisition from inception to closing Experience leading due diligence; drafting and negotiating acquisition documents and overseeing outside counsel. Licensed to practice in Pennsylvania. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Outstanding ethics; supports Aqua’s core values of Integrity, Respect, and Pursuit of Excellence. Proficient in MS office (Word, Outlook etc.) and online legal research tools. Strong verbal and written communications, analytical, and advocacy skills. Ability to work well under pressure Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment A team player able to work effectively in a team fostered multi-tasking environment WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Working conditions include approximately 10 % travel to work sites of Aqua and travel beyond Bryn Mawr, representing Aqua. Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law. Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012). To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to: Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship Family members cannot work in the same department.