Application and resume review will begin immediately.This position may be filled as a Corporate Counsel or Senior Corporate Counsel based on the selected applicant’s experience and qualifications. Corporate Counsel (Grade 25) / Salary range $140,000 to $180,000 annually.
Senior Corporate Counsel (Grade 26) / Salary starts at $170,000 to $230,000 annually.
Rate of pay depends upon experience. SAWS - Who We AreThe San Antonio Water System (SAWS) is a water, wastewater and water reuse utility owned by the City of San Antonio, the 7th largest city in the United States and the second largest city in Texas. SAWS provides service to approximately 2.1 million customers and has approximately 1,934 employees. Among its most innovative successes, SAWS has the nation's largest recycled water system, the nation's first direct sale of methane gas from a wastewater treatment plant to a city-wide natural gas system, the largest groundwater-based aquifer storage and recovery system in the country, a state-of-the-art brackish groundwater desalination plant, and completed the nation’s largest P3 water supply project. In addition, SAWS has an internationally recognized water conservation program. SAWS is managed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, six of whom are appointed by the City Council of the City of San Antonio, and the seventh being the Mayor of the City of San Antonio, in an ex-officio capacity. SAWS has approximately $10 billion in assets, with a 2024 capital improvements budget of approximately $567.6 million and an operating budget of $1.0 billion.
Legal DepartmentThe SAWS legal department consists of the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & Ethics Officer, who oversees the legal, contracting, corporate real estate and records management divisions. The legal division currently consists of two Vice Presidents and six other attorneys specializing in water law; environmental law; litigation, claims, labor and employment law; real estate; and contracting, general business and transactions law for public entities or utilities.
Job DescriptionPOSITION SUMMARY This position is filling a vacancy in the legal department due to a retirement. The successful candidate will serve as the organization's in-house legal counsel for matters involving general business and transactions law, specifically including construction, engineering, and other service contracts. Responsibilities include providing timely and accurate legal advice, counsel, representation, and analysis to executive management and staff, as well as making presentations to the SAWS Board of Trustees in connection with SAWS legal matters. This position is also responsible for the management and oversight of pre-litigation disputes involving transactional matters. The successful candidate will have frequent contact with internal clients, providing legal support for their goals. They will also have frequent contact with external parties, including attorneys, consultants, contracting parties and members of the public. This position reports directly to the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Ethics Officer.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS- Provides legal counsel and advice to SAWS' Board of Trustees, President/CEO, Executive Management, and staff within one or more assigned law specialties.
- Provides legal review, analysis, and research for the development of SAWS policies and procedures, programs, and projects to ensure conformance with relevant contracts, laws, administrative regulations, and local agency rules.
- Provides analysis and recommendations regarding the legal risks and strategies associated with disputes or settlements.
- Negotiates, drafts, interprets, and reviews complex transactional documents associated with SAWS projects and programs.
- Advises management on complex legal issues and provides direct legal support, as needed.
- Manages outside counsel and actively participates in discovery, mediation, and litigation on behalf of the System, as needed.
- Advocates on behalf of SAWS in a wide variety of settings, including negotiations, dispute resolutions, mediations, trials, hearings, and administrative processes, to resolve disputes or legal actions.
- Responds to and resolves sensitive inquiries and complaints from both internal and external sources.
- Works well within the Legal department providing legal advice and assistance to team members.
- May supervise, select, develop, train, and evaluate the performance of assigned staff.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
DECISION MAKING- Reports directly to the Executive Vice President - Chief Legal & Ethics Officer.
- Work is performed with independence and minimal supervision using discretion and judgment appropriate to the job responsibilities.
JOB REQUIREMENTSCorporate Counsel - A Law Degree (Juris Doctor) from an accredited Law School is required. Must be a member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas, currently licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and a resident of Texas.
- At least three (3) years of experience as a licensed, practicing attorney in a private law firm or governmental agency specializing in general business and transactional law, construction and engineering law, corporate law, public law, or contracting and/or utility law.
- Additional experience specifically with design and construction contracts is preferred and highly desirable.
Senior Corporate Counsel- A Law Degree (Juris Doctor) from an accredited Law School is required. Must be a member in good standing with the State Bar of Texas, currently licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and a resident of Texas.
- At least ten (10) years of progressive experience as a licensed, practicing attorney in a private law firm or governmental agency specializing in general business and transactional law, construction and engineering law, corporate law, public law, or contracting and/or utility law.
- Additional experience specifically with design and construction contracts is preferred and highly desirable.
JOB DIMENSIONS- Frequent contact with internal clients, including Executive Management and Board of Trustees.
- Frequent contact with external parties, including, attorneys, consultants, administrative agency and governmental staff and members of the public.
- Manages outside counsel and budgets for legal services.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONSWorking conditions are primarily in an office environment with occasional travel.
May be required to work hours other than daytime schedule such as evenings, weekends, and holidays.
San Antonio Water System values the contributions of all its employees, providing them the best in compensation and benefits. The benefits package is designed to attract and retain a workforce of qualified employees who share a responsibility in providing quality water to 1 million consumers.
From an affordable medical and dental plan to life-sustaining retirement and insurance plans, we offer benefits that reward employees for their commitment to a challenging career at SAWS. Employee benefits include the following:
- Competitive, market-based salaries
- Performance-based incentives
- Medical benefits
- Dental benefits
- Life insurance
- Prescription drug program
- Vision care plan
- Two retirement plans
- Deferred compensation plans (457 plan)
- Disability income
- Paid leave (vacation, sick, personal)
- Education assistance program
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible, tax-deferred health and dependent care spending accounts
- Wellness programs
- On-Site Fitness Facilities
- Community service opportunities
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
