Water and Natural Resources Lawyer
Salt River Project
Requisition ID: 19538
Join us in building a better future for Arizona!
SRP is one of the largest public power and water utilities in the U.S. providing electricity to approximately one million customers in the greater metropolitan Phoenix area. Since its founding in 1903, SRP has fostered a culture of stewardship and customer service consistently ranking as an industry leader in customer service according to J.D. Power and named one of Arizona's best employers by Forbes. SRP continues to adapt to its changing business environment by seeking innovative ways to reimagine utility service and the provision of critical resources essential to the life and economy of Arizona.
Why Work at SRP
At SRP, we foster an inclusive work environment and believe everyone should have a fair chance to work, regardless of who they are. That’s why we value teams with diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to help SRP deliver on its mission of providing reliable, affordable and sustainable water and power.
SRP's success is rooted in our employees' happiness, health, and safety. That's why we offer a comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and enhance their well-being. In addition to competitive pay and performance incentives, eligible employees can take advantage of the following benefits:
- Pension Plan (at no cost to the employee)
- 401(k) plan with employer matching
- Available your first day: Medical, vision, dental, and life insurance
- Over 200+ hours of PTO (includes vacation days, holidays, floating holidays, and sick leave)
- Parental leave (up to 4 weeks) and adoption assistance
- Wellness programs (including access to a recreation and fitness facility)
- Short and long-term disability plans
- Tuition assistance for both undergraduate and graduate programs
- 10 Employee Resource Groups for career development, community service, and networking
Summary
Seeking an attorney to join SRP’s in-house legal team to provide legal advise and guidance on water law, federal reclamation law, public land law, and environmental law that will shape strategic decision-making in the water and power industry. The candidate’s knowledge of federal and state water, natural resources, and environmental laws and regulations, will be key in shaping the company’s policies in light of evolving business needs and industry trends. The candidate should have a demonstrated interest and deep desire to achieve excellence as a water and natural resources lawyer and should be capable of producing high quality analysis on complex legal matters, with additional experience in negotiating and drafting complex agreements. Ability to prioritize and efficiently handle multiple matters and issues simultaneously while keeping management informed is required. Excellent research and verbal and written communication skills are also required.
What You'll Do
- Provide high quality legal advice and guidance (1) to support SRP’s core water and power functions, including protecting SRP water rights and advising on legal issues related to developing infrastructure projects to meet regional water and power demands, (2) related to water and power law, reclamation law, Indian law, public land law, and environmental and natural resources laws including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act.
- Teamwork: Absolute necessity to function well within a team environment comprised of clients from various SRP departments, other in-house lawyers, outside counsel, government relations representatives, technical experts, paralegals, and legal technicians; ability to consistently prioritize providing the highest quality legal advice and written legal products.
- Research complex legal issues and draft written memorandum, summaries, pleadings, agreements, and other legal products.
- Conduct complex negotiations to resolve natural resources conflicts and draft term sheets and settlement agreements to memorialize the resolution.
- Conduct complex negotiations for the use of reclamation project facilities and draft legal agreements to memorialize the terms.
- Develop strong, productive, and effective working relationships with internal clients to gather critical information to analyze and resolve complex legal and policy issues.
- Develop strong, productive, and effective working relationships with internal clients, outside counsel, federal government lawyers and executives, state regulatory agency officials, federal and state elected representative and staff, and other stakeholders.
- Manage and support outside counsel with litigation in state and federal courts related to water and power issues, including Arizona’s general stream adjudications.
- Analyze proposed federal and state legislation for impacts to SRP’s core business functions.
- Prioritize and adjust to changing priorities, to manage multiple tasks concurrently, and to work well under pressure.
- Organize and coordinate work projects with minimal supervision.
- Ability to handle all duties with confidentiality, discretion and good judgment.
What It Takes To Succeed
- Arizona bar license or ability to become licensed to practive law in AZ withone one year of employment with SRP.
Experience
- Preferred that the candidate have five or more years of legal experience with solid performance advising clients on water law and natural resources matters including environmental statutes.
Education
Hybrid Workplace
SRP currently offers a hybrid workplace, which allows employees whose jobs can be performed remotely, and who have sufficient technical capability, to telework up to three days per week. Although teleworking is available, all employees must live and work in Arizona.
Drug/Alcohol Policy Statement
To promote the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, and the communities we serve, SRP is committed to maintaining a drug/alcohol free work environment. Although marijuana may now be legal in Arizona, except as otherwise specified under Arizona law, SRP considers it to be an illegal drug for the purpose of our drug/alcohol policy because marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Any candidate found to be impaired during the hiring process or who has the presence of an illegal drug or unauthorized substance in their system during the pre-employment drug/alcohol test may be disqualified from further consideration in the hiring process.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
Salt River Project (SRP) is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state or local law.
Work Authorization
All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Currently, SRP does not sponsor H1B visas, OPT, or other employment-related visa's.