In-House Counsel

Job Summary

Colas Inc. is looking to hire an attorney to expand its 8-person in-house legal team based in Morristown, New Jersey (with satellite offices located in Brea, California and Greenville, South Carolina). This role, located in Anchorage, Alaska, will provide legal advice and assistance primarily to Colas’ operating infrastructure subsidiaries located throughout Alaska pertaining to their day-to-day operations. Strong emphasis in negotiating, drafting, and reviewing public and private heavy highway construction contracts and related documents, claims and contract management, overseeing litigation with outside counsel, drafting aggregate extraction/supply agreements, and various other commercial and transactional agreements related to infrastructure operations. Excellent opportunity for the right candidate who will report directly to the General Counsel/Vice President.

Main Responsibilities

• Negotiating, drafting, and reviewing heavy highway construction contracts, both public (AKDOT and federal) and private, purchase orders and material sales and supply agreements
• Manage and negotiate construction claims; general construction contract management.
• Experience with alternative project delivery methods, including design-build, progressive design-build, CMGC; preparation and negotiation of teaming agreements, joint venture agreements, design services agreements.
• Drafting aggregate extraction/supply agreements, throughput agreements, and various other commercial and transactional agreements.
• Oversee/manage legal matters as needed related to company’s real property assets including leasing, mineral rights agreements, operational and environmental compliance, land use and permitting issues.
• Providing accurate and timely legal and business advice and assistance to multiple operating infrastructure companies located primarily in Alaska pertaining to their day-to-day operations.
• Understanding the key business issues that drive legal issues and providing accurate and timely counsel to business executives on a variety of business and legal topics (i.e., construction defects liens, change orders, project bidding bonds, employment matters, acquisitions, environmental issues, regulatory issues, and general legal advice).
• Overseeing litigation and managing outside counsel.
• Provide training and presentations on various construction related topics to operations.
• Researching and evaluating legal risk factors for construction business decisions and operations.
• Applying effective risk management techniques and offering proactive advice on various legal issues.
• Coordinating with outside counsel on certain non-litigated matters.
• Maintaining current knowledge of changes in legislation and regulations affecting our industry, particularly in the State of Alaska and at the federal level.

Education

• Must have a J.D. from an accredited law school and admitted to practice law in Alaska.
• Must have between 5 to 12 years of experience as either an in-house attorney with an infrastructure/construction company or as an attorney with a well-respected law firm handling legal work in the construction industry.

Skills

• Must maintain the highest degree of ethics, integrity, and transparency.
• Looking for an outgoing individual able to communicate with all levels of employees easily and effectively, from executive to operators (provide common sense, business, and legal advice).
• Must have the ability to explain complex legal and business issues in an understandable manner.
• Must possess strong drafting, organizational, and analytical skills.
• High degree of client service orientation and ability to respond quickly and pragmatically to urgent, complex situations.
• Strong team player and collaborator that works to meet organizational goals; must have ability to multitask and work independently and as a member of a team. Be a strategic business partner.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time primarily throughout Alaska with some occasional travel to NJ.
• Hybrid work environment considered in winter months (mostly 4 days in Colaska’s Anchorage, Alaska office, 1 day remote).
• Salary range commensurate with experience.
• Generous benefits including medical, dental and vision, life insurance, vacation, 401k, etc.
• Cell phone and all annual legal licenses and continuing legal education paid by the Company.

Physical Requirements

• Able to travel up to 25% of the time.