Director of Legal & Compliance
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Director of Legal & Compliance to establish and lead the in-house legal function for a growing engineering and project-focused organization. This is a unique opportunity to build the foundation of a legal department and shape compliance and risk strategies for a company driving innovation in large-scale infrastructure and energy projects.
The Director will oversee all legal matters, including commercial contracts, compliance programs, governance, and litigation. This role requires a practical, business-minded legal professional who can partner with leadership to deliver solutions that support operational goals and long-term growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary legal advisor across commercial, corporate, employment, and regulatory matters.
- Lead negotiation and standardization of contracts, including MSAs, NDAs, and task orders with developers and EPC partners.
- Manage outside counsel and litigation, including claims, disputes, and liability issues.
- Develop and implement internal legal systems, policies, and templates to support scalability.
- Oversee claims and insurance matters, including professional liability and construction-related claims, insurance renewals, and coverage reviews.
- Partner with project and finance teams to assess contractual risk and ensure appropriate indemnity and insurance provisions.
- Create and maintain compliance programs covering anti-corruption, whistleblower, and related laws.
- Support policy development for employment law, safety, and subcontractor compliance.
- Advise on international expansion, including entity setup, employment, and tax exposure; coordinate with local counsel.
- Maintain corporate governance, ESOP compliance, and shareholder documentation.
Qualifications
Required:
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) and licensed to practice in at least one U.S. state.
- 10+ years of legal experience, including 3+ years in-house at a fast-growing or engineering-focused company.
- Proven experience managing legal risk (claims, insurance programs, contractual risk) in engineering, construction, infrastructure, or energy sectors.
- Strong background in commercial contracting, litigation oversight, and compliance.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to translate legal issues into actionable business guidance.
- Independent, solution-oriented, and comfortable building scalable systems.
Preferred:
- Experience with ESOPs or complex capital structures.
- Exposure to international operations or cross-border contracting.
- Background in regulated or project-based industries such as utilities or energy.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation with bonus potential.
- Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- 401(k) with immediate vesting and generous employer match.
- Paid parental leave, volunteer time off, and charitable donation matching.
- Flexible work arrangements and wellness stipends.
Why This Role Is Exciting
- Opportunity to build and lead a legal function from the ground up.
- Direct impact on strategic growth initiatives and high-profile projects.
- Collaborative, mission-driven culture focused on innovation and sustainability.
FAQs
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