General Counsel

Job Title

: General Counsel

Salary:

$285,000 - $325,000 (commensurate with experience)

Reports To

: Chief Executive Officer

Location:

Redwood City, California

Peninsula Clean Energy is seeking its first in-house General Counsel. We are a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) and a dynamic, not-for-profit governmental organization of 60+ professionals working in an innovative and mission-driven environment. Come work with us as we address climate change and lead the way forward with clean energy solutions.

PCE operates on a remote-first/hybrid basis. This position requires SF Bay Area residency due to weekly onsite work requirements. The GC is also expected to attend monthly meetings of the Board of Directors and Board Committees, which require evening hours.

POSITION SUMMARY

The General Counsel serves on Peninsula Clean Energy’s senior leadership team and is the foremost internal counsel to the agency. This new executive-level role advises the CEO, Board of Directors, senior leadership, and staff on all legal matters related to the agency’s operations. The General Counsel oversees PCE’s legal strategy, legal risk management, compliance and contracting, and is responsible for ensuring the organization’s adherence to applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

The successful candidate is a collaborative and strategic legal advisor with extensive experience in municipal law, public agency operations, energy market regulations, employment law, and complex public and commercial contracting. They will inform PCE leadership and staff about legal developments and help keep the organization abreast of the laws that may impact the goals or operations of PCE. This position is instrumental supporting PCE’s mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by expanding access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Legal Strategy and Leadership

- Serve as the primary internal legal advisor to PCE and serve as a member of the senior leadership team.

- Provide sound legal advice to the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior staff on a wide range of topics including governance, contracts, compliance, employment law, energy regulations, and public agency law.

- Oversee and guide the agency’s legal operations, including litigation, external counsel management, and legal policy development.

- Identify legal risk and advise on strategies to mitigate exposure while enabling PCE’s mission-driven work.

Contracts and Risk Management

- Oversee and manage the agency’s contracting process including drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and approving complex agreements, including consulting services, NDAs, vendor contracts, and joint development agreements.

- Ensure contracts comply with PCE’s policies and all applicable laws.

- Lead legal aspects of risk identification and mitigation related to contracts, insurance, indemnities, and other business activities.

- Maintain and enhance standard contract templates, legal playbooks, and contract lifecycle management processes.

Compliance and Public Agency Law

- Ensure PCE’s compliance with public agency requirements including the Brown Act, California Public Records Act (CPRA), the Political Reform Act, and conflict of interest laws.

- Oversee response to CPRA requests and updates to agency policies including the Conflict-of-Interest Code.

- Advise staff and the Board of Directors on regulatory obligations related to Community Choice Aggregation and energy compliance, including customer privacy regulations.

- Conduct or oversee legal research and staff development opportunities related to public agency responsibilities and employment law.

Governance and Board Support

- Attend evening Board and standing Committee meetings as legal counsel, supporting governance and procedural compliance.

- Collaborate with the Board Clerk on agenda preparation, recordkeeping, and public meeting protocols.

- Draft, review, and approve Board policies, resolutions, and other official agency documents.

Department Management

- Develop the legal department budget, manage outside counsel, and contribute to organizational planning and strategy.

- Support cross-functional teams with legal expertise and guidance to enable effective decision-making and execution of PCE’s programs and initiatives.

- Performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications:

Education and Certification

- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.

- Active member in good standing with the California State Bar.

Experience

- 15+ years of progressively responsible legal experience, with a strong preference for candidates with public agency, municipal law, or energy sector backgrounds.

- Significant experience advising executive leadership, Boards of Directors, or governing bodies on legal and strategic matters.

- Experience working in or with CCAs, energy utilities, or government-affiliated organizations is highly desirable.

- Proven track record managing legal risk, compliance, and complex contract negotiations in highly regulated environments.

- Experience supervising legal staff and managing external counsel relationships.

Leadership

- This position is a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to agency-wide decision-making, strategy development, and organizational planning.

- The ideal candidate brings not only legal expertise but also sound business judgment, collaborative spirit, and a deep commitment to PCE’s mission to advance clean energy and public service.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Deep understanding of public agency governance, the Brown Act, CPRA, and other California laws relevant to local government entities.

- Ability to represent PCE to Board of Directors, election officials, administrative agencies, trade associations, and before public bodies.

- Knowledge of contract and procurement law, employment law, and energy regulations.

- Ability to distill complex legal concepts into actionable guidance with risk assessments for both technical and non-legal audiences.

- Strong leadership presence and emotional intelligence.

- High ethical standards, discretion, and a demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity with clarity and integrity.

- Commitment to sustainability, community energy, and mission driven work.

- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse communities and people of different cultures, backgrounds, and opinions.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary range of $285,000 - $325,000, commensurate with experience.

Generous benefit package includes:

- Medical, dental, and vision health insurance

- Retirement contribution & paid parental leave

- Flex spending account.

- Stipend for remote work

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application materials must include:

- Resume

- Cover letter

- Answers to application questions

- A case study assignment may be given in the final round of interviews

We are unable to sponsor Visas and/or relocation.

ABOUT US

Peninsula Clean Energy is the community choice energy program (known as a “CCA”) for San Mateo County and portions of Merced County. Our mission is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by expanding access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions.

PCE is an Equal Opportunity Employer

and committed to complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.