Requisition ID: 108498
Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued.
People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.
We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $40 to $42 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities.
American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Primary Role
General Counsel leading and managing a Legal Department responsible for all legal matters for Indiana American Water, Kentucky American Water, & Tennessee American Water. Provide high quality, effective legal counsel, advice and representation, and effective business advice, to American Water’s regulated business operations on a variety of legal risks and opportunities, (such as regulatory and rates, litigation, employment, contracts, business development, environmental, real estate, financings, etc.) and other business matters. Active member of the Senior Management team for IN, KY and TN American Water. Must be physically location in IN, KY or TN or willing to relocate.
Key Accountabilities
•Lead a team of legal professionals (lawyers, paralegals, legal administrators and support personnel) to provide timely, sound, effective, high caliber legal and business advice, counsel and representation on a proactive basis to the company’s regulated business operations; serve as trusted legal advisor including but not limited to the President, the state Presidents, and their senior leadership teams; serve as the key legal resource on a wide variety of legal and business matters. (20%)
•Advise management and represent the company on a broad range of regulatory, legislative, and corporate and commercial issues, including rates and regulatory matters before state public utility commissions and environmental compliance matters before state and federal environmental agencies.
•Work collaboratively on the development of positions and implementation of strategy relative to system-wide issues related to rate cases and other regulatory matters. (20%)
•Retain, direct and manage outside counsel to represent the company in judicial and administrative proceedings, including such matters as general litigation and administrative hearings before courts and administrative tribunals; prepare or review the preparation of briefs and other documents and the development of strategy for litigation and regulatory proceedings to ensure high quality, value-added, cost effective legal services consistent with the company’s overall business strategy. (10%)
•Negotiate, draft and review contracts and other legal and transactional documents for the operating companies; review, evaluate and make recommendations regarding potential business transactions. (10%)
•Manage compliance with corporate governance, recordkeeping and filing requirements; serve as Corporate Secretary for three state subsidiaries; support and assist in Code of Ethics compliance; provide any internal legal reporting or compliance reports, including periodic assessment and reporting of asserted and unasserted claims to assure compliance with the timetables established by American Water General Counsel and high quality claims evaluation. (10%)
•Provide legislative/regulatory evaluations and advice including drafting of proposed legislation or changes thereto and providing, as requested, explanation of the organization's position on such matter for legislators and governmental administrators. (5%)
Key Accountabilities Cont'd
•Provide thought leadership through such things as effective presentations industry organizations, as well as external boards, committees. (5%)
•Commissions, state and local governmental agencies and other organizations; and provide effective presentations to internal oversee the contract administration and other processes impacting the business.
•Provide training to the business on a variety of legal matters and issues. (5%)
•Serve as a member of senior leadership teams for IN, KY & TN American Water; serve as a senior leader of American Water’s Functional Legal Team; perform other duties and execute other projects in coordination with American Water’s Legal Leadership team or the State Presidents for IN, KY & TN. (15%)
Knowledge/Skills
•Broad knowledge of utility regulatory law, the utility regulatory framework, and corporate and commercial law.
•Broad knowledge of company policies and operations.
•Expertise in business mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, strategic planning, contracting, human resources, real property, corporate governance, process and litigation management.
•Demonstrate excellent commercial business judgment.
•Must have the ability, experience and business judgment to be an active member of the State Management Team to positively impact business decisions, specific and strategic in nature.
•Broad knowledge of utility regulatory law and the utility regulatory framework
•Broad knowledge of corporate law and general corporate governance principles.
•Excellent written and oral communication, analytical and drafting skills.
•Strong interpersonal skills with an emphasis on initiative, knowledge sharing, teambuilding and decision-making.
•Strong business acumen and leadership skills.
•Ability to work well on a variety of teams.
•Excellent organizational and project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
•Ability to balance legal risks and business objectives.
•Ability to handle sensitive/confidential information in a proper manner.
•Must have superb negotiation skills.
•Works effectively with all levels within the organization as well as key external stakeholders.
Experience/Education
•Juris Doctorate law degree from an accredited law school.
•Minimum 12 years legal experience, as a licensed practicing attorney, both law firm and in-house experience preferred.
•Demonstrated management level experience in a utility regulatory environment.
Certifications/Licenses
•Licensed to practice in one or more states where the business unit currently operates business.
•Professional disciplinary record that does not limit ability to receive professional licensing reciprocity, if available
Work Environment
Standard office environment. Ability to maintain flexible working hours.
Travel Requirements
Overnight and extended periods of travel are required.
Competencies
Drives Safety Culture
Drives Vision & Purpose
Strategic & Learning Agility
Political & Organizational Savvy
Builds Effective Teams & Network
Situational Adaptability
Persuades
Join American Water...We Keep Life Flowing™
American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.