RWE Americas, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent
Functional area: Legal / Compliance
Remuneration: Exempt
RWE Americas is seeking an experienced, innovative Assistant General Counsel to join our in-house legal team as an enabler for our renewable energy and emerging technology business teams. This role provides legal support across the development, construction, and operation of wind, solar, battery storage, microgrid, and flexible generation projects, as well as our growing data center business - both behind-the-meter and hyperscaler-facing. Working directly with business stakeholders and outside counsel, the AGC will serve as lead legal counsel on complex procurement, construction, and operations matters across technologies: drafting and negotiating procurement and construction contracts, protecting commercial value at the table, and resolving operational issues including warranty claims and contract enforcement. This role includes anticipating and mitigating legal risk across the organization and translating contractual issues into directly actionable commercial advice. The AGC will work closely with the engineering team to translate new technology and innovation initiatives - including data centers and microgrids - into actionable contracts, enabling the business to move quickly and capture opportunities in a fast-growing, rapidly advancing industry.
Role Responsibilities:
Serve as lead legal counsel on complex procurement and construction matters across renewable energy and emerging technologies - including wind, solar, battery storage, flexible generation, microgrids, and data centers (behind-the-meter and hyperscaler) - advising the business on project procurement, construction, and operations
Draft, review, and negotiate sophisticated procurement and construction contracts, such as turbine supply agreements, balance of plant agreements, EPC and turnkey contracts, purchase agreements for major equipment and components, and service agreements, together with associated exhibits and ancillary documents - negotiating favorable commercial terms that protect value and appropriately allocate risk, not simply processing deals to close
Negotiate terms and conditions for the purchase of other non-project-based goods and services of all @types
Provide legal guidance on operations and maintenance (O&M) and long-term service agreements, including during transition to operations and warranty periods
Support the team's management of pre-litigation disputes, warranty claims, and change orders arising from procurement and construction matters, coordinating handoff to the Litigation team on matters that mature into formal disputes
Manage outside counsel engaged on procurement and construction matters, reviewing deliverables for accuracy, efficiency, and value
Provide legal support on HSE, R&D, IP, IT, Tax, and insurance matters as they arise within procurement and construction workstreams
Experience drafting and negotiating IRA requirements, tariff and FEOC clauses, and related regulatory issues
Anticipate and proactively address legal risks within the organization's construction and procurement workstreams, developing strategies to avoid disputes and reduce areas of risk
Collaborate with business stakeholders across Procurement, Pre-Construction, Project Execution, Tax, Credit, Accounting, and Insurance to develop contract strategies that meet commercial goals
Partner with the engineering team to translate new technology and innovation initiatives - including data center and microgrid development - into actionable contracts, enabling the business to move quickly and capture opportunities as the industry and its underlying technology rapidly advance
Provide project-specific legal support to Project Execution teams, project managers, the Project Operations team, and O&M personnel
Job Requirements and Experiences:
Juris Doctorate from an accredited university, required
Minmum 6 years of experience required or 4 years with specific experience working on complex construction projects and/or related procurement in a law firm or an energy or large infrastructure company
Licensed and in good standing in US jurisdiction
Legal knowledge and experience in construction work and large scale energy projects highly preferred
Experience or demonstrated interest working with engineering teams on new technology, intellectual property, and innovation initiatives in the renewable energy industry preferred
Litigation / dispute management experience is a plus
Experience using AI tools or CLM platforms in a legal practice setting strongly preferred
An enabler mindset - finds the path to "yes" on novel deal structures rather than defaulting to risk-aversion, while protecting the Company's interests
Genuine curiosity about new technology and emerging asset classes (data centers, microgrids, storage), with comfort partnering with engineering teams to turn innovation into actionable contracts
Outstanding commercial and business judgment - practical rather than theoretical, with strong business acumen and the ability to translate legal issues into viable business solutions
Strong interpersonal and communication skills - able to build and manage relationships with business stakeholders across diverse backgrounds, and to lead and influence without formal authority
Highly organized, able to multi-task and prioritize across multiple deliverables and meet deadlines, independently and as part of a team
Motivated self-starter with strong problem-solving instincts; coachable and responsive to feedback and direction
Genuine interest in the Company and its growth in the energy space
Demonstrated proficiency in AI applications (e.g., chat-based assistants, CLMs) and experience embedding such applications into legal workflows
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel for tracking and reporting, as well as Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook), SharePoint, and Teams
Work Enviorment
This position is an office-based role with some travel and visits to other RWEA office and field locations. The employee must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.
Pay range: The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois or New York is $160,000 - $200,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.
Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.
Apply with just a few clicks: ad code 93810. Any questions? Contact HR: rweamericasrecruiting@rwe.com (rwece_recruiting@rwe.com)
We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE's 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.
At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors - Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.
