Director - Counsel Department

Job Summary

EDA Overview

Join the NJEDA and help lead New Jersey to sustainable economic growth, fostering equitable opportunities and vibrant communities. We offer hybrid work, a supportive culture, and robust benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and extensive wellness programs. Make a tangible impact and shape New Jersey's future with innovative economic development at NJEDA.

Job Overview

• The Counsel department support model is structured on three principles: 1) competence; 2 responsiveness; and 3) partnership. The Director of the Counsel Department will manage the support model and provide general counsel to the Authority’s broad array of product and program teams, as well as counsel the Authority’s major capital and real estate projects, investments, and other economic initiatives. The position will also advise on legal operations and emergent issues across the Authority.
• This role shall oversee a team of attorneys that provides legal business partner support to the Authority’s departments and divisions. The position will manage legal work streams related to new product and program development, construction and infrastructure, employment-related matters and other internal operational needs, and the Authority’s complex commercial and investment initiatives.
• Success in this role will require an ability to provide effective counseling across a broad spectrum of legal issues, including contract drafting and review, as well as negotiating with sophisticated Authority counterparties.

$126,400 - $142,200

Note: The NJEDA currently offers a hybrid work schedule for up to 2 days of telecommute work from home. To participate, you will be required to have high speed home internet access and a managers approval. This program does not supersede the "New Jersey First Act", which requires newly hired NJEDA employees to establish and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey.

Duties  

Daily Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Manages the Counsel team of attorneys as well as the daily flow of incoming requests for support and the accuracy and quality of the advice and work product being transmitted by the team.
• Provides general legal counsel and support across all departments of the Authority, including new product/program development, real estate and infrastructure projects, investments, commercial negotiations, and other transactional/contract matters.
• Must complete annual self-assessment as required.
• Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Projects:

• Develops a robust legal business partner support model to product and program teams in all workstreams and life cycles of Authority’s diverse development portfolio.
• Counsels departments and Authority leadership on internal operational issues and manages the department’s organizational and strategic operations.

Collaboration and Cross-Divisional Interaction:

• Communicates and supports a broad spectrum of product/program teams and departments across the Authority, as well as teams within the broader Legal and Compliance Division.
• Works with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and outside legal counsel, helps to manage any legal disputes that may arise with project/program counterparties (e.g., contractors, landlords, and vendors).

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to the Managing Director of Counsel & Governance and support the Managing Director in delivering effective and efficient legal advice on diverse issues, as well as advise the Managing Director on legal and strategic decisions of the Counsel Department.

Skills and Qualifications

Technical Skills:

• A proven ability to research, analyze, and apply complex regulations, laws, and policies; prepare legal documents, memoranda, and reports; and problem-solve across disciplines.
• Capacity to participate in negotiations on behalf of the Authority and State.
• Drafts and reviews term sheets, grant agreements, and other contractual instruments as needed by the Authority’s departments and programs.

Soft Skills:

• A proven ability to communicate effectively with project teams and senior leadership, including the Authority’s Board of Directors.
• Ability to prioritize workload, must be highly organized, detail-oriented, handle various tasks simultaneously and work independently within limited time constraints with little or no supervision.
• Ability to build a healthy team environment that values individual contributions and fosters general support for each team member’s success.

Certifications:

• License to practice law in the State of New Jersey, and in good standing.

Experience:

• 7-10 years of relevant legal experience, whether within a state government setting or private practice.
  • Preference for transactional or in-house experience.
• Advanced degree or industry specific certification may be substituted for 1 year of experience

Education:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited ABA-approved law school;

Software/Tools Proficiency:

• Proficient in online legal research applications (such as LexisNexis), with the ability to learn new software packages.
• NJEDA utilizes Microsoft as the core application platform and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is preferred.

Additional Information

• Minimal physical demands and ability to work out normal business hours
• Travel expected when necessary for business operations

Certificates and Licenses Required

• License to practice law in the State of New Jersey, and in good standing.
• Staff are required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essentials duties of the position.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job description. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope, general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job.  This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

Your employment at NJEDA is voluntary and subject to termination by you or NJEDA at will, with or without cause, or with or without notice, at any time.  Nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to conflict, eliminate or modify the employment-at-will status of NJEDA employees. 

This position is considered exempt and is excluded from minimum wage, overtime regulations, and other rights and protections afforded nonexempt workers under the FLSA.

NJEDA reserves the right to amend/revise this job description as necessary to meet current and changing business needs.

NJ SAME Program

 In accordance with P.L. 2021, c. 465 and P.L. 2021, 466, the SAME program was established to enable New Jersey State agencies to hire, promote, retain, and advance qualified individuals whose physical or mental impairments impact their abilities to participate in the hiring and promotion process for non-competitive and unclassified titles within the State workforce.

The SAME program allows candidates, who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process. This program uses a fast-track process that permits people who are eligible for the program to request that the State appointing authority schedule with them a good faith interview. For more information about the SAME program and the Fast Track Hiring program, please Click Here.  If you have any questions, please email, or call the contact as indicated on the job vacancy announcement.

This posting open to eligible applicants regardless of SAME eligibility.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Requirements

• Foreign degrees/transcripts must be evaluated by a reputable evaluation service at your own expense and must be submitted prior to a start date. If this cannot be provided within 21 days of an offer the offer will be rescinded.
• Must comply with the “New Jersey First Act” which requires employees hired after September 1, 2011, to reside in New Jersey. Non-New Jersey resident employees must relocate to New Jersey within one year of their date of hire and provide proof of residency to Human Resources.
• Must complete an Outside Activity Questionnaire (disclosure of outside office or employment) on an annual basis.
• Must review the required NJ State Ethics Guidelines found on the state website.
• Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States per the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations. Note: The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorship for citizenship to the United States.

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