Exempt

Immediately

Salary commensurate with experience

40.00 Standard from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

A resume and letter of interest is required to apply. Candidates under final consideration will also be required to submit professional references, college degree information, and employment history to an online third-party vendor.

About University Lands

With offices in Houston and Midland, Texas, University Lands is the fiduciary steward of 2.1 million acres of land across 19 counties in West Texas, managing both the surface and mineral interests for the benefit of the Permanent University Fund (PUF); one of the largest university endowments in the United States that benefits more than 20 educational and health institutions across The University of Texas System and Texas A&M University System.

About the University Lands Legal Department

The Legal Department at University Lands is a key, strategic business partner that facilitates value through collaboration and proactive counseling that is fit-for-risk. With a strong understanding of UL's mission and its business objectives, Legal provides commercial and legal support to all UL departments in a multitude of practice areas affecting the surface and subsurface of the 2.1 million acres of land.

About UT System

The UT System Administration supports the missions of the System's fourteen institutions by providing financial, legal, planning, purchasing, government relations, communications, development, and other central services. Serving a growing state, the UT System Administration strives to provide a welcoming, supportive work environment that embraces different perspectives - not only because it enables the organization to be stronger, creative, and thoughtful, but because it is the right thing to do. To that end, UT System Administration embraces state laws on military and former foster children employment preferences.

The role will report to the Vice President, Legal and support the entire University Lands organization in a wide variety of legal matters affecting the surface and subsurface of the 2.1 million acres managed by University Lands, including land operations, minerals, leasing, royalties, surface, renewables and emerging energy, regulatory, state purchasing, environmental, and sustainability.

• Provide high quality legal support and analysis with an understanding of Texas oil and gas/land management practices on a diverse portfolio of sophisticated agreements and transactions, including mineral leasing, oil and gas development transactions, renewable energy transactions, emerging energy transactions, royalty accounting and disputes, state purchasing, surface leasing, ranching, environmental, remediation, and sustainability.
• Self-starter able to perform legal research and investigation, and report findings and conclusions to senior and executive management.
• Independent responsibility in dealing with internal UT System, government relations, commercial counterparties, operators, and many other parties, both internal and external.
• Responsible for managing legal projects and matters independently, with oversight from the VP, Legal.
• Ability to shape role within the Legal Department by cultivating expertise on matters unique to University Lands.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Ability to prioritize and handle a large number of matters. Must have excellent speaking and writing skills as well as exceptional executive, analytical, and communication abilities.
• High degree of professionalism.
• Ability to communicate clearly with internal and external parties.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals at all levels, both internal and external to the organization.
• Ability to manage and adhere to deadlines, with strong attention to detail, higher level thinking skills, and strong professional judgment.
• Ability to work collaboratively, cohesively and with a positive and enthusiastic approach.

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and a license to practice law in Texas.
• Three (3) years of experience at a law firm or combination of experience at a law firm and in-house at an energy company or land management company.

• Excellent drafting and professional communication skills are vitally important to the role.

• May work around standard office conditions.
• Uses standard office equipment.
• Requires occasional evening or weekend hours.

The standard retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. However, the incumbent of this position may elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

A background check will be conducted on applicants under final consideration. The background check may include any or all of the following: criminal history check, prior employment verification, education verification, professional references check, and motor vehicle records check. Background checks are conducted by third-party vendors. Upon request from the third-party vendor, candidates under final consideration must provide the required information for the background checks to be completed.

The University of Texas System Administration is a federal contractor committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all qualified applicants and employees in all terms and conditions of employment. U. T. System will provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state laws.

For information on accommodations for individuals with disabilities, please contact the Office of Talent and Innovation at oti@utsystem.edu.