Legal Counsel - Construction Services

Position Overview

Kiewit employs 30,000 employees and has been in business for 136 years. We are consistently rated by Forbes as a top place to work and were recently named by ENR as #1 in the top 200 Design/Build contractors in North America.
We are seeking a highly talented individual for the position of Legal Counsel in our Legal department to be located in either the Portland, Oregon or Denver, Colorado metropolitan areas. The complexity of the work we have in this group is unique, working with some of the largest projects being built in North America today. You will be a key member of our Kiewit Legal Department, supporting construction projects in one or more of our key market areas, and reporting to Kiewit Sr. General Counsel.

Do you want to partner with business executives for a leading engineering and construction firm? Would you like to be an integral part of the team tasked with winning and building work for the company? If you want to step into a legal role with a huge impact, this is your chance!

District Overview

At Kiewit, the scale of our operations is huge. Our construction and engineering projects span across the United States, Canada and Mexico, improving and connecting communities with every initiative. We depend on our high-performing Legal team - they’re the glue that holds multiple areas of the business together and the catalysts that make things happen and ensure our people and assets are protected. We hire only the most driven people and we offer them diverse career opportunities, strong leadership and mentorship, rewarding, collaborative work, and responsibility they won’t find just anywhere. We’re always pushing new limits. You can too.

Location

This position will be located in either the Lone Tree Colorado or Portland Oregon Office, with occasional travel as necessary to Project sites/offices and other Kiewit offices.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive oversight of all legal matters of each District and provide a full range of timely and responsive legal advice and support to each District Management;
• Provide routine District support, including:
  • Review and negotiate agreements with various governmental and private owners;
  • Review and negotiation of subcontracts and material contracts, surety bonds, settlement agreements and releases, confidentiality agreements, miscellaneous right-of-way agreements, leases and financial instruments;
  • Manage legal issues associated with vendor management, including defaults, collection matters, personnel issues, etc.
• Evaluate legal issues in light of business objectives, and offer District Management practical alternative solutions to legal issues;
• Possess substantive legal expertise appropriate for specifics of District in context of industry requirements. Develop comprehensive understanding of each District’s business and structure;
• Participate in application of Kiewit Compliance Program to District;
• Participate in Contract Administration Program related to projects of the District, including Change Orders and claims;
• Participation in change orders, claim preparation/reviews, audits and investigations;
• Assist with disputes, mediations, arbitrations and litigation as requested by Group General Counsel;
• Participate in Legal Department Groups, and Legal Department training programs;
• Provide ongoing support (as required) to Group General Counsel on matters relevant to the District. Provide additional support for company legal matters, as required;
• As requested by Group General Counsel, perform initial risk assessment and review of RFPs and prime contracts, and related documents received from clients and partners;
• Create initial drafts of joint venture agreements, consortiums, MOU’s, term sheets, Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) agreements, and other service agreements and associated transactional documents;
• Ensure the Company’s contracting protocols, commercial standards and guidelines are followed;
• Coordinate with the internal stakeholders and subject matter experts relative to the commercial/legal aspects and risks of projects assigned including Legal, Environmental, Audit, Risk Management, Real Estate, Tax and Treasury;
• Coordinate negotiations on major subcontracts with the business lead and internal supply network lead;
• Develop appropriate reporting tools to aid in risk analysis of various projects based upon the client’s requested terms and the Company’s proposed responses;
• Adhere to Kiewit’s Contract Review Processes;
• Provide and/or coordinate training for Kiewit employees of select commercial and legal topics.

Qualifications

J.D. or LL. B Degree from an accredited law school
Admission to a State Bar Association
Minimum 5 years of demonstrated legal experience with a major contractor, engineering firm or law firm. Ideal candidate would have experience as an attorney, within an internal legal department of a construction firm, focused on construction law. Experience in transportation construction desirable.
Currently lives in or near Portland Oregon or Lone Tree Colorado, with ability to travel as required to various project sites and Kiewit offices.
Excellent communication skills; with the ability to clearly and concisely express legal issues and analysis as it pertains to the business to executive management and colleagues
Self-driven and resourceful to achieve goals independently as well as in groups
Flexibility to adjust and thrive in an environment with changing requirements, schedules and priorities
Excellent writing, presentation, and meeting facilitation skills