Overview
Job Summary
The Senior Advisor – Special Projects will provide high level legal advice and business guidance on complex projects and transactions. The position will drive the analysis of options, taking into consideration potential liability and other risks, pros and cons of each option, as well as current and future funding sources and concomitant restrictions. The Senior Advisor will make recommendations on structuring projects/transactions and guide efforts to implement decisions. This position will also play a leading role in ensuring compliance with applicable laws and contracts (including Memoranda of Understanding and grant agreements).
Success in this role will require deep legal experience with public finance, infrastructure and/or real estate transactions, whether from a private (e.g. infrastructure law firm; equity investor; lender; owner/operator) or public sector background. The ability to quickly comprehend relevant state statutes and regulations promitand to work effectively with the NJ Office of the Attorney-General (NJOAG) is also critical.
$99,120 – $123,900
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.
Responsibilities
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Serves as a key advisor to the Chief Legal & Administrative Officer, overseeing special projects on behalf of the Division, ensuring appropriate staff and other resources are allocated to ensure timely and successful completion;
- Takes the lead on analyzing options for structuring complex projects and transactions, taking into consideration potential liability and other risks, pros and cons of potential options, as well as current and future funding sources and concomitant restrictions; makes recommendations on the preferred option(s); guides implementation;
- Works with the Director – Legal Infrastructure, helping to analyze options for structuring operations of the New Jersey Wind Port, making recommendations on options, and providing sound legal and commercial advice;
- Works closely with the NJOAG and outside legal counsel; coordinates with the NJOAG and seeks legal opinions, as needed;
- May help to drive negotiations on behalf of the Authority with various project counterparties;
- Works with the NJOAG, outside counsel and members of the Legal & Compliance team, to structure and draft project contracts;
- May work with the Authority’s Procurement Department and NJOAG to resolve optimal procurement methods and implement procurements;
- Promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer focused work environment among division, EDA staff and external customers.
- Must complete annual and semiannual self-assessment as required.
- Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.
Qualifications
Required Skills and Abilities
- A demonstrable ability to drive commercial negotiations from beginning to contractual close;
- Solid working knowledge of commercial and legal structuring of major infrastructure projects, as well as project financing mechanisms;
- An ability to quickly acquire an understanding of broader offshore wind market dynamics;
- An ability to quickly familiarize with relevant state statutes and regulations, and to coordinate effectively with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney-General (OAG);
- Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including at a Board level; proficient in grammar, spelling and editing; and foster communications with business professionals and EDA staff;
- Ability to prioritize workload, must be highly organized, detail-oriented, handle various tasks simultaneously and work independently within limited time constraints with minimal supervision;
- Must be able to maintain confidentiality and deal effectively and diplomatically with business professionals and Authority staff;
- Ability to effectively manage and grow teams;
- Demonstrates respectful behavior and promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer focused work environment among division, Authority staff and external customers; and
- NJEDA utilizes Microsoft as the core application platform and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is preferred.
Required Qualifications
Education and Experience Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in finance, business, or business administration, and/or equivalent experience
- Juris Doctor and license to practice law in NJ required
- A minimum of seven to ten years of related work experience
- At least seven to ten of relevant transactional experience;
Advanced degree or industry specific certification may be substituted for 1 year of experience
Physical Demands
- Minimal
- Ability to work outside normal business hours, as needed
Travel
- As necessary to events, meetings, businesses, etc.
Certificates and Licenses Required
- License: 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.
- Active license to practice law in the State of New Jersey
Notes:
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.
Equal Opportunity Employer
NJ SAME Program
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 NJEDA Ethics Guidelines.
- Those guidelines to can be found here:
- https://www.nj.gov/ethics/docs/ethics/plainlanguage2021.pdf
- https://www.nj.gov/ethics/docs/ethics/2022_uniformcode_april.pdf
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