Catalyzing the most efficient use of energy for a thriving Northwest.

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is an alliance of more than 140 utilities and energy efficiency organizations working on behalf of more than 13 million energy consumers. NEEA is dedicated to accelerating both electric and gas energy efficiency, leveraging its regional partnerships to advance the adoption of energy-efficient products, services, and practices.

Since 1997, NEEA and its partners have saved energy equivalent to powering more than 640,000 homes each year. As the second-largest resource in the Northwest, energy efficiency can help offset most of the region’s new demand for energy, saving money and keeping the Northwest a healthy and vibrant place to live.

NEEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Summary

The Legal Contracts Advisor will work directly with NEEA’s Contracts/Legal Team and internal contract managers to support the dynamic, demanding, diverse, and high-volume contracting needs of NEEA’s internal stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and external partners. This person will take a detail-oriented approach to supporting a wide-range of contracting processes and needs with varying degrees of complexity in a fast-paced contracting environment using good judgment and strong legal and business sense.

Using strong problem-solving, communication skills, and organizational skills, this person will support the Contracts/Legal Team by providing best-in-class customer service; ensuring successful and timely preparation, negotiation, and administration of contracts and related activities; monitoring ongoing contract requirements, advising contract managers on processes and resolving legal issues; and able to multi-task and prioritize workload appropriately with a team.

The Legal Contracts Advisor will work closely with NEEA’s Corporate Counsel to ensure that all legal matters within the organization are monitored, managed, and handled in a timely and effective manner; including drafting, negotiation, and reviewing legal documents and providing legal research and support services as needed.

The incumbent will share our deep commitment to diversity and inclusion and advancing practices, strategies and policies that achieve equitable outcomes for all.

Salary Range: $82,000 - $92,000 , exempt

Could This Be Your Dream Job?

Are you interested in working for a mission-driven organization where employees really do believe in the mission and help each other to achieve it? Would you enjoy working with contracts and internal and external stakeholders, and being an integral part of a high-performing and fast-paced Contracts/Legal Team? Do you like multi-tasking and working with a team to ensure its processes and goals are met? Does helping drive the organization’s results by assisting program staff to understand and manage their contracting needs interest you? Do you have a passion for legal issues, processes, and contracts? If you answered yes to these questions, please read on to learn more.

The Typical Day May Include…

• Identifying legal issues, mitigating business risks, and drafting appropriate legal documents and contract terms in a wide range of contract forms and types that may include: RFPs, SOWs, funding agreements, purchase orders, NDAs, service agreements, licensing agreements, data sharing agreements, incentive agreements, releases, etc.
• Leading contract and other negotiations with vendors and other partners in support of NEEA. Resolving legal issues and coordinating NEEA’s work as needed with Corporate Counsel.
• Communicating and coordinating with Contracts/Legal Team, contract managers, and other internal and external stakeholders and parties to ensure contract documents are complete and accurate.
• Documenting actions taken, important information related to contracts, and archiving for future reference and tracking.
• Calculating and documenting changes to contract budgets within the contract documents and financial tracking systems.
• Processing contracts for internal approvals and signatures.
• Identifying and proactively resolving contract and process related issues to maximize efficiencies and service.
• Collaborating on and supporting various Contracts/Legal Team projects within the Team and NEEA.
• Managing and tracking deadlines, prioritizing work, and working efficiently and effectively.

What Are You Good At?

You are a proactive self-starter who manages multiple priorities with flexibility and a can-do mindset regardless of complexity. You recognize, adapt to, and meet new challenges using good judgment, tact, and professionalism. You are excited about working on the Contracts/Legal Team to achieve its goals and have a passion for NEEA’s mission and legal work. You enjoy working with staff at all levels within the organization and are motivated and dedicated to working with cross-functional teams to create a positive employee experience for all staff with a positive attitude and mindset. You are dependable and able to remain customer-service focused in a dynamic environment within a complex organization.

You Likely Have The Following:

• Attention to detail and ability to multi-task in a complex and diverse working environment.
• Strong work ethic and drive to get things finished in an accurate and timely manner.
• Demonstrated customer service skills and ability to work cross-functionally with many internal and external stakeholders in a proactive manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment, while remaining flexible, professional, and enthusiastic about supporting the Contracts/Legal Team.
• Strong legal skills, including excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to problem solve creatively and think critically.
• Possesses exceptional verbal communication and active listening skills. Ability to vary communication style based on audience.
• Can-do attitude with ability to understand how to prioritize and plan work activities while remaining flexible, adaptable, and enthusiastic with good business sense.
• Ability to collect and synthesize data to support decision making. Ability to spot and communicate patterns, trends, and inaccuracies.
• Energized and motivated by non-profit legal work and NEEA’s energy efficiency mission.

Your Education, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred (e.g., pre-law, business).
• Law degree preferred with a minimum of 3-4 years’ related experience, or in lieu of law degree 5-7 years of experience with contracts management. Member of the Oregon State Bar a plus, but not required.
• Demonstrated proficiency in contract negotiation, facilitation, and related communication skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in contract drafting, understanding of contract terms, conditions, and legal effect, and contract review.
• Minimum of 3-4 years’ experience with financial and/or legal processing working with computer database systems that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the necessary performance of the essential job functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and related applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required. Proficiency in SharePoint, Salesforce, NetSuite and/or Adaptive a plus.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the successful performance of the essential job functions will also be considered.

Finalists must have eligibility to work in the US as NEEA is not able to provide VISA sponsorship or have remote work outside of the US. Additionally, this position is based in Portland, OR and requires a minimum of 2-days in the NEEA office.

NEEA’s benefits highlights:

90% of medical/dental premiums paid by NEEA, employer funded Health Savings Account, automatic 6% retirement contribution with 2% matching, 17-days PTO, remote working options, flexible work schedule options, professional development.