General Counsel

Cogentrix is a leading independent power producer with a long track record of successfully acquiring, developing, constructing, operating, improving and divesting power generation assets. Cogentrix is owned by funds managed by The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest alternative asset management firms, and serves as Carlyle’s in-house power asset management platform. Cogentrix has been directly involved in the development, ownership, operations and management of coal-fired, natural gas-fired, and solar power assets delivering a combined generating capacity in excess of 10 GW. Through the ownership and operation of these plants, Cogentrix has participated in most of the major power regions in the U.S. Cogentrix currently manages plants in the Carlyle portfolio, which has a total net generation of approximately 5,800 MW.

Position Overview:

Cogentrix is currently seeking a Senior Vice President – General Counsel and Secretary to join its highly skilled senior management team. This position has recently become vacant due to the departure of its prior General Counsel. Located at the corporate headquarters in Charlotte, NC, and reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the successful candidate will oversee the company’s 5-person legal department. As head of the company’s legal department, the candidate will be responsible for providing and overseeing provision of counsel and guidance on all legal matters and on the legal implications of all matters. This person will serve as the lead lawyer/legal advisor on all major business transactions, including financings, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. Additionally, this person will advise management on and assist the senior management team in the oversight of all legal aspects of the company’s and its managed project portfolio’s present and future commercial dealings, compliance matters and corporate needs, including power sales and hedging transactions, interconnection arrangements, fuel purchases and transportation arrangements, operation and maintenance arrangements, general contractual and regulatory compliance, litigation management and dispute resolution, project development, corporate governance and organizational matters, and oversight of outside counsel. The candidate will work closely with the company’s Regulatory Affairs group in advocating the company’s interests before FERC and the major ISOs and RTOs. The candidate will also work closely and directly with members of the Carlyle power group management team.

Required Qualifications:

JD with strong academic record.
12+ years of corporate transactional experience with a strong preference for candidates with significant experience representing clients within the electric power generation industry, particularly independent power producers (IPPs). Candidates with both large corporate law firm and in-house experience is preferred.
Experience in power generation project development, project finance and M&A is required.
Must be a confident business savvy lawyer who can protect the business from material legal or regulatory liabilities while functioning as an active member of a commercial team rather than merely a legal adviser.
Outstanding interpersonal and written and oral communication skills, and good people management skills.
Ability to efficiently leverage outside counsel.
Ability to work well independently or in a team setting, superior analytical skills, the ability to identify and resolve legal issues quickly.
Customer focused and able to influence and gain commitment at all levels of the organization.
Must have a high work ethic, be a team player, and possess flexibility.
A positive, even-keeled, professional demeanor.
Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of contacts, including outside attorneys, senior management, counterparties and business associates.
Ability to prioritize conflicting demands from multiple business clients.
Other Requirements:

This position requires the individual to perform effectively in a team environment as a team player, and work well with others inside and outside Cogentrix. It is particularly important that the incumbent be able to manage his or her own legal team, while working effectively with members of other Cogentrix departments including engineering, EHS, operations, human resources, asset management, project development, trading and commercial operations, risk, corporate accounting, tax and finance, as well as senior management and executives.

Qualified candidates should send Resume by email by clicking Apply to this Job below.