Managing Director, Legal & Regulatory Affairs

This position is at the NY Green Bank, a division of NYSERDA. NY Green Bank is a globally recognized sustainable investment fund. Its mission is to accelerate clean energy deployment in New York State in alignment with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) .

NY Green Bank collaborates with the private sector to transform financing markets. It also develops transaction structures and methodologies that overcome typical clean energy investment barriers and can serve as replicable models for other capital providers.

New York is leading the nation in the fight on global climate change and the transition to a clean energy-powered economy. The Climate Act has created the most aggressive climate change goals in the nation and requires an ambitious agenda that blends proven catalysts with innovative approaches while operating across a broader energy arena that is rapidly evolving. New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a driving force in realizing this agenda. NYSERDA works with stakeholders that span residents, business owners, developers, community leaders, local government officials, universities, utilities, investors, entrepreneurs, and more, to develop, invest, and foster conditions that:

• Attract the private sector capital investment needed to expand New York’s clean energy economy.
• Overcome barriers to using clean energy at a large-scale in New York.
• Enable New York’s communities and residents to benefit equitably from energy efficiency and renewable energy.
  
  

Job Overview

NY Green Bank (“NYGB”) seeks a senior attorney (the “MD-L&R”) to join its management team, lead its Legal & Regulatory Affairs (“LRA”) team and provide legal advice and strategic counsel with respect to NYGB’s operations, transactions, regulatory issues, and general corporate affairs. The MD-L&R must be committed to NYGB’s mission, to helping NYGB continually improve and to contributing at the highest levels of NYGB – with the ability to provide leadership not only within the team but across the entire organization. In addition, as is common for high-growth and lean organizations, the MD-L&R must excel at and be interested in being hands-on, whether in the planning, oversight, production or finalization of required deliverables (e.g., deal structuring and negotiating, transaction documentation, regulatory and investor materials, risk management, corporate strategy, etc.) or in the development of new structures and strategies to open new clean energy financing markets.

Primary Responsibilities

The MD-L&R provides legal advice and strategic counsel with respect to NYGB’s operations, transactions, regulatory issues, and general corporate affairs. The MD-L&R must be capable of contributing at the highest levels of NYGB as the position is responsible for overseeing and being directly responsible for a variety of legal and regulatory affairs activities and deliverables at the highest level of industry standards and best practices.

As part of the leadership of NYGB, the MD-L&R participates, along with the rest of NYGB’s senior team, in formulating and implementing the strategy and policy of NYGB. In addition, the MD-L&R leads the LRA team of attorneys and manages outside counsel relationships in supporting NYGB investment and operations teams in anticipating issues, evaluating risks and solving complex problems in ways that advance NYGB's mission. The MD-L&R is a dynamic attorney with knowledge and experience regarding financing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and related legal issues, the capabilities to both advise NYGB transaction and credit risk teams on such matters and to propose and execute upon creative financing strategies in line with the policy goals of NYGB, NYSERDA and the State of New York, and the passion to work in a fast-paced environment on the cutting edge of energy policy.

Essential Functions and Duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing NYGB Management with effective legal advice regarding business and strategic issues
• Ensuring NYGB complies with applicable laws and regulations
• Consulting and collaborating with NYSERDA's General Counsel on matters that implicate NYSERDA corporate matters or otherwise impact NYSERDA or its stakeholders
• Supervising and directing the performance of, and providing mentorship for, NYGB’s Legal & Regulatory Team
• Collaborating with and advising NYGB’s Risk & Compliance team on internal operations and procedures that promote integrity and risk mitigation within a governmental framework while seeking to achieve commercial effectiveness
• Working with NYGB’s Investment & Portfolio Management team to structure, negotiate, document, and close commercial transactions
• Working with NYGB’s Operations & Finance team to comply with all regulatory requirements, including with respect to relevant statutory and Public Service Commission requirements concerning the investment of NYS ratepayer funds
• Selecting and overseeing the work of outside counsel
• Performing other responsibilities as assigned
• Ability to perform all managerial and supervisory responsibilities with demonstrated experience fostering respect, diversity, equity and inclusion across the workforce.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications Required: Doctor of Jurisprudence from an accredited college or university and admitted to practice law in a US jurisdiction for at least ten years. If bar admission is not in New York State, then an ability and willingness to make an application for such license, which will be required as part of the position.

• 12 years relevant experience in a combination of the following subject areas:
• Complex state and federal regulatory and compliance matters
• Business organizations and corporate law, preferably with significant experience negotiating clean energy financing transactions
• Management and documentation of complex business transactions
• Project, structured, asset-based, or leveraged finance, with an emphasis on clean energy and sustainable infrastructure finance strongly preferred
• Clean energy and energy efficiency law and regulation
• Legislative and related New York State public authority legal and oversight matters
• Management of legal teams
  
  

Additional Qualifications

• Proven senior leader with the ability to function and contribute at all levels of the organization, including in a hands-on manner
• Adaptable, self-starter capable of working under limited supervision as well as taking on new and unfamiliar tasks as needed while working effectively in a dynamic, fluid and fast-paced organization
• Strong analytical, negotiation and interpersonal skills; unparalleled work ethic with the ability to perform under pressure and tight deadlines with a willingness to commit substantial time and energy to the success of NYGB
• Articulate and persuasive communicator in both verbal and written form who expresses ideas effectively and fluently and recognizes the importance of listening
• Resourceful problem-solver focused on pragmatic and effective solutions to complex issues, maintaining focus on the big picture while paying attention to detail
• Possession of a deep appreciation for the inter-relationship of the needs and perspectives of internal and external stakeholders in supporting the mission of NYGB
• Ability to balance legal and regulatory issues with the business and strategic needs of NYGB; combining legal experience with strong business acumen
• Ability to handle highly sensitive matters with integrity and discretion
• Ability to handle stressful situations with measured equanimity and decisiveness
  
  

Travel Requirements:

• Some travel (including to NYSERDA’s Albany office) is required. Less than 10% of working hours.
  
  

Please submit two files, one for your cover letter and another for a resume.