Senior Counsel, Commercial & Operations

Calpine Corporation is America's largest generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources with operations in competitive power markets. Its fleet of 77 power plants in operation represents over 27,000 megawatts of generation capacity. Through wholesale power operations and its retail businesses, Calpine serves customers in 22 states and Canada. Its clean, efficient, modern and flexible fleet uses advanced technologies to generate power in a low-carbon and environmentally responsible manner.

The company was established on the premise that a strong commitment to the environment is inextricably linked to excellence in power generation and corporate responsibility. Since its founding in 1984, Calpine has led the power industry in its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. In addition, its renewable geothermal plants use steam generated deep below the earth's surface to produce clean, renewable electricity.

Job Summary (includes but is not limited to the following, other duties may be assigned)

• Unique opportunity to join a diverse, fast-paced and challenging in-house legal department and serve as a principal day-to-day attorney for Calpine's Development and Operations teams.
• Broad legal experience preferred, with energy or environmental experience a plus.
• Will advise on financial, real property, tax, commercial, and corporate issues, surface access and mineral rights, and regional, local, state, and federal regulatory and environmental issues, including air and water permit compliance.
• Responsible for providing legal advice, regulatory support, and strategic expertise to assigned Calpine business lines and providing legal support for the development, negotiation, and administration of various commercial agreements.
• Will draft, review, and provide advice regarding all project-development and operational agreements, from the letters of intent through active operations and dismantling and shutdown of operations.
• Required to have or develop familiarity but not primary responsibility for federal regulatory matters associated with power plants (and ability to support associated compliance efforts).
• Will develop, negotiate, administer, and analyze strategic-equipment procurement agreements, EPC agreements, project financings, power purchase agreements, water agreements, electric transmission, power/fuel/ facility interconnection and construction agreements, mineral leases, real property matters, tax matters, CEC, CPUC, CAISO and regional market design issues and other commercial arrangements required by operations and development teams.
• Oversee financing compliance, environmental compliance and regulatory proceedings, challenges and audits, and litigation matters arising from time to time.
• Work with business clients, engineers, and outside consultants to provide legal support for new development projects, including battery storage, solar, geothermal, and other emerging technologies.
• Manage outside counsel to maximize benefit and minimize costs.
• May be requested to provide miscellaneous legal support to some or all Calpine Corporation departments, including Operations, Environmental Health & Safety, Construction/Engineering, Government and Regulatory, Trading and Origination, Tax, Accounting and Public Relations/Corporate Communications.

Job Requirements

• Strong academic credentials and law degree.
• CA or other qualification to practice law in CA (e.g., Registered In-House Counsel).

• Typically requires a minimum of seven to ten years' experience practicing commercial law, including corporate and/ or real estate transactions, energy or environmental regulatory law in a law firm or corporation. Commercial and general litigation experience will also be considered.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong interpersonal and project management skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and to quickly gain expertise in new subject matter.
• Flexibility and ability to multi-task is essential.

Salary Information

Salary Range: $210,000.00 - $266,00.00

Additional Calpine Information

• Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.
• Calpine is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment and need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website or to apply for a position, please send an e-mail with your request to hrrecruitment@calpine.com. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation are made on case-by-case basis.

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