Deputy General Counsel / Director of Legal & Records

The Port of Portland is hiring a

Deputy General Counsel / Director of Legal & Records

The Deputy General Counsel / Director of Legal & Records provides senior-level legal leadership, strategic advice, and operational oversight in support of the Port's legal affairs and records. This role serves as a key advisor to the General Counsel/Chief Shared Prosperity & Legal Officer and directs the day-to-day activities of the Legal & Records Department. The position ensures high-quality, timely legal services across the organization, assists with departmental leadership, and may act on behalf of the General Counsel/Chief Shared Prosperity & Legal Officer as delegated.

From the hiring manager:

The Deputy General Counsel / Director of Legal & Records advances the Port of Portland's mission of building shared prosperity by leading a team of attorneys and legal professionals through the Port's most complex, high-impact legal work. As the day-to-day leader of the Legal & Records Department, you will elevate operational excellence, champion continuous improvement, and integrate legal technology to strengthen collaboration and service delivery across the organization. Alongside departmental leadership, you will actively practice law across diverse and sophisticated matters, including advising the Chief Shared Prosperity & Legal Officer on governance and strategic legal issues.

Department Leadership & Coordination

• Support overall management of the Legal Department, including resource allocation, budget development and adherence, and continuous improvement of workflows (in particular, utilization of technology to facilitate seamless work with internal and external stakeholders),
• Develop and implement legal strategies that align with the organization's goals and objectives.
• Provide guidance and oversight to attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff; and supervise management roles.
• Lead or coordinate departmental initiatives, legal coverage plans, and cross-functional work.

Legal Advice

• Provide legal advice on complex matters under Oregon and Federal laws. Topics may include regulation, compliance, litigation risk, public sector operations, procurement, governance, real estate, employment, and business transactions.
• Develop legal strategies that balance risk, operational needs, and organizational goals.
• Review, draft, and negotiate high-impact contracts, intergovernmental agreements, policies, and legal instruments.

Governance, Compliance & Advisory Support

• Advise on statutory, regulatory, and policy compliance, including public meetings, ethics, transparency, and public records obligations.
• Oversee or support responses to public records requests, regulatory inquiries, and compliance audits.
• Provide strategic advisory support and executive-level legal guidance to senior leadership, including development of legal interpretations, risk assessments, and organizational recommendations.
• Lead or contribute to special legal initiatives, organizational projects, or cross-functional efforts requiring senior-level legal judgment.

Full position description available upon request.

• Ten (10) + years of practice of law across multiple relevant areas.
• Five (5) + years of experience leading complex legal matters in multiple areas of law with at least one long-term client.
  1. In-house experience or outside general counsel experience preferred.
• Three (3) + years of people management experience.
• Juris Doctorate - From an accredited law school
• Active license to practice law in the State of Oregon is required.

Senior-level Knowledge, Skills & Abilities desired for this role

• Legal research methods, case law analysis, regulatory interpretation, and application to complex operational scenarios.
• Knowledge of supervisory practices, including setting expectations, providing work direction, staffing strategies, and managing cross-functional legal workflows.
• Process improvement and/or project management experience is highly desirable, especially in the context of legal technology implementation.
• Business acumen and understanding of how the legal department supports overall business performance.
• Continuous process improvement.
• Analytical, problem-solving, communication, and judgement.
• Leading multidisciplinary teams.

Selection Process (tentative schedule):

About us:

At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have - our three airports, three working marine terminals, six business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them - to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone's life better. And we'll use our power and influence to unlock new opportunities and ensure more people share in our region's success. With YOUR help - together with our partners, customers, and community - we'll help drive meaningful change!

Do you have questions about this job?

Contact us: careers@portofportland.com

Safety: The Port promotes safety as a Core value and we seek to eliminate harm through a culture of active prevention, curiosity, evaluation, and action. We comply with safety and health policies and procedures and consistently look for improvements that support operational excellence.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Port of Portland is dedicated to maintaining and improving a work environment, which extends equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of their race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation. Employment decisions shall be made in such a manner as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and to comply with state, federal and local laws. We affirm through this policy statement our continuing commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination.

Veterans Preference: Under Oregon law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Port of Portland positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veteran's preference for this job, please provide the qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Background Checks and Drug Testing: The Port of Portland will conduct background checks and/or drug tests for positions where such tests are required by regulation and for other safety-sensitive positions.

ADA Accommodation: Accommodations will be considered for applicants or candidates with a qualifying disability that prevents them from participating in this process. Accommodations will be made where the Port can reasonably do so without imposing an undue hardship on the business or compromising the integrity of the recruitment process. An applicant with any disability who believes that they need an accommodation should contact Human Resources: call 503-415-6690 or email careers@portofportland.com.

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