Career Center

Basic Function

The Lead Counsel, HSES position is responsible for leading a team of subject matter experts that provide legal analysis and advice on health, safety, environmental and security matters. The team will work closely with site operations, site HSE, and corporate HSE, as well as other attorneys in the legal department, government relations, strategic projects and transactions, and corporate sustainability. Areas covered include: environmental matters, including air, water and waste compliance and enforcement; process safety matters, including PSM and OSHA compliance and enforcement; matters involving chemical facility security rules; and product safety matters. This is a global role, as the position also involves counseling and overseeing on matters outside the U.S. and providing legal support on HSES issues in global M&A. The position will require knowledge of existing and potential laws, regulations and standards in these areas, and the ability to learn and understand those regulations in jurisdictions where counsel needs outside guidance. This position will manage outside counsel or experts in matters from time to time, including establishment and management of scope of work, budgets, reporting, and work product. This position is expected to have a high degree of responsibility for thorough analysis and handling of these matters, including advising clients, other attorneys in the Legal Department (including the General Counsel), and senior executives. This position will supervise one or more lawyers and paralegals, and it will report to the Deputy General Counsel. 

Roles & Responsibilities

• Analysis of complex factual issues in HSEs matters, including working with technical teams, executives of the company, or others to ensure a thorough understanding of the issues.
• Analysis of complex legal issues applicable to HSES matters, including laws of different states in the U.S. and laws of foreign jurisdictions, either through individual research or working with local legal experts in other jurisdictions.
• Preparing detailed analyses, reports, and presentations on HSES issues to various company representatives, including the company’s General Counsel and Executive Vice President for HSE.
• Managing outside law firms or experts involved in HSES matters, including setting and maintaining budgets for HSES matters.
• Working with others to prepare quarterly or other summaries necessary for financial or other reporting.
• Handling specific HSES issues directly with third parties, including potential claims against the company or claims by the company.
• Setting the strategy for coverage of work through internal and external resources; leading the HSE legal team.

Min. Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Texas or other states in the U.S., as applicable.
• 10+ years of experience representing companies in an in-house or outside capacity in various HSES matters as. noted above, including working with government agencies on these issues. 
• International experience is a plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence others on legal and other matters.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proactive and aggressive approach to understanding, evaluating, and advising upon complex HSES legal matters.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the petrochemicals industry is preferred.