Director of Legal

Description

The Vitis Impact

At Vitis Energy, success means positive impact. The name Vitis - Latin for "vine"- reflects our belief in growth through strong roots, stewardship, and consistent effort over time.

We're intentional by design: challenging conventional thinking, embracing ownership, investing in people, and sharing knowledge freely. We measure success by trust earned, opportunities created, and legacy left - not just projects delivered.

Joining Vitis means committing to excellence and meaningful impact. We're building more than energy infrastructure - we're strengthening communities and shaping a resilient energy future.

Position Summary: 

The Director of Legal serves as Vitis Energy's primary legal advisor and strategic business partner, providing practical legal guidance that supports the company's growth objectives while protecting its interests. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this position partners closely with executive leadership to structure transactions, negotiate complex commercial agreements, manage legal risk, oversee corporate governance, and lead the Company's legal operations.

This role is responsible for providing legal leadership across project development, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracting, real estate, construction, employment matters, compliance, litigation management, insurance, and corporate governance. The Director of Legal also manages outside counsel and helps establish scalable legal processes, technology, and policies that support the Company's continued growth.

Requirements

Executive Legal Leadership

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice supporting strategic decisions.
• Identify legal and commercial risks while developing practical business solutions.
• Develop legal policies, governance standards, and best practices.

Commercial Transactions

• Lead negotiation, drafting, and review of EPC, equipment supply, development, joint venture, purchase and sale, power purchase, real estate, consulting, confidentiality, O&M, software licensing, and other commercial agreements.
• Develop standardized contract templates and negotiation playbooks.

Project Finance & Strategic Transactions

• Lead legal support for project financings, tax equity transactions, debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic investments.
• Coordinate financing closings, legal due diligence, and strategic transaction documentation.

Corporate Governance

• Oversee governance for Vitis Energy and affiliated entities.
• Maintain organizational documents, board resolutions, ownership records, and corporate records.

Legal Operations

• Manage outside counsel relationships, budgets, and legal expenditures.
• Implement legal technology, AI-enabled legal tools, CLM systems, document automation, and legal reporting.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Advise leadership on compliance, litigation, employment matters, insurance, and dispute resolution.
• Monitor legal developments affecting the energy and infrastructure industries.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• Seven to twelve years of progressively responsible legal experience.
• Significant experience in commercial transactions, corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, project finance, infrastructure, construction, or renewable energy.
• Experience negotiating sophisticated commercial agreements.
• Experience advising executive leadership.
• Experience managing outside counsel and legal budgets.
• In-house legal experience preferred but not required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat Pro, SharePoint, electronic signature platforms, and document management systems.
• Preferred by not required: Knowledge of dynamics 365, Business Central, Power Automate, CLM software, virtual data rooms, Westlaw, LexisNexis, Practical Law, Harvey, and AI-enabled legal research and contract review tools.
• Strong knowledge of commercial contracts, corporate governance, project finance, mergers & acquisitions, construction and EPC contracting, real estate, employment law, insurance and risk management, compliance, due diligence, and entity management. Renewable energy or infrastructure experience is highly preferred.
• Strategic Leadership: Business judgment, executive presence, and strategic thinking.
• Commercial Excellence: Contract negotiation, risk assessment, and practical legal advice.
• Communication: Executive-level written and verbal communication and collaboration.
• Leadership: Integrity, ownership, continuous improvement, and influence.

What Success Looks Like:

• Build a modern legal function supporting Vitis Energy's growth.
• Standardize commercial contracts and negotiation processes.
• Reduce legal risk while accelerating transaction execution.
• Support project finance, acquisitions, and strategic transactions.
• Improve governance, compliance, and legal reporting.
• Become a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team.

Physical Requirements

Occasional lifting of materials up to 25 pounds.

Travel: As required; potential for overnights is <20%

Type of Position: Full time, exempt, on-site (St. Augustine, FL)