Assistant General Counsel I - South

Assistant General Counsel I (Renewable Energy)

RWE Americas, LLC seeks an experienced legal professional to provide comprehensive legal support to the U.S. renewable energy business team (wind, solar, and battery) across multiple states. The role is full time, permanent, and starts as soon as possible.

Functional Area

Legal / Compliance

Key Responsibilities

• Coach and mentor junior attorneys and legal staff in real estate and permitting matters.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the development team and provide proactive, business‑oriented counsel from initial site control to commercial operations.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage real‑estate documents including leases, easements, purchase options, co‑tenancy agreements, shared‑facility agreements, crossing agreements and permitting agreements.
• Perform land‑title and survey due‑diligence analysis, negotiate curative instruments and title‑insurance solutions.
• Oversee local and state zoning processes, coordinating with internal teams, external counsel, consultants and community stakeholders.
• Manage high‑volume, fast‑paced work while prioritizing competing deadlines and ensuring accuracy.
• Coordinate closely with engineering, development, procurement and transmission teams to align project milestones.
• Support financing and divestment efforts by working with M&A and structured‑finance teams, preparing transaction documents and disclosure schedules.

Site‑Control Efforts

• Prepare and oversee production of real‑estate documents (leases, purchase agreements, easements and crossing agreements).
• Facilitate property purchases for renewable project assets such as substations, BESS sites and O&M buildings.

Real‑Estate Legal Due Diligence

• Maintain relationships with title companies and surveyors to secure title commitments and survey deliverables.
• Review ALTA project surveys and title commitments to identify obstacles and recommend curative actions.
• Work with utility, bank and other third parties to secure crossing agreements and other curative items.

Permitting & Approvals

• Identify scope of required permitting approvals for each project.
• Ensure timely acquisition of all permits across multiple jurisdictions; collaborate with external counsel and permitting consultants.

Funding, Investment & Divestment

• Assist legal and business leadership to identify and resolve risks as projects mature and approach construction or financing.
• Provide leadership with risk analysis and readiness feedback.
• Prepare data rooms and support transaction documents for potential divestment or tax‑equity investor involvement.

Job Requirements and Experience

• J.D. from a U.S. university and admission to a state bar.
• Minimum six (6) years of experience as a real‑estate lawyer in renewable, energy or large‑scale infrastructure, with specific expertise in BESS, solar and wind permitting.
• Knowledge of ancillary renewable areas such as energy transmission, interconnection, and tax‑abatement agreements is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship‑management, project‑management and organizational skills.
• Adaptable and effective in rapidly changing environments; proven ability to prioritize multiple competing deadlines.
• Goal‑oriented, resourceful, with strong problem‑solving skills and practical solution‑finding.
• Capacity to empathize, build relationships and communicate with a diverse set of backgrounds.
• Office‑based role in Chicago or Austin with occasional travel to other U.S. locations. Must be able to sit, walk or stand for long periods.
• Legal authorisation to work in the United States required.

Compensation

Annual base salary range for Illinois: $190,000 – $225,000. Final compensation depends on experience, education and market factors.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid Time Off, Holidays, and short‑term incentives.

Equal Opportunity Employment

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status or other legally protected status.