Assistant General Counsel & Director, Commercial

Assistant General Counsel & Director, Commercial

Job Purpose

This role provides strategic legal advice on contracting, procurement, complex transactions, and other commercial matters to support the US business in achieving its objectives, mitigating risk, and ensuring compliance. The ideal candidate brings a practical, business-oriented mindset with exceptional drafting and negotiation skills, along with proven experience advising cross-functional teams on complex transactions, procurement strategies, compliance, and risk mitigation.

This position partners closely with procurement, operations, and other functions to structure and execute deals, optimize contractual outcomes, and drive consistency and efficiency in alignment with enterprise standards. The role also includes leading a high-performing legal team, fostering accountability and continuous improvement, and advancing change readiness, employee engagement, and leadership development.

Key Accountabilities

• Advise senior leadership on contracts, complex transactions, and commercial matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial contracts, developing deal strategies, identifying contractual protections, and ensuring documentation aligns with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
• Apply legal, market, political, and regulatory expertise to complex business matters, and build and leverage internal and external networks to stay current on legal developments and industry best practices.
• Provide subject matter expertise on commercial matters and complex operational issues, guiding the business toward effective resolutions.
• Exercise independent judgment on complex and strategic legal matters for VP-level and senior clients.
• Identify significant corporate risks in business matters; partner with regulatory compliance and business stakeholders to develop appropriate mitigation measures.
• Lead, recruit, motivate, and develop the legal team while modeling National Grid’s leadership qualities, inspiring commitment and engagement, and ensuring adherence to the Company's core values.
• Review and improve existing policies and processes to ensure they remain effective and deliver value for the business.
• Manage outside counsel relationships to ensure excellent service, appropriate staffing, and significant value; serve as relationship manager for key law firms.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree required
• Active bar admission in good standing in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Significant experience in commercial transactions with a demonstrated ability to distill complex issues into clear, practical guidance.
• Proven ability to communicate strategic context and align legal advice with business priorities.
• Experience managing a legal team, including structuring work, allocating resources, and enabling high performance.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate multifaceted problems and balance competing solutions.
• Knowledge of industry best practices and experience engaging with external legal and business networks.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• High personal standards of integrity and professional commitment.
• Creative and innovative approach to solving legal problems for the business.
• Collaborative mindset with a track record of partnering effectively with business clients to achieve their objectives.
• Ability to build trust and credibility with senior executives, business clients, and external stakeholders.
• Strong teamwork skills with the ability to collaborate effectively on multidisciplinary teams.

About us

At National Grid, we’re at the heart of a major change in how energy is produced, delivered and used. We connect millions of people to the energy they need across Great Britain and the US, while investing to support a cleaner, more reliable system for the future.

Joining us means working on challenges that matter. You’ll help shape how the energy system evolves, supporting the transition to net zero while helping keep energy affordable and reliable.

This role is based in Boston, MA, Waltham, MA, Brooklyn, NY or Syracuse, NY with hybrid working.

More Information

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$245k - $275k a year in Boston, MA and Waltham, MA.

$263k - $294k a year in Brooklyn, NY.

$219k - $244k a year in Syracuse, NY.

National Grid will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. You must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

National Grid utilizes an assessment that evaluates the job qualifications/characteristics using AI or statistically based scoring. For more information, please view NYC Local Law 144.

This position has a career path which provides for advancement opportunities within and across bands as you develop and evolve in the position; gaining experience, expertise and acquiring and applying technical skills. Candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience.

National Grid is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of protected class. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. National Grid maintains affirmative action programs for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

Our employment practices are designed to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and with respect throughout the hiring process and during employment. National Grid complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and we encourage a culture of respect for all.

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it’s everything we put into everything we do. It’s our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner with and support the communities where we live and work. It’s all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a fair and affordable energy future.

Your salary is reviewed each year against the market for your role, skills, knowledge and experience.

Incentive

Annual performance plan or bonus (depending on your role) rewards your contribution to our success each year.

Retirement

Generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%.

Private medical insurance for self and family.