In-House Counsel - Energy & Water Infrastructure

FLEXIBLE LOCATION / WORKPLACE: Candidates may be based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Houston, or Midland, Texas. The position may be onsite or hybrid depending on the candidate’s location, with occasional travel to Midland and Dallas as required. About Aureus: Aureus Energy Services is an integrated water infrastructure company focused on supporting oil and gas development across the Permian Basin. Originally established as a water services provider, Aureus has evolved into a midstream-focused platform with a growing portfolio of owned and controlled water infrastructure, including pipelines, recycling facilities, disposal assets, water storage, and strategic landholdings and right-of-way positions. Aureus is focused on developing long-term infrastructure solutions that provide reliable water sourcing, produced water takeaway, recycling, and disposal services to leading operators while continuing to expand its asset base through organic development and strategic acquisitions. Position Overview: The Aureus Internal Counsel will serve as a cross-functional legal and commercial resource supporting Aureus’ Land, Commercial, Corporate Development, Operations, Finance, Accounting, and executive teams. The ideal candidate will be a practical, commercially minded attorney who understands the business deal, manages legal risk, drives agreements to execution, and reduces reliance on outside counsel for routine commercial and land matters. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Commercial Agreements & Negotiation Draft, review, revise, and negotiate agreements supporting Aureus’ water and infrastructure business, including water sourcing, supply, produced water takeaway, transportation, disposal, recycling, treatment, pipeline, interconnection, capacity, dedication, and related agreements. Draft, review, and negotiate broader company commercial agreements, including: • Work orders and statements of work • Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements • Lease Contracts • Vendor and Supply Contracts • Amendments, assignments, releases, and termination agreements • Other commercial contracts required by the business • Pricing exhibits, schedules, and attachments Work directly with business leaders to translate transaction economics and negotiated commercial terms into clear, practical contractual provisions. Lead negotiations with counterparties or provide support to business leaders, by making practical risk-based recommendations, and drive agreements toward timely execution. Land & Real Estate Legal Support Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret easements, rights-of-way, surface use agreements, temporary workspace agreements, facility leases, access agreements, water agreements, and other land-related contracts. Partner with the Director of Land and land team on legal issues arising from pipeline, facility, disposal well, water infrastructure, and other land acquisition activities. Advise on contractual rights, obligations, remedies, assignments, term and renewal provisions, operational restrictions, and other material land agreement issues. Support resolution of landowner disputes, title and ownership issues, and contract interpretation matters, coordinating with outside counsel when specialized support is required. Provide practical legal support that allows Land, Commercial, and Operations teams to move projects forward while appropriately managing risk. Cross-Functional Legal & Commercial Support Support water sourcing and takeaway/disposal transactions from initial term development through negotiation, execution, amendment, and interpretation. Advise Operations, Finance, and Accounting on contract interpretation, pricing, payment obligations, minimum commitments, indemnity, insurance, and other commercial matters. Support Operations with MSAs, work orders, construction and service agreements, vendor contracts, and other agreements required to execute company activities. Serve as an accessible day-to-day legal resource and help distinguish matters that can be resolved internally from issues requiring specialized outside counsel. Corporate Development & Transaction Support Support acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, investment banking agreements and other Corporate Development initiatives, including NDAs, LOIs, diligence, transaction documents, and closing support. Review material contracts and identify assignment, consent, change-of-control, termination, dedication, exclusivity, and other transaction-relevant provisions. Preparation and negotiation of asset purchase agreements, transition arrangements, commercial side agreements, and related transaction documents. Select, coordinate, and manage outside legal counsel when specialized expertise or transaction complexity requires external support. Legal Process & Risk Management Develop and maintain standardized contract templates, negotiation positions, approval workflows, and contracting procedures. Identify recurring legal issues and develop practical standards that improve contract quality, consistency, speed, and risk management. Partner with others on the leadership team and other stakeholders to ensure executed agreements, material obligations, notices, renewals, and key legal documents are appropriately captured and administered. Help build a practical, scalable internal legal function that supports Aureus’ growth without unnecessary bureaucracy. QUALIFICATIONS: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active license in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; eligibility to practice as in-house counsel in Texas required. 5+ years of relevant legal experience involving commercial contracts or transactions; oil and gas, midstream, produced water, pipeline, infrastructure, real estate, or land experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated experience independently drafting, reviewing, redlining, and negotiating complex commercial agreements. Strong commercial judgment, contract drafting and negotiation skills, and working knowledge of core commercial contract concepts, with the ability to evaluate legal risk in the context of business objectives and operational realities. Ability to manage multiple negotiations independently and work effectively across Land, Commercial, Corporate Development, Operations, Finance, executive leadership, counterparties, and outside counsel. Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is well versed in creating and reviewing commercial contracts who wants to be embedded in a high growth business, is hungry for responsibility, and can independently own agreements from structuring through execution. They will use practical legal judgment to help Aureus transact efficiently while protecting the company and reducing outside counsel reliance. #J-18808-Ljbffr