Director, Associate General Counsel

California Water Service

Job Description:

California Water Service Group invites you to build a meaningful career with the third‑largest publicly traded water utility. Guided by our mission to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services, we are dedicated to improving quality of life for the customers, communities, and employees we serve. Our culture is grounded in core values—integrity, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship—and reflected in our recognition as a Top Workplace®, a Great Place to Work®, and a J.D. Power leader in customer satisfaction for multiple years. Join Cal Water and be part of a purpose‑driven organization where your work makes a lasting impact.

The Director, Associate General Counsel serves as a senior legal advisor to California Water Service Group and its subsidiaries with a primary and substantial focus on complex commercial real estate transactions. The position is a key member of a small legal team that performs or manages all California Water Service Group legal work, including real estate acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and land use matters, general business transactions, procurement, and litigation.

This role requires a seasoned attorney with deep, hands-on experience with real estate transactions including leading due diligence efforts, resolving complex title issues, and managing real estate projects from inception through closing and implementation. The position plays a critical role as a member of the legal and operations teams focused on meeting the needs of the business across a range of legal areas and in driving end-to-end execution of real estate initiatives that support infrastructure development and long-term operational strategy. The position is located in San Jose, CA.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Serves as the legal advisor and negotiator on complex commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, easements, rights-of-way, development projects, and leasing.

• Leads and manages real estate due diligence, including oversight of appraisal, title, survey, environmental, zoning, and land use and other entitlements review.

• Reviews, negotiates, and prepares commercial contracts related to real estate, construction, and capital projects.

• Supports the real estate department, engineering, facilities, and operations on both legal and non-legal matters, including acquisitions, dispositions, and the management of the Group’s real property assets for secondary uses, including telecommunications leasing.

• Reviews, negotiates, and prepares commercial contracts, including the procurement of goods and services.

• Interacts with and addresses the various legal needs of the organization; analyzes and provides guidance regarding a wide range of legal matters.

• Serves as key liaison between outside counsel and supported business units concerning legal issues, large claims, and personal injury/property damage litigation; participates in the successful negotiation of resolutions or settlements of various pre-litigation business disputes.

• Responds to legal requests and queries from individuals in all areas and all levels within the organization and proactively recognizes and addresses potential legal issues as they arise.

• Monitors and maintains awareness of pending legislation, regulations and legal developments that are relevant to the Company’s business interests.

• Interfaces with executives and outside counsel with respect to employment and labor relations, employee/customer health and safety, and environmental compliance matters.

• Advises on compliance and legal issues for subsidiaries that operate as regulated public utilities in their respective states.

• Effectively manages legal expense budgets through active oversight of outside counsel.

QUALIFICATIONS/ REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law.

• Current California Bar admission.

• 10 years+ of progressive experience as legal counsel at a publicly held company, law firm, regulatory agency, or equivalent experience.

• 5+ years of senior-level responsibility for land use issues and real estate transactions, such as purchase and sale agreements, easements, licenses and leases, title review and real estate closings.

• In-depth knowledge of one or more of the following additional areas: utility regulation, corporate governance, litigation, and contract law.

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