Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Description

Company Profile

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is the national trade association for the solar and storage industry and represents more than 1,000 member companies and an industry workforce of more than 255,000 across the United States. SEIA is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy and is creating the framework for solar to reach 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. We work with our member companies and strategic partners to advocate[JJ1] for policies that create jobs and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power.

SEIA does this by supporting pro-solar policies at the state and federal level, developing cutting-edge market research, hosting educational events and webinars, and serving as the voice of the solar and storage industry.

SEIA employees are passionate, forward-thinking leaders who start every day knowing that their work makes a difference. SEIA fosters an inclusive, lively company culture that values our employees’ varied backgrounds and experiences and celebrates team success. The Association has earned numerous awards for its work and company culture and was named The Washington Post as a Top Workplace in 2023 and 2024 and by the Nonprofit Times as one of the “Best Nonprofits to Work For” in America in April 2022

Position Summary

The General Counsel, Senior Vice President, is a key member of SEIA’s executive leadership team and serves as a strategic legal partner to the CEO, executive leadership team, and the Board of Directors, supporting sound governance, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the Association’s strategic objectives. The General Counsel provides enterprise-wide legal counsel and partners across all departments.

This executive oversees the Association’s legal function, providing leadership and guidance to internal legal staff and directing the work of outside counsel across a broad range of legal matters. Working collaboratively across the organization, the General Counsel advises on corporate governance, contracts, employment matters, tax-exempt organization compliance, political law, intellectual property, litigation, strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and other complex business and operational initiatives. The General Counsel plays an integral role in evaluating organizational opportunities, resolving legal and business challenges, and developing policies and practices that strengthen the Association’s operations.

As a member of the executive leadership team, the General Counsel works closely with leaders across all business functions to ensure legal considerations are thoughtfully integrated into organizational planning and decision making. This role requires a collaborative, solutions-oriented leader who can balance legal risk with practical business objectives while building strong relationships with member companies, external partners, policy makers and key stakeholders.

Importantly, the scope of this executive role may also be tailored to reflect the experience and expertise of the successful candidate to help address the Association’s strategic needs and goals. Depending on the needs of the Association and the specific areas of expertise of the executive, the position may also include executive oversight of one or more of the Association’s related functional areas, such as advocacy, regulatory affairs, or trade.

The General Counsel reports to the CEO.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Foster trusted, collaborative relationships with the Board of Directors, CEO, executive leadership team, and departmental leaders to support effective governance and organizational decision making.
• Provide strategic legal counsel to the CEO and executive leadership team in support of the Association’s mission, strategic objectives, and business operations.
• Partner with leaders across all departments to integrate legal strategy into organizational planning, decision-making, and execution.
• Oversee the Association’s legal affairs, including corporate governance, contracts, employment law, litigation, tax-exempt compliance, political law and lobbying compliance, antitrust, intellectual property, privacy, and enterprise risk management.
• Serve as the lead legal advisor on significant business transactions, strategic partnerships, acquisitions, joint ventures, and other complex organizational initiatives.
• Coordinate legal services across the Association by partnerin