Job Description

Job Description
CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. Our vision to lead the nation in delivering energy, service and value drives our strategy and performance. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people.

Inclusion and Diversity

CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve.

Learn more in the About Us section of our career's web site.

As the Chief Compliance Counsel (CCC) for ESG, you will be responsible for supporting the company's and CenterPoint Energy's Ethics & Compliance Programs. The CCC will report to CenterPoint Energy's Deputy General Counsel and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and work closely with ESG's General Counsel and CenterPoint Energy's Deputy Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer and Associate General Counsel on a variety of ethics and compliance matters, including commercial negotiations, ethics and compliance investigations, federal government and public sector contracting issues and other interactions, policy development, training, and day-to-day business guidance.

Specifically, you'll have the opportunity to:

* Lead the company's compliance program, including by providing expert legal, compliance, and ethical advice and counsel on the interpretation of the Company's Ethics and Compliance Code and associated policies, laws, rules, and regulations, including government and public sector contracting matters.
* Advise and represent the Company in coordination with ESG's General Counsel regarding a broad array of compliance issues and matters of significant legal importance.
* Review and analyze legal and compliance risks for the Company and proactively provide advice and counsel to internal clients to mitigate risk.
* Support and participate in the development of ESG's comprehensive ethics, business conduct, compliance, and privacy functions under the direction of CenterPoint Energy's legal and compliance teams and in coordination with ESG's General Counsel.
* Develop and support the launch and implementation of ethics, business conduct, and compliance training and communications.
* Support the operationalization of ethics and compliance solutions within the business.
* Drive adoption of standards of conduct and ethical relationships with customers, contractors, suppliers, employees, stakeholders and the communities in which the company operates.
* Provide real-time guidance and support to internal clients on legal compliance and ethical conduct in carrying out the company's business.
* Lead the negotiation, review, and drafting of, and advising internal clients with respect to, Energy Savings Performance Contracts with various federal, state and local government customers to ensure compliance with jurisdiction-specific laws, rules, and regulations.
* Provide legal advice and interpretation of statutory and contractual requirements to internal clients from negotiation through the implementation of contracts.
* Provide input for, and supports timely assessments and updates on, ethics and compliance matters to individual internal stakeholders, management committees, and other senior management.
* Support ethics and compliance risk assessments and audits of the ethics and compliance function.
* Stay abreast of relevant pending regulatory developments at the federal and state levels through reference sources, advises relevant members of management regarding such developments, and supports the company's adoption of internal adjustments in response to such developments.
* Support the ethics and compliance function's response to concerns raised through the company-wide confidential concerns reporting helpline.
* Conduct investigations of alleged violations of the company's ethical standards, compliance with applicable laws, regulations and corporate policy issues. Helps ensure that all issues brought to the attention of the Ethics and Compliance function are appropriately addressed.
* Lead and/or assist with dispute resolution with third parties, including managing factually complex contract disputes between ESG and customers, subcontractors or vendors, often working directly with the other party's attorney.

Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree and a J.D. (Doctor of Jurisprudence) degree required from an accredited law school.
* 10 years of experience as a practicing attorney with a law firm or corporate legal department
* 2 years in ethics and compliance at a law firm or as in-house counsel
* Eligible to practice in at least one state in the United States, preferably Texas.
* Experience in federal government and public sector contracting, preferably in the construction sector

Preferred:

* CCEP certification preferred
* Experience working with energy services companies, energy savings performance contracting, and/or federal government construction contracting.
* Experience in managing and conducting internal investigations.
* Experience in energy and utilities, including with gas and electric transmission and distribution work, is a plus.

We prefer that this position is located at our corporate office in downtown Houston, TX.

LI-TS1