Counsel

Job Summary:

The Counsel role at Western Midstream is an in-house legal position focused on managing legal matters related to health, safety, and environmental (HSE) issues in the oil and gas midstream sector. The attorney will provide guidance on compliance, risk management, and interaction with regulatory agencies, as well as advise on industry-wide HSE regulatory trends and developments. The position serves as the primary legal advisor for HSE requirements and may require occasional travel to represent the company.

Responsibilities:

• Advise on and ensure compliance with HSE laws and regulations based on subject matter expertise in the Clean Air Act (including its Risk Management Program), Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation Recovery Act, Comprehensive Environmental Recovery, Compensation, and Liability Act, Oil Pollution Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, OSHA Process Safety Management program, OSHA standards under 29 U.S.C § 1910, DOT/PHMSA pipeline and vehicle regulations, Texas Railroad Commission Statewide Rules, and other HSE-related laws and regulations
• Assess and advise on HSE legal initiatives, requirements, permits, and compliance obligations, including climate change and greenhouse gas proposals
• Audit and update legal aspects of environmental compliance protocols as needed
• Participate in the development of HSE regulations and rulemakings at the local, state and federal level, including climate change and greenhouse gas proposals
• Provide guidance in the documentation and refinement of Document and refine HSE compliance processes and practices
• Serve as a member of due diligence teams during acquisitions and post-closing integrations to assess the state of, and ensure compliance with, HSE laws
• Advise on environmental due diligence and negotiate environmental contract terms in commercial or real estate transactions
• Review and assess environmental and safety considerations associated with major capital projects in collaboration with HSE, operations, and engineering teams
• Coordinate communications with U.S. EPA and OSHA, state and local regulatory agencies, and other external regulators, including managing outside counsel resources as needed
• Assist in the investigation and reporting of environmental and safety incidents
• Review and comment on HSE policies, programs, and communications
• Participate in HSE training programs for business clients
• Provide leadership and proactive communications across the Company on HSE legal and policy issues
• Collaborate with the Company’s in-house litigation team and outside counsel on environmental or safety compliance enforcement actions or HSE-related litigation, as needed
• Collaborate with the Company’s communications professionals as the Company engages with agencies and policymakers in connection with issues of HSE law and policy 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher with high academic achievement from a college or university and a JD with high academic achievement from an ABA-accredited law school
• A minimum of eight (8) years of legal experience and subject matter expertise in environmental, health, and safety laws in the U.S. Admitted to practice law in a state within the U.S.
• Strong law firm training and/or in-house experience preferred. Experience working for government agencies will also be considered
• Strong leadership skills, organization, judgment, and work ethic
• All applicants must have unquestioned integrity and ethics in business and personal conduct

The ideal candidate will have the following professional skills and experience:

• Excellent broad-based leadership skills and a demonstrated ability to motivate colleagues and manage external counsel, and to build teams and relationships marked by energetic, efficient, and results-oriented conduct
• Excellent judgment, including the ability to accurately assess risks, challenges, and opportunities; comfort with making decisions and providing actionable guidance amid imperfect information
• Strong and mature interpersonal skills, demonstrated by an ability to work and communicate effectively with, and responsively to, senior business and legal management as well as across the entire Company workforce as needed
• Deep subject matter expertise in U.S. environmental regulations, permitting and compliance enforcement matters, experience in environmental due diligence, air quality compliance, agency audits, self-audits, and remediation projects
• Experience working with or as part of federal and state environmental regulatory authorities
• Ability to be a quick learner and to understand the Company’s business and priorities; a demonstrated ability to both grasp the "big picture” and attend to details
• Ability to anticipate and react quickly to the evolving regulatory environment
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills; ability to communicate and relate at all levels of the organization; ability to define and enforce standards where necessary in a persuasive and winning manner
• Strong “executive presence” with the stature to deliver advice in a manner that is respected and valued by clients and colleagues, demonstrated by a proven track record of gaining the confidence and respect of senior business management.
• Ability to represent the Company effectively, including with government representatives and officials, at all levels and in all situations
• Willingness to take primary responsibility and “own” the work function, with an eye toward continuous assessment and improvement of Company processes and practices, as well as personal development
• Humility in seeking, and accepting, opportunities for development and continuous improvement

Relocation:

• This position is not eligible for relocation. 

Travel Requirements:

• Travel will be required up to 10%.

Work Schedule:

• This position follows a hybrid schedule working in office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and working remote Wednesday and Friday. Monday-Thursday are 9 hours and Fridays are 4 hours.