In-House Counsel

Overview:

WHPDA is seeking a highly skilled and experienced In-House Counsel to join our dynamic team. The In-House Counsel will provide comprehensive legal support across the organization, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, mitigating legal risks, and protecting the organization's interests. This role involves a broad range of legal functions, including contract review and negotiation, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and providing strategic legal advice to senior management.

Responsibilities:

Legal Advice and Strategy:

• Provide proactive, strategic legal advice and counsel to the Board of Directors, General Manager, senior management, and other stakeholders on a wide range of legal and business issues.
• Develop and implement legal strategies that align with WHPDA's goals and objectives.

Contract Management:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of contracts, including vendor agreements, event agreements, purchase agreements, construction contracts, leases, and other related WHPDA contracts.
• Ensure all contracts comply with applicable laws and WHPDA policies and mitigate potential risks.

Corporate Governance:

• Advise Board of Directors and General Manager on matters related to corporate governance, board meetings, and organizational policies.
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance standards and best practices.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Monitor and ensure compliance with applicable federal, and Community laws and regulations.
• Stay updated on relevant legal developments and advise on potential impact to WHPDA.

Risk Management:

• Identify potential legal risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Manage and resolve legal disputes, working with external counsel as necessary.

Policy Development and Implementation:

• Develop, implement, and maintain internal policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and operational efficiency.
• Identify needs for conduct training sessions for staff on legal issues and policies.

Employment Law:

• Advise on employment law matters, including hiring practices, employee relations, termination procedures, and compliance with labor laws.
• In partnership with Human Resources manage employment-related disputes and investigations.

Intellectual Property:

• Manage WHPDA's intellectual property portfolio, including trademarks, copyrights, and patents.
• Protect and enforce WHPDA's intellectual property rights.

General Legal Support:

• Provide general legal support to various departments within WHPDA.
• Handle miscellaneous legal tasks as assigned by the General Manager or other senior management.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris doctorate (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law and in good standing with the State Bar of Arizona.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant legal experience, preferably with a mix of law firm and in-house counsel experience.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required.
• Valid AZ driver's license, provide a 39-month satisfactory MVR report.
• Obtain a Tribal operator driving permit at the time of hire.
• A satisfactory result obtained through a test for illegal drugs.
• Acknowledge and agree to maintain a drug-free workplace.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of contract, employment, and regulatory law.

• Considerable knowledge of tribal and federal law affecting trust land and commercial leasing

• Excellent negotiation, drafting, and analytical skills.
• Ability to provide strategic and practical legal advice in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
• High ethical standards and professional integrity.
• Knowledge and experience working with Gila River Indian Community or other Native American Communities.
• Proficient in MS office and other relevant workplace tools.

Other Duties:

P lease no t e t h i s j ob d e s c r i p t i on i s n o t des i g ned t o co v er or con t a i n a c o m p r ehens i v e li s t i ng o f ac t i v i t i es, du t i es o r r esp o ns i b ili t i es t hat a r e r e q u i r e d o f t he e m p l o y ee f o r t h i s j o b . D u t i es, r espons i b ili t i es, and a c t i v it i es m ay chan g e a t any t i m e w i t h or w i t hout no t i c e .

Working Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. W o r k w il l p r i m a r il y be pe r f o rm ed i n an o f f i ce en v i r on m e n t .

• Work may be performed both inside and outside.
• N o i se l e v el i n t he w o r k en v i r on m ent i s u sua ll y m ode r a t e .
• E vening, weekend, and holiday shifts may be required.
• Occasional local day and out of state travel.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk. The employee occasionally is required to bend, climb, stoop, lift, carry, push, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Indian Preference

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Section 472 and 473). Preference is given to qualified members of the Gila River Indian Community.

The Gila River Indian Community is also committed to achieving the full and equal opportunity without discrimination because of Race, Religion, Color, Sex, National Origin, Politics, Marital Status, Physical Handicap, Age or Sexual Orientation. In other than the above, the Gila River Indian Community is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

In accordance with the Gila River Community's policy regarding Indian Preference, Wild Horse Pass Development Authority "WHPDA" will give preference to qualified applicants in the following order:

1. Enrolled GRIC Members (with proof of enrollment).
2. Members of a Federally recognized Indian Tribe.
3. Spouse of an enrolled GRIC Member.
4. All Others.

If you are claiming Preference in one or more of the following categories, please attach a copy of the required documentation to the resume and application.

Questions - Contact: WHPDA Human Resources Department

Email: