Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority

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Staff Attorney (Legal)



Learn more about what it's like to be a member of Team RDU!

RDU Airport Authority provides a world-class customer experience for millions of passengers traveling to or through the airport. Our organization honors leadership, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and respect. We're known for innovation, and we need skilled professionals to match our team. Here at RDU, we've created a culture that attracts bright, passionate, and caring people who sincerely want to do their best for our internal and external partners. Our organization offers a dynamic, fast-paced environment that promotes teamwork, creativity, and collaboration. As a team member at RDU, you can expect to make a difference through your work, to have a direct impact on the achievement of a very meaningful mission, to advance your career trajectory, and still have room for fun and fulfillment in your daily life.

Does the challenge of working in one of the most dynamic organizations in the Triangle excite you? If so, please consider applying for the Staff Attorney position at the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. RDU provides an opportunity to work with an awesome team, all dedicated to our core values of Learning, Integrity, Team, Excellence, and Respect.  We are a rapidly expanding, medium-sized airport. If you are interested in working for a growing organization that provides great benefits, opportunities to advance, and free parking, then RDU may be your next and best career move!  Our organization offers a dynamic, fast-paced environment that promotes teamwork, creativity, and collaboration.  Take the next step and see what RDU is all about!

This position is an on-site/in-office role. This is NOT a remote work position.
Some Work from Home is available, but full remote work is not an option.

GENERAL SUMMARY

Works with and supports the General Counsel, the Vice President of Legal Affairs, Paralegals, outside attorneys, and other Authority staff in providing wide-ranging legal representation to the Authority. The Staff Attorney provides legal advice, representation, and assistance that allows the Authority to achieve its strategic and tactical goals, particularly including the development and negotiation of contracts and guidance in best business practices for the contracting process.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

  • Negotiate, draft, edit, review and interpret various types of moderate to complex, routine and non-routine contractual instruments and related transactional documents, including commercial, leasing, construction and government contracts, and provide sound legal advice and direction to minimize business risks
  • Performing broad and wide-ranging legal and research tasks, particularly including North Carolina statutes and federal laws, rules, and regulations enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration and support compliance therewith
  • Support ordinance, policy, and procedure development and compliance
  • Supervise and direct outside counsel and provide counsel to internal clients
  • Preparation of solicitation documents such as Requests for Quotations, Invitation for Bids, Requests for Proposals and other supporting procurement documentation in a collaborative manner
  • Create contract language standards for existing and new contracts, including the creation of templates
  • Analyze non-standard terms, identifying and solving issues of concern and potential risks involved with specific contract terms
  • Research new laws, regulations, policies and contract developments, requirements, and trends for potential impacts on the Authority's goals and objectives
  • Oversee and monitor the status of all contracts and agreements to ensure contract execution in accordance with policy and deadlines
  • Effectively assess business needs/requirements and determine the appropriate documentation necessary to meet those while mitigating potential risks/issues and complying with applicable laws and policies
  • Provide proactive risk assessment advice related to terms and conditions of agreements at the commencement of the vendor procurement process
  • Participate in the generation of new ideas, coordination, development, and maintenance of contract policies, processes, and procedures
  • Collaborate to ensure consistency among the Authority's standards and contract terms
  • Recommend changes to bring about efficiencies where appropriate
  • Perform related work as required

SALARY:

  • Maximum - Based on qualifications
  • Minimum - $90,928 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Required:

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school
  • Completion of the bar examination administered or admission by comity 

Experience:

Required:

  • 3 years progressively responsible experience in the practice of basic business law and/or contract law

Preferred:

  • 5 years' experience in the practice of basic business law and/or contract law
  • Specialty in construction law, with knowledge of (1) the construction industry including AIA agreements and related documents with contractors and consultants, supply contracts, construction-related procurement processes, bid protests, building codes, environmental and safety regulations, labor laws, mechanics liens, stop notices, bid protests, prompt payment laws, payment and performance bonds; and (2) resolving construction claims and disputes regarding contracts, construction defects, payments, bond claims and liens and assessment of various forms of damages including delay damages, impact damages and liquidated damages;
    • OR
  • Specialty in commercial leasing, with knowledge of (1) commercial lease transactions and related documents with restaurants, retail operations, and/or warehouse operations, operator agreements, agreements with contractors and consultants, standard RFP procurement processes, environmental and safety regulations, compliance with federal ACDBE and ADA requirements, mechanics liens, stop notices, lease disputes, bid protests, payment and performance bonds; and (2) resolving claims and disputes regarding contracts, defaults, payments, and liens and assessment of various forms of damages including delay damages and impact damages
    • OR
  • Specialty in environmental compliance including (1) performing transactional due diligence and drafting, risk mitigation, supporting environmental aspects of sustainability management program development, and managing administrative actions; and (2) researching, interpreting and applying State and federal environmental procedural and substantive statutes, caselaw, and regulations, and other precedent.

Licenses or Certifications:

Required:

  • Licensure to practice law in good standing, by the North Carolina State Bar

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES

Knowledge of:

  • Local government requirements, contracts, procurement, and procedures
  • Local, state and federal laws
  • Legal principles and practices
  • English grammar, spelling, punctuation fluency
  • Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment

Skilled in:

  • Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Word
  • Analytical and logical problem-solving skills with extreme attention to detail
  • Performing basic mathematical functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and ratios
  • Organization generally, and particularly using electronic resources
  • Interpersonal skills, with the ability to have crucial conversations when needed

Ability to:

  • Apply a knowledge of legal principles and practices in an operational environment to contribute to and support the development, management, operation, and maintenance of the Raleigh-Durham International Airport
  • Learn, research, understand, analyze, summarize, and communicate complex legal concepts, requirements, documents, contracts, laws, regulations, etc.
  • Collaborate with and act as a resource for various departments, juggling multiple priorities and requests
  • Work with the General Counsel, the Vice President of Legal Affairs and external attorneys in a wide variety of subject matters and contexts, particularly contract development and negotiation
  • Practice the Authority's core values: Learning, Integrity, Team, Excellence, and Respect
  • Formulate sound conclusions and recommendations
  • Handle difficult situations with tact and diplomacy
  • Analyze complex problems to identify legal concerns, issues, and questions
  • Analyze and interpret statutes, laws, rules, regulations, and guidance documents
  • Multitask and be flexible in order to efficiently manage multiple projects
  • Suggest new processes, resources, and ideas to increase organizational efficiency
  • Adjust comfortably to fast-changing situations and learning new things

WORKING ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The work environment and exposures described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Work is generally performed indoors in environmentally controlled conditions. May on occasion be exposed to loud sounds and distracting noise levels, such as from office equipment or overhead aircraft.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • The position is generally sedentary. Employees sit most of the time but may walk or stand for brief periods of time. Positions in this class typically require fingering, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, walking and repetitive motions.

BENEFITS

At RDU, you're not just a blip on the radar. We appreciate you and care about your health, happiness and future. Here's a snapshot of our awesome benefits!

  • Work-Life Harmony
    • Paid Vacation Leave
    • Paid Sick Leave
    • 11 Paid Holidays
    • Flexible Holiday Options
  • Health and Wellness
    • Comprehensive Wellness Program
    • On-site Fitness Classes & Employee Fitness Center Access
    • Health Savings Account (HSA) – with matching employer contributions
    • Flexible Spending Accounts – medical and dependent care options
    • Opportunities for employer paid or discounted insurance plans
  • Financial Wellness
    • Tuition assistance and career development
    • Shift Differential pay
    • 401(k) plan, Traditional and Roth options – with matching employer contributions
    • 457(b) plan, Traditional and Roth options
    • NC Pension Retirement Plan
    • Employee Discounts – cell phone service plans, RDU Airport Terminal stores and restaurants.

Please see the Raleigh Durham Airport-Authority statement on Equal Opportunity Employment located at:

https://www.rdu.com/careers/rduaa/

 

Experience

Required
  • 3 years progressively responsible experience in the practice of basic business law and/or contract law
Preferred
  • 5 years' experience in the practice of basic business law and/or contract law OR Specialty in commercial leasing OR Environmental Compliance

Education

Required
  • Bachelors or better
  • Juris Doctorate or better

Licenses & Certifications

Required
  • NC Bar License

Skills

Preferred
  • Time Management
  • Teamwork
  • Research & Analytics
  • Problem Solving
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Critical Thinking
  • Negotiating
  • Contracts

Behaviors

Preferred
  • Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
  • Professionalism: Respond to confrontational situations in calm manner
  • Effective Communicator: Communicate issues and makes recommendations
  • Dependable: Stays focused and executes tasks
  • Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
  • Critical Thinker: Process information
  • Collaborative: Supports organization and team goals
  • Active Listener: Listen effectively and understand the topic at hand

Motivations

Preferred
  • Self-Starter: Does not require outside inspiration to be motivated
  • Goal Completion: Inspired to perform well by the completion of tasks
  • Flexibility: Inspired to perform well when granted the ability to set your own schedule and goals
  • Ability to Make an Impact: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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