The Associate Counsel role provides general cooperative legal support for Minnkota Power as well as the member systems. Essential functions include providing legal services in assigned areas of cooperative operation including litigation, regulatory interaction, cooperative governance, labor and employment, real property, financing, procurement, and the development and review of contracts. Associate Counsel will also provide legal assistance to Minnkota employees on their respective areas of responsibility.
The salary range for this position begins at $88,000. Appropriate compensation will be determined based on a candidate's relevant educational and professional work experiences.
Essential functions for this role include:
Provides general cooperative legal support
Give legal opinions, lead/participate in negotiations for the recovery of damages, insure the following of applicable regulations, represent Minnkota in hearings/in court, and draft documents to be filed in legal actions and regulatory matters
Oversees and provides real estate support
Drafts and reviews agreements for purchase or sale of real estate, develops and reviews property rental agreements and real estate solutions, and assists the Right of Way department in real estate acquisitions
Develops and reviews contracts
Reviews contracts for other Minnkota departments prior to signature, develops and modifies standard contracts and contracts for special requirements, and reviews/interprets/develops amendments to existing contracts and agreements
Offers legal counsel support to Minnkota staff
Offers legal interpretation and guidance to Minnkota staff on their subject matter, provides legal coverage for projects within Minnkota, stays abreast on applicable laws and regulations that affect the cooperative, and represents Minnkota in hearings with regulatory agencies
Provides legal services to member system clients
Provides general legal services to Minnkota's distributions cooperative clients which includes: legal interpretation and guidance to distribution cooperative staff, attendance and counsel at cooperative board, committee, and annual meetings. Also may provide legal support including opinions for financing and special projects and representation of clients in arbitrations and court as necessary
Education
Required
Doctorate or better in Law.
Experience
Required
Admission to the state bar of North Dakota and Minnesota
Preferred
3 years:Experience or equivalent as demonstrated through work experience, training, military experience, or education
Our Power is our People
Minnkota Power Cooperative, headquartered in Grand Forks, ND, has played a major role in bringing a better quality of life to residents of eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota for more than 75 years.
The company has a wide range of about 400 knowledgeable and skilled employees who work to bring reliable, low-cost electric energy to rural America. Minnkota creates career growth and development a priority by creating a challenging and rewarding work environment. The company also promotes a true work-life balance that helps enhance employees' quality of life.
A generation and transmission cooperative, Minnkota Power Cooperative is owned by 11 distribution cooperatives. Three in eastern North Dakota and eight in northwestern Minnesota. Minnkota also serves as operating agent for the Northern Municipal Power Agency (NMPA) in Thief River Falls, MN. In total, the Minnkota/NMPA Joint System provides electricity to more than 150,000 customers.
Minnkota's Milton R. Young station is a two-unit coal fired power plant providing a stable energy source for our cooperative member-owners. The station is located 35 miles from Bismarck, ND, a growing and progressive city with many recreational opportunities.
