Description

General Description
The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry; pipeline transport and pipeline safety; natural gas utilities; the LP-gas industry, and surface mining operations.You can find more details about us on the Railroad Commission of Texas’ website here RRC.Texas.Gov/AboutUs. To support our mission to serve Texas, we need great people to join our team. We provide a great working environment along with outstanding benefits, including:  

- Generous paid time off including vacation, sick time, and at least 12 paid holidays per year 
- Telework options for eligible positions  
- Flexible work schedules 
- Retirement pension with a 150% agency match
- 401(k), 457(b) and Roth 
- Health premiums 100% paid for full-time employees 
- Tuition Reimbursement 
- Wellness and Exercise Leave 
- Career development programs/opportunities for advancement 
 

For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at RRC.Texas.Gov/AboutUs/Jobs. To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit the Employee Retirement Systems website at ERS Benefits at a Glance. 

 
Job Description

The Railroad Commission of Texas seeks an Attorney II – III to provide moderately complex legal advice and support to the Contracts and Procurement division of the agency, interpret laws and regulations, prepare legal documents,  provide support to outside counsel on pending litigation, and provide legal advice and counsel. Primary areas of responsibility are (1) support the agency's purchasing, procurement, contracting, and enforcement of contracts, (2) assist with the management of litigation and related matters, including cases that have been referred to the Office of the Attorney General, and (3) provide legal support to Information Technology Department.  Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for initiative and independent judgment, as well as collaboration with other staff.  Will help attain Division performance goals and objectives. Reports to Assistant General Counsel.

Job Duties

• Performs moderately complex legal and transactional work related to the agency's purchasing, procurement, contracting, and enforcement of contracts.
• Advises staff and management on legal matters related to procurement, purchasing and contract review.
• Advises on issues and legal risks and proactively identifies risks and solutions for management consideration that are lawful, practical and ethical.
• Reviews contract documents for legal sufficiency; advises contract managers and program staff on federal and state contract laws and regulations and issues in risk management of contracts; drafts legal documents used in contracting, procurement and enforcement.
• Edits, interprets, reviews and negotiates contracts and other legal documents, including information technology and vendor contracts, purchase requisitions, bid specifications, purchase orders, scopes of work and similar matters involving RRC programs.
• May participate in development of requirements, specifications and contracts, including drafting and reviewing solicitation documents, participating in the review of responses to solicitations and advising on procurement-related concerns.
• May participate in monitoring and evaluating contractor performance, assessing warranty claims, assessing potential breaches and handling of contract disputes including negotiation, termination and litigation.
• Provides legal support for federal grant programs such as the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act Orphan Well Program, the Brownfields Program, and the Abandoned Minelands Program.
• Advises Information Technology Department on data governance matters and other legal issues.
• Assists with litigation oversight involving the Commission, including administrative appeals of contested cases, and liaises with the Office of the Attorney General on such matters.
• Handles subpoenas and represents agency staff in depositions/hearings as needed.
• Reviews pending and enacted state and federal legislation.
• Remains current on relevant laws and regulations.
• May participate in development of contracting procedures, templates, forms and other guidance utilized by agency staff.
• Provides training for staff as required.
• Advises staff on legal matters and on the interpretation and application of state and federal laws and regulations.
• Provides such other legal support as may be assigned from time to time.
• For Military Crosswalk Information, please visit: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal
   

Work Environment: Primarily indoors with heating and cooling regulated in general office environment; the noise level in the work environment ranges from low-to-moderate.

Physical Requirements: the physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: Ability to reach high and low; open, close and retrieve files from file cabinets as well as operate computer keyboard and appropriate office equipment.

Work Hours and Telework: Standard office hours for Commission employees are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our agency offers alternate schedules for employees if it does not adversely impact operations and service levels, and standard hours of operation are maintained. New employees in the Office of General Counsel must be in the office for the first six months of employment. Then, the Commission may allow telework based on the agency’s approved Telework Plan. Alternate work schedules and telework may be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview process and are subject to management approval.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS:Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the CAPPS Recruit Prescreening Questionnaire to be considered for the posting. To complete the Prescreening Questionnaire, go to CAPPS Recruit to register or login:capps.taleo.net/careersection
 
Remarks: 

• There is one available position. 
• Official transcripts, DD214 or DD1300, copies of license/certifications, or other minimum requirement validations will be requested at the time of the job offer. 
• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.
• Criminal background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. An applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense relevant to the position may be disqualified from employment. 

 
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS ONLY ACCEPTS ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSTING. 
Due to the high volume of applications we do not accept telephone calls.Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Notifications to applicants are sent electronically to the email address you provide. 
 
The Railroad Commission of Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or in the provision of services. The Railroad Commission of Texas is a tobacco-free workplace. 

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree earned from an accredited U.S. law school. Law school transcript must be included with application.
• Licensed attorney in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
• For Attorney II, minimum 1 year of experience in practice of law in private practice and/or government.   
• For Attorney III, minimum of 3 years of such experience.
• Must obtain Certified Texas Contract Manager certificate within 6 months of employment, if not already certified.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience handling state agency contract matters desired. 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of/or willingness to learn Texas state agency procurement and contracting law and experience handling contract and procurement matters.
• Experience handling claims, disputes and litigation.
• Ability to analyze and solve complex legal problems and  Ability to interpret state and federal laws and regulations.
• Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis and in using good judgment to identify available courses of action.
• Ability to manage a moderately complex workload, and to prioritize workloads and meet applicable goals, objectives and performance metrics.
• Ability to communicate complex legal ideas and instructions clearly and concisely.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Ability to work effectively on a team, with skill in establishing and maintaining effective and professional working relationships.
• Ability to address issues or concerns in a respectful and professional manner.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to respond to pressure situations and meet changing demands and timelines.
• Proficient in the use of computer systems utilizing Microsoft Office Suite, Teams and database systems.
• Possess excellent and effective organizational, communication and writing skills.

Miscellaneous Requirements:

• Ability to work Monday-Friday, 8AM – 5PM with occasional flexible hours, overtime, weekends. 
• Position may require occasional overnight travel.