Senior General Counsel

About the role

Join Community Transit, a prominent public transportation agency serving Snohomish County and the broader Puget Sound area, as the Senior General Counsel. In this pivotal position, you will act as the chief legal advisor to the agency and play a vital role in the executive leadership team, influencing the future of public transportation.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Act as the primary legal advisor to the Board of Directors, CEO, and executive leadership team.
• Provide strategic legal guidance on various issues impacting the agency, including governance, regulatory compliance, contracts, labor relations, procurement, public records, risk management, litigation, real estate, and environmental matters.
• Counsel leadership on intricate legal, regulatory, and policy challenges to facilitate informed decision-making aligned with organizational goals.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, interlocal agreements, and other legal documents.
• Support key organizational initiatives and strategic transactions, including acquisitions and partnerships, as required.
• Manage outside counsel, litigation strategies, claims, disputes, and legal budgets.
• Track legislative and regulatory changes affecting public agencies and advise leadership on potential legal risks and opportunities.
• Provide legal support for major capital projects, policy initiatives, and long-term planning efforts.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and eligibility for admission to practice in Washington State.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible legal experience, ideally in advising governmental, municipal, public sector, or other highly regulated entities.
• Extensive legal experience in providing guidance on a variety of complex legal, governance, regulatory, and operational matters.
• Proven ability to deliver practical and strategic legal advice to executive leadership teams, governing boards, or senior decision-makers.
• Experience in managing outside counsel while balancing legal risks with organizational goals.
• Strong judgment, communication, and relationship-building skills, with a talent for navigating complex legal and policy issues collaboratively.

Employee Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, basic life, and disability insurance for employees and their families.
• Participation in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and an option to enroll in the agency's deferred compensation plan.
• In addition to Washington Paid Sick Leave, this role offers 24 days of Paid Time Off (192 hours) in the first year, along with ten (10) paid holidays each calendar year.
• A complete list of benefits and details is available upon request.

Practical notes

Candidates who are related to or share a residence with a current Community Transit employee should inform the recruiter, as this may affect eligibility for the position. Community Transit maintains a tobacco-free and drug-free workplace. As a recipient of federal funding, Community Transit is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate unlawfully based on any protected characteristic. We value diversity within our workforce and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.