Senior Port Counsel – Construction Contracting and Construction Litigation

Description

As a Senior Port Counsel you will provide high‑quality legal services with a focus on construction contracts and related litigation, collaborating with a talented legal department team to support the Port’s business and strategic goals. You will advise and represent clients at all organizational levels and oversee litigation matters.

You will deliver comprehensive legal support for the Port’s approximately $4.4 billion, five‑year capital construction program, drafting and reviewing public‑works contracts using design/bid/build, design/build, progressive design/build, job‑order contracting, and general contractor/construction manager delivery methods. You will counsel construction management, procurement, engineering, and project‑management teams throughout procurement, bid protests, construction, claims resolution, and contract closeout.

You will retain and manage outside counsel for construction litigation, handling claims that may range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. You will advise executives and commissioners on construction claims, litigation, and strategic decisions, and you will draft, review, and negotiate P3 agreements, including complex tenant‑reimbursement and funding agreements for major capital improvements.

You will advise the Port’s Diversity in Contracting/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise groups on program matters and the Labor Relations group on construction‑related labor issues, including project labor agreements. You will also draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of non‑construction contracts, grants, procurements, and utility franchise agreements, and you will support airport ground‑transportation issues such as congestion reduction, taxi and transportation‑network‑company operations, and parking.

• Provide legal support for the Port’s $4.4 B, five‑year capital construction program.
• Draft and review public‑works contracts using design/bid/build, design/build, progressive design/build, JOC, and GC/CM methods.
• Advise construction management, procurement, engineering, and project‑management teams throughout procurement, bid protests, construction, claim resolution, and closeout.
• Retain and manage outside counsel for construction litigation involving multi‑million‑dollar claims.
• Counsel executives and commissioners on construction claims, litigation, and strategic decisions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate P3 and tenant‑reimbursement agreements for major capital improvements.
• Advise Diversity in Contracting/DBE and Labor Relations groups on program compliance and project labor agreements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate non‑construction contracts, grants, procurements, and utility franchise agreements.
• Provide legal guidance on airport ground‑transportation matters, including congestion reduction, taxi, TNC operations, and parking.
• Advise on intellectual‑property issues, the Port’s art program, tax matters, and municipal law such as public records and interlocal agreements.
• Manage additional duties or practice areas as assigned by General Counsel.

Requirements

The position requires at least five years of experience in government, nonprofit, law‑firm, or in‑house practice and admission to the Washington State Bar. Preferred qualifications include eight years of experience on large public‑works projects and a Juris Doctorate. The role calls for a commitment to equity, strong critical‑thinking and communication skills, advanced organization, curiosity, and business/political acumen.

• Possess at least five years of relevant legal experience and active Washington State Bar admission.
• Preferred eight years of experience on large public‑works projects and a Juris Doctor degree.
• Demonstrate commitment to equity, critical thinking, effective communication, strong organization, curiosity, and business/political acumen.

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance