Senior Legal Counsel
GreenWaste Recovery · San Jose, California
$180,000 – $220,000/yr
About the Role
About the Company:
GreenWaste® has been an industry leader in recycling and waste diversion for more than 40 years and is on a growth trajectory after private equity investment in 2021. Our business was founded on principles of environmental sustainability, and innovation is a cornerstone of our ongoing operations and growth strategy. GreenWaste specializes in all aspects of material collection, processing, and sales, tailoring our service offerings to the unique needs of our customers and communities, and helping to shape the evolution of the solid waste and recycling industry. We work directly with 20+ municipalities and 50+ jurisdictions, operate highly regulated facilities in 10+ locations, and have 1,000+ employees.
GreenWaste is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join our growing in-house legal team. This is a high-impact role for a business-minded attorney who wants to work closely with executive leadership and help drive a dynamic, mission-driven company forward.
Position Summary:
GreenWaste is seeking an experienced, business-oriented Senior Legal Counsel to serve as a key member of its in-house legal team. This role will provide practical, strategic legal advice across a broad range of corporate and operational matters, with a primary focus on commercial transactions, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and strategic initiatives.
The Senior Legal Counsel will partner closely with executive and operational leadership to enable business objectives while managing legal risk. This position requires the ability to operate independently, exercise strong judgment, and deliver clear, actionable guidance in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
Commercial Transactions & Contracts
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of complex commercial agreements, including:
- Customer and municipal contracts
- Vendor, procurement, and service agreements
- Real estate, access, purchase, and lease agreements
- Construction, engineering, and design-build agreements
- NDAs, MOUs, LOIs, and related documentation
- Provide practical, risk-balanced contract guidance aligned with business objectives
Strategic Transactions & Corporate Matters
- Support mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions
- Assist with regulatory filings (e.g., HSR, CFIUS) as applicable
- Provide counsel on corporate governance and entity management
Legal Advisory & Business Partnership
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership (CEO, CFO, COO, and functional VPs)
- Provide legal guidance across operations, including:
- Business development and growth initiatives
- Regulatory and compliance matters
- Employment and labor considerations (in coordination with HR/legal specialists)
- Real estate, licensing, marketing, and intellectual property
- Translate legal concepts into practical business guidance
Regulatory, Risk & Compliance
- Monitor and advise on applicable laws and regulatory requirements, with emphasis on California
- Identify, assess, and proactively manage legal and operational risks
- Support environmental, permitting, and regulatory matters as needed
Litigation & Outside Counsel Management
- Manage outside counsel on litigation and advisory matters
- Oversee matter tracking, budgeting, and invoice review (e.g., Legal Tracker)
- Support internal investigations and responses to regulatory inquiries
Legal Operations & Process Improvement
- Maintain and optimize contract lifecycle management systems (e.g., Ironclad)
- Develop and update templates, playbooks, and internal policies
- Improve legal processes to enhance efficiency, scalability, and service delivery
- Leverage technology and AI tools responsibly to improve productivity
Training & Organizational Support
- Provide training to internal stakeholders on legal processes and compliance
- Contribute to cross-functional initiatives and continuous improvement efforts
Other
- Support the General Counsel on strategic priorities and special projects
- Track performance metrics and contribute to legal department planning
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong expertise in commercial transactions and contract negotiation
- Ability to provide clear, concise, and practical legal guidance to non-legal stakeholders
- Strong business acumen and ability to align legal advice with operational goals
- Experience operating independently with sound judgment and prioritization skills
- Effective communicator with strong writing, editing, and presentation abilities
- Proven ability to manage complex, high-volume workloads in a fast-paced environment
- Experience managing outside counsel and legal spend
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism
Technical Skills:
- Contract lifecycle management systems
- Matter management and e-billing tools
- Microsoft 365 (including SharePoint)
Qualifications
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Active membership in a U.S. state bar; California Bar admission or eligibility for in-house counsel registration within 6 months required
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant legal experience
- Prior in-house experience strongly preferred; combination of law firm and in-house experience highly valued
Language Skills
- English proficiency required
- Spanish proficiency is a plus but not required
Work Environment & Physical Demands
- Primarily office-based environment with prolonged computer use
- Standard business hours with flexibility for some evenings or weekends
- Limited travel may be required
Compensation and Benefits:
Financial compensation will be commensurate with applicable experience. GreenWaste offers a competitive benefits package, including paid time off, holiday pay, 401K benefits, FSA, and full employee coverage for medical, dental and vision insurance.
This Organization participates in E-Verify.
GreenWaste provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.
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