Senior Attorney Reclassification

Metro Water Recovery in Denver, CO - a nationally recognized leader among clean water utilities, provides wastewater conveyance and treatment services for more than 2 million people in the Denver Metro area.

At Metro, we help you be your best so we can do our best.

You will join a team that offers stability, flexibility, and the opportunity to make a difference.

We take pride in being part of an industry-leading team who serves the community by protecting the region’s health and environment.

This is a reclassification opportunity open only to current Staff Attorneys at Metro Water Recovery.

Supports Metro Water Recovery with legal matters of high complexity.

In a lead role, represents Metro in federal and state courts, administrative proceedings, and negotiations.

Draft policies and rules to be adopted by Metro.

May provide functional leadership to lower-level attorneys.

Reports to the Chief Legal Officer.

Examples of Duties

Lead and manage highly complex, high-stakes legal matters with significant organizational impact, including major litigation, large-scale transactions, precedent-setting regulatory proceedings, and critical policy development initiatives requiring sophisticated legal strategy and business judgment.

Serve as subject matter expert and primary legal advisor in one or more specialized practice areas, providing authoritative guidance on the most complex and novel issues, establishing best practices, and representing the organization's position to regulatory agencies, courts, and external stakeholders.

Provide strategic legal counsel directly to the Chief Legal Officer on matters of organizational significance, translating complex legal landscapes into actionable business recommendations and ensuring legal considerations inform key institutional decisions.

Design and execute comprehensive legal strategies for major initiatives, including multi-year capital programs, regulatory compliance frameworks, and policy reform, balancing legal risk with operational objectives.

Lead complex negotiations on behalf of Metro, including intergovernmental agreements, major infrastructure contracts, settlement of high-value litigation, and multi-party collaborative arrangements requiring sophisticated deal structuring and conflict resolution.

Represent Metro in high-stakes litigation and appeals, including managing outside litigation counsel on matters of first impression or substantial organizational exposure.

Monitor and shape the legal and regulatory environment affecting clean water utilities through engagement with legislative processes, participation in rulemaking proceedings, advocacy before regulatory agencies, and thought leadership within professional associations and industry groups.

Lead the development and implementation of organizational policies, governance structures, and legal frameworks that support strategic objectives while ensuring compliance with evolving legal requirements and industry best practices.

May provide coaching, mentorship and guidance to lower-level attorneys.

Helps foster a culture of legal excellence and continuous learning within the department.

Identify emerging legal risks and opportunities through sophisticated analysis of regulatory trends, judicial developments, and industry evolution, proactively advising leadership on strategic positioning and necessary organizational adaptations.

Manage relationships with external legal counsel, ensuring cost-effective service delivery, and integrating external expertise with internal legal strategy.

Lead cross-functional teams on major organizational initiatives, integrating legal, technical, financial, and operational perspectives to achieve complex objectives while managing diverse stakeholder interests and regulatory constraints.

Contribute to legal department leadership through strategic planning, resource allocation, process optimization, technology implementation, and drafting of department policies that enhance service delivery and organizational value.

Develop and deliver sophisticated training programs for legal staff and organizational personnel on complex legal topics, compliance requirements, risk management, and best practices in areas of expertise.

Performs other duties as assigned.

• Lead and manage highly complex, high-stakes legal matters with significant organizational impact, including major litigation, large-scale transactions, precedent-setting regulatory proceedings, and critical policy development initiatives requiring sophisticated legal strategy and business judgment.
• Serve as subject matter expert and primary legal advisor in one or more specialized practice areas, providing authoritative guidance on the most complex and novel issues, establishing best practices, and representing the organization's position to regulatory agencies, courts, and external stakeholders.
• Provide strategic legal counsel directly to the Chief Legal Officer on matters of organizational significance, translating complex legal landscapes into actionable business recommendations and ensuring legal considerations inform key institutional decisions.
• Design and execute comprehensive legal strategies for major initiatives, including multi-year capital programs, regulatory compliance frameworks, and policy reform, balancing legal risk with operational objectives.
• Lead complex negotiations on behalf of Metro, including intergovernmental agreements, major infrastructure contracts, settlement of high-value litigation, and multi-party collaborative arrangements requiring sophisticated deal structuring and conflict resolution.
• Represent Metro in high-stakes litigation and appeals, including managing outside litigation counsel on matters of first impression or substantial organizational exposure.
• Monitor and shape the legal and regulatory environment affecting clean water utilities through engagement with legislative processes, participation in rulemaking proceedings, advocacy before regulatory agencies, and thought leadership within professional associations and industry groups.
• Lead the development and implementation of organizational policies, governance structures, and legal frameworks that support strategic objectives while ensuring compliance with evolving legal requirements and industry best practices.
• May provide coaching, mentorship and guidance to lower-level attorneys. Helps foster a culture of legal excellence and continuous learning within the department.
• Identify emerging legal risks and opportunities through sophisticated analysis of regulatory trends, judicial developments, and industry evolution, proactively advising leadership on strategic positioning and necessary organizational adaptations.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel, ensuring cost-effective service delivery, and integrating external expertise with internal legal strategy.
• Lead cross-functional teams on major organizational initiatives, integrating legal, technical, financial, and operational perspectives to achieve complex objectives while managing diverse stakeholder interests and regulatory constraints.
• Contribute to legal department leadership through strategic planning, resource allocation, process optimization, technology implementation, and drafting of department policies that enhance service delivery and organizational value.
• Develop and deliver sophisticated training programs for legal staff and organizational personnel on complex legal topics, compliance requirements, risk management, and best practices in areas of expertise.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of: Expert-level understanding of legal principles, regulatory frameworks, and industry practices in specialized areas relevant to clean water utility operations Colorado and federal environmental law, construction law, employment law, and the unique legal landscape governing special districts Enterprise risk management, compliance program design, and corporate governance best practices Clean water utility industry structure, operations, regulatory environment, and emerging trends affecting the clean water sector Legal project management, resource allocation, and strategic planning for legal services delivery Skilled at: Developing and executing sophisticated legal strategies for complex, multi-faceted matters requiring integration of diverse legal doctrines, business considerations, and stakeholder interests Providing legal counsel on novel or unprecedented issues requiring creative problem-solving and synthesis of multiple legal authorities Communicating highly complex legal concepts to diverse audiences with varying levels of legal sophistication, including executive leadership, board members, technical staff, regulators, and the public Leading high-stakes negotiations requiring sophisticated understanding of leverage, risk tolerance, deal structure, and relationship management Serving as lead counsel in administrative proceedings, including strategic case positioning Building and maintaining strategic relationships with external stakeholders including regulatory agencies, peer organizations, industry groups, and specialized legal counsel Mentoring and developing legal talent, including providing sophisticated feedback on complex legal analysis and modeling excellence in legal practice Ability to: To effectively receive and respond to verbal and written communications with appropriate speed for job requirements Exercise independent judgment on the most complex and sensitive legal matters Anticipate and proactively address legal and regulatory developments before they impact operations, positioning the organization advantageously within evolving legal landscapes Advance litigation strategy, trial practice, and appellate advocacy Serve as lead counsel in complex proceedings, including trial advocacy, motion practice, discovery management, and strategic case positioning Balance competing interests and values in providing legal advice Lead cross-functional initiatives requiring integration of legal expertise with technical, financial, operational, and policy considerations Establish credibility and trust with executive leadership Manage sophisticated external counsel relationships Contribute thought leadership to the clean water utility industry through publications, presentations, and active participation in professional associations Lead department initiatives that enhance legal service delivery Maintain composure and sound judgment under conditions of significant pressure, ambiguity, or organizational crisis Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that develops the capabilities of legal team members and strengthens relationships with client departments Perform related work as assigned and participate in Metro Water Recovery activities Education Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school and a license to practice law. Admission to the practice of law in the State of Colorado or ability to waive within six months of hire.

• Expert-level understanding of legal principles, regulatory frameworks, and industry practices in specialized areas relevant to clean water utility operations
• Colorado and federal environmental law, construction law, employment law, and the unique legal landscape governing special districts
• Enterprise risk management, compliance program design, and corporate governance best practices
• Clean water utility industry structure, operations, regulatory environment, and emerging trends affecting the clean water sector
• Legal project management, resource allocation, and strategic planning for legal services delivery
• Developing and executing sophisticated legal strategies for complex, multi-faceted matters requiring integration of diverse legal doctrines, business considerations, and stakeholder interests
• Providing legal counsel on novel or unprecedented issues requiring creative problem-solving and synthesis of multiple legal authorities
• Communicating highly complex legal concepts to diverse audiences with varying levels of legal sophistication, including executive leadership, board members, technical staff, regulators, and the public
• Leading high-stakes negotiations requiring sophisticated understanding of leverage, risk tolerance, deal structure, and relationship management
• Serving as lead counsel in administrative proceedings, including strategic case positioning
• Building and maintaining strategic relationships with external stakeholders including regulatory agencies, peer organizations, industry groups, and specialized legal counsel
• Mentoring and developing legal talent, including providing sophisticated feedback on complex legal analysis and modeling excellence in legal practice
• To effectively receive and respond to verbal and written communications with appropriate speed for job requirements
• Exercise independent judgment on the most complex and sensitive legal matters
• Anticipate and proactively address legal and regulatory developments before they impact operations, positioning the organization advantageously within evolving legal landscapes
• Advance litigation strategy, trial practice, and appellate advocacy
• Serve as lead counsel in complex proceedings, including trial advocacy, motion practice, discovery management, and strategic case positioning
• Balance competing interests and values in providing legal advice
• Lead cross-functional initiatives requiring integration of legal expertise with technical, financial, operational, and policy considerations
• Establish credibility and trust with executive leadership
• Manage sophisticated external counsel relationships
• Contribute thought leadership to the clean water utility industry through publications, presentations, and active participation in professional associations
• Lead department initiatives that enhance legal service delivery
• Maintain composure and sound judgment under conditions of significant pressure, ambiguity, or organizational crisis
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that develops the capabilities of legal team members and strengthens relationships with client departments
• Perform related work as assigned and participate in Metro Water Recovery activities

Typical Work Environment Working on a variety of floor surfaces including tile, carpet, sidewalks; Work in parking lots; Uneven Surfaces; Slippery surfaces; Wet surfaces; Lighting conditions including natural light, fluorescent, head lamps, incandescent, and overhead lighting; Inside environment; Outside environment; Vibration due to vehicle driving Body Position Demands Reaching in front; Standing; Walking; Balancing; Object handling; Typing; Simple hand grasping; Driving a vehicle; Sitting; Climbing stairs; Stooping; Kneeling; Crouching; Fine hand coordination; Firm hand grasping Physical Demands (max forces are expected to be infrequent) Max Weight Lifted: 40 lbs. Max Weight Carried: 20lbs Max Force Pushed: 3 lbs Max Force Pulled: 3 lbs Sensory Requirements Wide field of view; Perception - Spatial; Olfactory (Smelling); Vision - Near; Far, Depth perception; Color discrimination; Perception - Form; Feeling without seeing; Speaking; Hearing

Typical Work Environment Working on a variety of floor surfaces including tile, carpet, sidewalks; Work in parking lots; Uneven Surfaces; Slippery surfaces; Wet surfaces; Lighting conditions including natural light, fluorescent, head lamps, incandescent, and overhead lighting; Inside environment; Outside environment; Vibration due to vehicle driving

Body Position Demands Reaching in front; Standing; Walking; Balancing; Object handling; Typing; Simple hand grasping; Driving a vehicle; Sitting; Climbing stairs; Stooping; Kneeling; Crouching; Fine hand coordination; Firm hand grasping

Physical Demands (max forces are expected to be infrequent) Max Weight Lifted: 40 lbs.

Max Weight Carried: 20lbs Max Force Pushed: 3 lbs Max Force Pulled: 3 lbs

Sensory Requirements Wide field of view; Perception - Spatial; Olfactory (Smelling); Vision - Near; Far, Depth perception; Color discrimination; Perception - Form; Feeling without seeing; Speaking; Hearing

Metro Water Recovery is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicants for employment with Metro Water Recovery must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

Metro Water Recovery offers a wide range of employee benefits including: * Medical * Dental * Vision * Life Insurance * Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance * Retirement * Leave Time (Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Leave, & Holiday) * Additional Voluntary Benefits Read more about our organization.

• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No