Legal Counsel - Renewables Energy Australia - fixed term for 12 months (m/f/d) (89023)

RWE Renewables Europe & Australia GmbH
To start as soon as possible, full time, fixed term

The Role

As a Legal Counsel within the Renewables Australia Legal Team, you will be acting as one of the key legal advisors handling legal matters relating to the development and operation of RWE Renewables’ wind, solar, and battery projects across Australia.

RWE is looking for an experienced, strongly motivated, and self-confident legal counsel capable of working across the international RWE Renewables’ business. You’ll be a member of the Australian Legal Team and will also work closely with the broader Construction & Procurement and Real Estate & Regulatory teams. You’ll also be required to form strong relationships with other support functions to deliver a holistic and streamlined service to the RWE Renewables business.

We are looking for a positive, collaborative lawyer with a minimum of 4 years' PQE who brings a commercial mindset to the role. The successful candidate will be passionate about contributing to the clean energy transition and excited by providing high-quality legal support in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

This role will provide you with the opportunity to work on high-profile, complex, renewable energy projects and transactions across a variety of Australian jurisdictions. You will deliver to our Renewables business in Australia and Europe, commercial and solution-oriented advice across a mix of projects, transactions, and contracts relevant to the development, construction, and operation of renewable projects.

Your focus will be on supporting the procurement and construction functions at RWE on several development projects to develop a range of contracts, negotiate those contracts with delivery partners, provide ongoing project delivery support, and support achieving financial close (including on debt financing-related matters). You may also be asked to assist with real estate and regulatory matters, and corporate transactions. Accordingly, experience in whole-of-lifecycle renewables project development (from access license to commercial operation) is favourable.

Project Work

Experience in work described below is required:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a range of project documentation for the full lifecycle of development – from land access and tenure and consultancy agreements for early-stage development to construction contracts and supply agreements.
• Understanding the key risks in project development and construction, including property, planning, and contracting. Supporting the business by articulating those risks and devising strategies to manage them.
• Guiding the team to financial close on new projects/transactions across a range of renewable-energy technologies.

Experience in work described below is viewed favourably (in order of priority):

• Assisting and advising on contract administration – providing timely and commercial advice to support the business in administering a range of contracts and drafting correspondence, as well as advising on claims and dispute avoidance.
• Providing input into procurement timeframes, negotiation strategies, and risk management in major procurement activities.
• Advising the business on and negotiating property contracts and transactions, including drafting and negotiation of licences, options, leases, and easements for renewables projects.
• Advising the development, construction, and engineering teams on grid connection matters and other Australian-specific electricity legislation and regulation, including engagement with network service providers, regulators, and market operators.
• Providing general advice on procurement, health and safety, intellectual property, and other matters related to the development, construction, and operation of renewables projects.
• Advising the development team on permitting procedures, planning, and environmental law topics, and working with the business on obtaining planning permission and other consents required for the development, construction, and operation of renewables projects.
• Providing legal advice and risk assessments on planning pathways, environmental and permitting matters.
• Experience in multiple Australian states (NSW, SA, VIC, and QLD) is ideal.
• Assisting in M&A and joint-venture transactions.
• FIRB experience is desirable but not a must.

General:

• Strong people and communication skills to develop and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and provide commercially astute advice.
• The confidence to work autonomously and ‘roll up your sleeves’ to work on exciting projects.
• Liaising effectively with both more senior and more junior team members across legal and non-legal functions, particularly regarding tenders and procurement.
• Managing organizational or coordination tasks, including process optimization initiatives.
• Establishing and nurturing effective cross-functional and cross-cultural working relationships within the global legal team.

The Successful Candidate

To be successful in this role, you will have exceptional legal instinct combined with a strong understanding of construction/infrastructure projects (and as a bonus, energy regulation, planning law, and real property law). It is desirable, but not a must, that you have worked in the Renewables sector previously. Other Energy or Infrastructure experience will also be an asset in this role.

You will also have:

• Flexibility and ability to work professionally and accurately under pressure.
• Proven organizational, analytical, commercial, and standardization skills.
• Excellent command of English (capability of working in a further European language is beneficial).
• Good understanding of front-to-end contracting processes and passion for continuous improvement.
• Personal drive, willingness to take initiative, and a high level of commitment and engagement, enjoying working in an international team (including semi-regular travel – including trips to Europe).
• Excellent clear communication and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective cross-functional working relationships, customer centrism, consulting skills, and a service- and solution-oriented mindset.
• Australian legal qualifications, being registered to practice in an Australian state (or capable of seeking registration).
• At least 4 years PQE (with experience working on transactional matters preferred).
• Experience with renewables project development with project finance experience is favourable – either in private practice or in-house.
• Right to work in Australia.

The Benefits You Can Rely On

We offer you the opportunity to contribute your strengths to an interdisciplinary, open-minded, and motivated team and bring your ideas to life.

• Onboarding and development programs are offered too (including CPD).
• Work with an international team on international projects.
• Flexible working arrangements.

Apply with just a few clicks: ad code 89023


We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of gender, disability, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, age, sexual orientation, and identity. #inclusionmatters

In the segments of onshore wind and solar, RWE Renewables Europe & Australia is among the largest electricity producers in Europe and has become a key player in the field of renewables. With its comprehensive „Growing Green“ investment and growth strategy, RWE is expanding green generation capacity – to more than 65 gigawatts by 2030.

To this end, RWE is investing €55 billion between 2024 and 2030. RWE Renewables Europe & Australia is focusing on its core markets in Europe and Australia. The team with 1,800 colleagues across 11 countries has come a long way already. With the project pipeline well filled in all technologies, battery storage, onshore wind power and solar energy, you’ll have the freedom to act with conviction and courage as we pivot to new technologies – and continuously improve, together.