Senior Manager, Legal

Join Akaysha Energy, a driving force behind the global renewable energy revolution. As a subsidiary of BlackRock's Global Renewable Power Fund, we are at the forefront of developing, financing, and operating transformative energy storage and renewable projects. Harness your passion for the climate and join a leader in the global energy transition.

At Akaysha Energy, we combine cutting-edge energy market modeling and data analytics with project development and financing expertise to rapidly decarbonize energy markets. Be part of our mission and work in a dynamic, intellectually stimulating, and supportive environment where your ideas matter. Influence critical decisions and shape the future of sustainable energy.

Accelerate your career with us and enjoy above-market performance bonuses, flexible working arrangements and benefit from training and development opportunities. Collaborate with passionate experts in the field, taking on empowering, hands-on roles with real-world impacts. Grow professionally and personally, broadening your experience, knowledge, and skills. 

Make a difference. Join Akaysha Energy today.

Location:

This role is based in Akaysha Energy’s head office in Cremorne, Vic. We're open to a hybrid working style; spend time in the office and at home.  

Reporting to:

General Counsel

The role:

Akaysha Energy is seeking a skilled and experienced senior lawyer to join our dynamic team. Reporting to General Counsel and working closely with Senior Legal Manager, you will support the delivery of legal and strategic support across the complete life cycle of projects from origination to execution, and then onto delivery; beyond this, you'll create and implement legal, governance and compliance processes, policies and structure in the operation of the organisation.

This role comes with both managerial and individual contributor responsibilities. You will be hands-on in creating templates, tools, policies, risk frameworks and playbooks, as well as in advising on, drafting, reviewing and negotiating project documents. You will work collaboratively and alongside our Syd based Senior Manager, Legal with respect to managing, supervising, delegating to and mentoring our Senior Legal Associates, Legal Associates and Paralegals. Your supervisory responsibilities will include overseeing transactional matter workflow as each project moves through development to financial close and into operations; ensuring documents are completed consistently with Akaysha’s risk profile and are approved and signed in accordance with Akaysha’s corporate governance policies and procedures. 

You will also provide support for projects across international markets as required, including in the US, Japan and Europe.

Day to day you will be responsible for:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating documentation for the life cycle of the project, in close collaboration with Commercial, Development & Delivery, and other Akaysha Pillars. Project documentation includes term sheets/MOUs, options to acquire/lease, joint venture agreements, equipment supply agreements, EPC/turnkey agreements, connection agreements, and operation and maintenance agreements.
• Working closely with the wider business to support tenders and procurement.
• Delegating and supervising the work of our Senior Legal Associates, Legal Associates and Paralegals, contributing to their professional development through strong mentorship and coaching.
• Managing and working with external counsel to ensure quality deliverables are received in a timely manner, within budget and according to the needs of the business.
• Assisting to implement and build upon the company’s Risk Management Framework, including by working across Pillars with respect to the identification, treatment and reporting of key risks.
• Supporting and strengthening the compliance function.
• Advising on regulatory matters, including those affecting the company generally as well as the renewable energy industry.
• Developing and implementing legal policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and best practice industry standards.
• Identifying legal risks and potential liabilities associated with Akaysha’s projects in development, construction and operation, and developing mitigation strategies.
• Coordinating and supporting legal due diligence processes for financings (working closely with the Finance & Investments Pillar).
• Ensuring GC and Board approvals are obtained for project and other agreements and that contracts are executed in accordance with Akaysha’s governance policies and procedures.
• Developing strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Providing legal advice and developing templates and processes with respect to property, employment, health and safety, technology and other areas as required.

What you'll bring:

This role will suit a commercially minded, extremely collaborative senior lawyer who is excited by the growth trajectory of Akaysha. You will be a team player who is happy to roll up your sleeves and get involved in all aspects of the business.

• The ideal candidate will have between 7 - 9 years PAE.
• Must have solid transactional and commercial contracting background, across a range of commercial contracts, ideally including EPC/construction contracts and/or other energy contract documents.
• Strong drafting experience, with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and influence key internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in supervision and delegation of legal work.
• Solid presentation skills.
• Highly organised and able to prioritise, manage timing expectations, and project manage a high-volume of work, including transactional processes across different projects and other workstreams, within tight deadlines.
• Ability to collect, analyse and interpret complex commercial and technical information.
• Ability to anticipate legal issues and develop proactive solutions.
• Self-starter, hunger to learn, ability to deal with ambiguity and able to adapt and thrive in a startup culture.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• Real interest in and passion for the energy transition and keen to join a growing firm to make a difference with their legal skills.

Even if you don't feel that you meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. We would like to meet candidates who believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways - not just candidates who check every single box.

Please be aware you must be an Australian citizen, hold permanent residency status or have existing AU working rights to apply for this role.