In-House Counsel

WHAT WE NEED: In-House Counsel The In-House Counsel serves as Sigma Engineers & Constructors' primary internal legal advisor, providing practical, business-oriented counsel to executive leadership and operating teams. The position is responsible for protecting Sigma's legal and commercial interests across contract development and negotiation, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, employment matters, claims and disputes, insurance and risk management, and other legal issues affecting an engineering and construction organization. The role is expected to identify risk early, translate legal requirements into clear operational guidance, and support timely, informed business decisions while maintaining the independence, confidentiality, and professional judgment required of legal counsel. The In-House Counsel manages the legal function, coordinates specialized outside counsel when needed, and develops repeatable legal processes, templates, training, and controls that strengthen Sigma's compliance and contracting practices. Responsibilities: Legal Counsel and Business Partnership Advise the Chief Operations Officer, executive leadership, department leaders, and project teams on legal risk, business strategy, and proposed courses of action.Provide timely, practical, and solutions-focused legal guidance that supports Sigmas business objectives while protecting the companys legal, financial, operational, and reputational interests.Exercise independent professional judgment and escalate material legal risks, disputes, compliance concerns, and matters requiring executive or leadership attention.Preserve attorney-client privilege and work-product protection through appropriate communication, documentation, and information-handling practices. Contract Drafting, Review and Negotiation Draft, review, revise, and negotiate client, subcontractor, supplier, consultant, technology, licensing, confidentiality, lease, teaming, master service, professional services, and other commercial agreements.Evaluate scope, indemnity, limitation of liability, insurance, warranty, intellectual property, payment, schedule, change management, termination, dispute resolution, governing law, and flow-down provisions.Partner with operations, project management, finance, procurement, risk, and business development to align contract terms with project requirements and approved risk tolerances.Maintain contract templates, playbooks, approval matrices, clause libraries, fallback positions, and contract review procedures.Support the full contract lifecycle, including amendments, change orders, renewals, notices, claims preservation, closeout, and record retention. Corporate Governance and Organizational Support Advise on corporate governance, delegations of authority, entity management, organizational actions, resolutions, approvals, and maintenance of corporate records.Support executive and Board matters by preparing or reviewing legal materials, resolutions, minutes-related actions, and governance documentation as assigned.Provide legal support for strategic transactions, joint ventures, acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, financings, and other significant business initiatives, coordinating specialists as appropriate. Regulatory, Ethics and Compliance Monitor and interpret applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, licensing requirements, professional standards, and contractual compliance obligations relevant to Sigmas operations.Develop, review, and help implement policies, procedures, controls, and training addressing ethics, conflicts of interest, records, privacy, anti-bribery, procurement integrity, and other compliance topics.Coordinate internal reviews and investigations of reported compliance concerns in partnership with Human Resources, Finance, Safety, and leadership, as appropriate.Advise on governmental inquiries, subpoenas, audits, reporting obligations, and regulatory communications. Employment and Workforce Legal Support Partner with Human Resources on employment law matters, including hiring, discipline, performance management, accommodations, leave, wage and hour, investigations, reductions in force, separations, restrictive covenants, and employment-related agreements.Review policies, employee communications, and proposed employment actions for legal risk and consistency, while recognizing that operational and personnel decisions remain with business leadership.Manage or coordinate employment claims, agency charges, demand letters, and litigation with outside counsel when required. Claims, Disputes and Litigation Management Assess threatened and pending claims, disputes, liens, demands, professional liability matters, and litigation; develop strategy with leadership and relevant business owners.Issue and manage legal holds, preserve evidence, coordinate discovery, and oversee responses to subpoenas and formal information requests.Select, engage, and manage outside counsel and experts, including scope, strategy, staffing, budgets, invoices, and outcomes.Pursue efficient dispute resolution through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, litigation, or other appropriate methods. Insurance and Enterprise Risk Management Collaborate with Finance, Operations, Safety, Human Resources, and insurance advisors to evaluate contractual risk transfer, insurance requirements, coverage issues, claims, and loss-prevention measures.Provide legal input on professional liability, general liability, workers compensation, cyber, property, automobile, directors and officers, employment practices, and other relevant coverages.Identify recurring legal and contractual risk trends and recommend controls, training, or process improvements. Intellectual Property, Information and Privacy Advise on ownership, protection, use, licensing, and transfer of intellectual property, technical information, work product, software, trademarks, confidential information, and trade secrets.Partner with Information Technology and business teams on data privacy, cybersecurity, incident response, technology contracting, electronic records, and acceptable use matters.Support records retention and defensible disposition practices consistent with legal, contractual, and operational requirements. Legal Operations and Training Establish intake, prioritization, matter-management, document-management, reporting, and outside-counsel management practices for the legal function.Maintain accurate, secure, and accessible legal matter and contract records, subject to privilege, confidentiality, and retention requirements.Develop and deliver targeted training for leaders and employees on contracting authority, legal risk, ethics, compliance, documentation, and issue escalation.Use appropriate technology and performance data to improve responsiveness, consistency, visibility, and cost control. WHO WE NEED: Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.Active license to practice law and membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction required.Eligibility for admission in Louisiana, or authorization to perform in-house legal services in Louisiana as applicable, is required.Continuing legal education must be maintained.Seven or more years of progressively responsible legal experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, or comparable setting, with substantial commercial contract experience.Experience supporting engineering, construction, professional services, industrial, energy, or project-based operations is strongly preferred.Experience managing claims, disputes, employment matters, compliance issues, and outside counsel is preferred.Strong knowledge of contract and commercial law, corporate governance, dispute resolution, legal privilege, records preservation, and professional ethics.Working knowledge of employment law, insurance and risk transfer, intellectual property, privacy and cybersecurity, and laws or regulations relevant to engineering and construction operations.Exceptional legal analysis, drafting, negotiation, issue spotting, and judgment.Ability to translate complex legal concepts into direct, practical business guidance.Strong executive presence and communication skills.Ability to manage competing priorities, sensitive matters, and high-pressure deadlines.Demonstrated discretion, independence, collaboration, and attention to detail.Proficiency with Microsoft 365, legal research tools, contract or matter-management systems, and document technologies. WHO WE ARE: Founded in 1987, Sigma is a professional multi-discipline engineering and design company that serves the petrochemical, fertilizer, and refining industries. Privately owned and operated by Engineers, Sigma's culture empowers employees and clients to choose relationships and projects that fit our values and ultimately act as an extension of our clients. Our technical resources provide unmatched quality in multi-discipline engineering and design, in-plant services, supplier quality inspections, field services, automation, procurement and expediting, construction management, and leadership training. If you would like to see more of what Sigma is about visit our website at www.sigmaec.com. "We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law."