Senior Counsel - Procurement & Project Support

Primary purpose

Tallgrass is seeking an attorney to provide legal support for a diverse range of traditional midstream operations and energy transition ventures, with a primary focus on services, procurement and construction contracting, project support, enforcement and recovery of procurement-related costs, insurance and risk management, contract lifecycle process improvement, and special projects. This attorney will serve as a key legal partner to Procurement, Project Management, Operations, Commercial, Finance, and other internal stakeholders by supporting the development, negotiation, administration, interpretation, enforcement, and closeout of procurement and project-related agreements. The role includes advising on contract compliance, change order discipline, documentation of claims, preservation of legal rights, recovery of costs, dispute avoidance and resolution, and training business personnel on contracting processes and risk issues. The position also supports the responsible use of contract management and AI-enabled tools, including DocJuris or similar platforms, to improve consistency, efficiency, and risk visibility. The ideal candidate should be nimble, resourceful, organized, and motivated to support cutting-edge energy transition projects.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Negotiate or assist the Procurement team, Project team, and other Company stakeholders in the selection, preparation, review, and negotiation of goods, facilities, and service agreements, equipment purchases, facilities leases, construction contracts, statements of work, work orders, amendments, change orders, and other vendor agreements.

• Assist stakeholders in the preparation of bid documents, requests for proposals, scopes of work, pricing frameworks, contractor qualification materials, and contract exhibits for construction, operations, maintenance, and IT-related engagements.

• Provide legal support to Project Management and Operations throughout the project lifecycle, including project kickoff, procurement strategy, template management, contractor engagement, contract administration, performance issues, change management, claims documentation, and project closeout.

• Advise on the interpretation, enforcement, and administration of procurement and project contracts to protect the Company’s contractual rights and commercial position.

• Support enforcement of procurement costs by: 

  • Reviewing contract pricing structures, reimbursement provisions, rate schedules, allowances, unit pricing, milestone payment terms, retainage, and invoicing requirements.

  • Identifying contract noncompliance, unsupported charges, scope creep, unauthorized work, and deviations from agreed commercial terms.

  • Advising stakeholders regarding documentation necessary to challenge, withhold, negotiate, recover, or otherwise resolve disputed contractor and vendor charges.

  • Supporting development of legal and factual positions concerning backcharges, offsets, rejections of nonconforming invoices, cost disallowances, liquidated damages, warranty enforcement, and other contractual remedies.

  • Partnering with Procurement, Projects, Finance, and business teams to improve controls around cost validation, approval authority, change order discipline, and claim preservation.

• Assist in the enforcement and improvements of contract governance processes and playbooks to improve consistency in procurement contracting, project support, and cost enforcement practices.

• Advise internal stakeholders regarding key contractual provisions.

• Provide legal counsel and guidance in the ordinary and special activities of the corporation to ensure the compliance with Company’s risk profile, maximum protection of its legal rights and to maintain operations within the limits prescribed by law.

• Assist in the defense of the corporation against suits or claims and prepare the prosecution of the corporation’s claims against others, including claims involving vendors, contractors, procurement disputes, project delay, deficient performance, and cost recovery.

• Prepare reports, presentations, summaries, risk assessments, and briefing materials for the Assistant General Counsel, Associate General Counsel and General Counsel on procurement, project support, contract compliance, cost enforcement, and related disputes.

• Work collaboratively with other Legal Department attorneys and independently with internal departments, including Procurement, Engineering, Project Management, Operations, Commercial, Finance, Internal Audit, IT, and HSE.

• Attend and participate in staff meetings, internal project meetings, contractor meetings, claim strategy meetings, and meetings with outside counsel, counterparties, and opposing parties and their counsel.

Additional duties and responsibilities

• May be asked to manage and direct outside counsel related to vendor disputes, project disputes, lien issues, construction claims, and procurement-related litigation or arbitration.

• Develop, update, and deliver practical legal training for non-lawyer personnel, including Procurement, Project Management, Operations, and other business teams, on topics relevant to each discipline. 

• Provide day-to-day coaching to contract owners and business stakeholders to improve issue spotting, documentation practices, and adherence to internal contracting processes.

• Support use and continuous improvement of contract review and workflow technologies, including DocJuris and other AI-enabled or automated legal tools, subject to Company policy and Legal Department guidance.

• Assist in creating and maintaining clause libraries, negotiation guidance, approval matrices, intake procedures, and standard operating procedures for procurement and project support contracting.

• Deal with a wide variety of people with tact and professionalism.

• Speak clearly, both in person and by telephone, using a high level of verbal skills, and listen carefully.

• Maintain regular, dependable attendance and a consistently high level of performance.

• Work non-traditional hours as needed.

• Maintain a high regard for personal safety, for the safety of company assets and employees, and the public.
• Perform other daily, weekly, monthly, or special project duties as identified and defined.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education

• Juris Doctor from an accredited institution.

Experience / Specific Knowledge

• Minimum of seven years of experience in-house or with a law firm supporting corporate and business operations.
• Significant experience in construction, procurement, and project support.
• Experience reviewing, negotiating, drafting, interpreting, and enforcing procurement and construction contracts.
• Experience advising on contract administration, contractor claims, change orders, invoice disputes, cost recovery, and preservation of contractual remedies.
• Working understanding of risk management and commercial insurance programs.
• Familiarity with federal and, as applicable to the Company, state laws and regulations governing the energy field.
• Experience partnering with business stakeholders to develop practical contracting processes, templates, and training.
• Experience using contract lifecycle management systems, redlining tools, and online legal research tools, including Practical Law, Westlaw, and Lexis.
• Experience with DocJuris or other similar contract reviews, workflow, or AI-assisted legal technology tools preferred; ability to learn and use such tools effectively in support of legal operations strongly desired.
• Intermediate proficiency in MS Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations

• Must be licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. state.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record satisfactory to the Company and its insurers, if travel is required.

Competencies, Skills & Abilities

• Strong analytical skills and logical thought processes, with the ability to identify potential legal, regulatory, commercial, and compliance issues.
• Strong judgment in balancing legal risk, business needs, project execution realities, and commercial objectives.
• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to take direction from management, adhere to required work schedules, focus attention on details, and follow work rules.
• Ability to take initiative and responsibility for work product.
• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks under strict deadlines.
• Ability to appreciate the effect of internal processes, documentation practices, and Company risk profile on procurement contracting and project outcomes.
• Ability to identify contract administration gaps that may affect cost control, claim preservation, contractor accountability, and dispute posture.
• Ability to communicate legal concepts clearly and effectively to non-lawyers and to provide practical, business-oriented training.
• Ability to use technology efficiently, including contract review platforms, workflow systems, and AI-assisted tools, while exercising appropriate legal judgment and verifying outputs for accuracy and policy compliance.

Physical Demands

All of the physical requirements listed below are those that may be necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Minimal safety hazards; general office working conditions.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions

• Occasional overnight travel may be required.
• Required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours, as needed.
• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit report for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.
• Located in Leawood, Kansas or Houston, Texas office(s).

Preferred Education, Experience, Certifications, Competencies, Skills & Abilities

Above the minimum requirements, not required but advantageous in this position: 

• Seven or more years of experience supporting corporate and business operations.
• Experience with IT contracts and drafting statements of work that protect the Company’s interests.
• Previous experience working in-house with an interstate gas pipeline company.
• Previous experience working in energy, pipeline, construction, infrastructure, or other highly regulated business environments.
• Experience supporting major capital projects, contractor claims, lien issues, schedule disputes, cost recovery efforts, and project closeout.
• Strong ability to translate recurring legal issues into scalable processes, training, and operational improvements.