Senior Port Counsel – Construction Contracting and Construction Litigation

About the Role

As a Senior Port Counsel you will make a positive, immediate, and lasting impact by delivering high-quality legal services focused on construction contracts and related litigation. You will join a collaborative Legal Department team that supports the Port’s business operations and strategic goals. The role involves advising and representing clients at all organizational levels and overseeing litigation. You will provide comprehensive legal support for every facet of the Port’s approximately $4.4 billion, five-year capital construction program. This responsibility includes ensuring contractual compliance and risk mitigation throughout the program. You will draft and review public-works contracts using delivery methods such as design/bid/build, design/build, progressive design/build, job-order contracting, and general contractor/construction manager arrangements. In addition, you will counsel construction management, procurement, engineering, and project-management teams throughout procurement, bid protests, construction, claims resolution, and contract closeout. You will retain and oversee outside counsel to represent the Port in construction litigation, including high-value claims and counterclaims that may run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. You will also advise executives and commissioners on construction claims, litigation, and other legal matters to aid strategic decision-making. You will draft, review, and negotiate public-private partnership agreements, including complex tenant-reimbursement construction and funding contracts for major airport improvements. You will provide guidance to the Port’s Diversity in Contracting, DBE program, and Labor Relations groups on construction-related labor issues, such as project labor agreements. You will negotiate a broad range of non-construction contracts, grants, procurements, and utility franchise agreements. Additionally, you will advise on airport ground transportation matters, intellectual property, the Port’s art program, tax, municipal law, and other federal, state, and Port-specific legal issues. • Provide legal support for the Port’s $4.4 B, five-year capital construction program. • Draft, review, and negotiate public‑works contracts using multiple delivery methods. • Advise construction, procurement, engineering, and project‑management teams throughout project lifecycles. • Manage outside counsel for high‑value construction litigation and claims. • Counsel executives and commissioners on construction claims and strategic legal decisions. • Draft and negotiate public‑private partnership and tenant‑reimbursement agreements for airport improvements. • Support Diversity in Contracting, DBE, and Labor Relations on construction‑related labor matters. • Negotiate non‑construction contracts, grants, procurements, and utility franchise agreements. • Advise on airport ground transportation, congestion‑reduction initiatives, and parking issues. • Provide counsel on intellectual property, the Port’s art program, tax, municipal law, and related legal matters.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸contract drafting
• ▸public works
• ▸litigation
• ▸ppp agreements
• ▸non‑construction
• ▸risk mitigation

What You Bring

Candidates must have at least five years of experience as a lawyer in government, nonprofit, law firm, or in-house practice within the areas of responsibility and hold a Washington State Bar license or qualify for admission under APR 8(f). While eight years of experience on large public-works projects and a Juris Doctorate are preferred, all applicants must complete the Washington State Bar admission process within the specified timeline. A commitment to equity and the Port’s shared values is a core expectation for all employees. Successful candidates will demonstrate critical thinking, strong communication, organization, curiosity, and political acumen to navigate complex legal and policy environments. • Minimum five years of relevant legal experience; Washington State Bar admission or eligibility under APR 8(f). • Preferred eight years of experience on large public‑works projects and a Juris Doctorate. • Demonstrated commitment to equity, critical thinking, effective communication, organization, curiosity, and political acumen.

Requirements

• ▸washington bar
• ▸juris doctor
• ▸public‑works
• ▸legal experience
• ▸critical thinking
• ▸equity

Work Environment

Office Full-Time