Senior General Counsel

About the role

Join Community Transit, a leading public transportation agency serving Snohomish County and the greater Puget Sound region, as our Senior General Counsel, serving as the agency's chief legal advisor and a key member of the executive leadership team. This is a unique opportunity to join a mission-driven organization whose work has a direct and lasting impact on the communities it serves. Community Transit’s mission is simple yet powerful: "We help people get from where they are to where they want to be." Guided by its vision of "Travel made easy for all," the agency is committed to delivering exceptional public service through a culture grounded in accountability, integrity, teamwork, initiative, diversity, equity and inclusion, mutual respect, and service to the community.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Senior General Counsel will oversee all legal affairs of the agency and provide strategic counsel to the CEO, executive leadership team, and Board of Directors. This highly visible role offers the opportunity to influence significant organizational, governance, and policy decisions while supporting a public agency that serves hundreds of thousands of residents throughout the region.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal legal advisor to the Board of Directors, CEO, and executive leadership team.
• Provide strategic legal counsel on a broad range of matters affecting a public agency, including governance, regulatory compliance, contracts, labor and employment, procurement, public records, risk management, litigation, real estate, environmental issues, and other operational matters.
• Advise leadership on complex legal, regulatory, and policy issues to support organizational objectives and informed decision-making.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, interlocal agreements, and other legal documents.
• Support significant organizational initiatives and strategic transactions, including acquisitions, partnerships, and other complex business matters, as needed.
• Oversee outside counsel, litigation strategy, claims, disputes, and legal budgets.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting public agencies and advise leadership on emerging legal risks and opportunities.
• Provide legal guidance in support of major capital projects, policy initiatives, and long-term organizational planning.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school and eligibility for admission in Washington State.
• Eight (8) or more years of progressively responsible legal experience, preferably representing or advising governmental, municipal, public sector, or other highly regulated organizations.
• Broad-based legal experience advising organizations on a variety of complex legal, governance, regulatory, and operational matters.
• Demonstrated ability to provide practical, strategic legal counsel to executive leadership teams, governing boards, or senior decision-makers.
• Experience managing outside counsel and balancing legal risk with organizational objectives.
• Exceptional judgment, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to navigate complex legal and policy issues in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are covered by medical, dental, vision, basic life and disability insurance.
• Employees participate in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and have the option to enroll in the agency’s deferred compensation plan.
• Accrue 24 days of Paid Time off (192 hours) in the first year and ten (10) paid holidays throughout the calendar year.