At CS Power Systems, we're on a mission to transform lives by delivering clean, solar-powered electricity to millions worldwide—and we're just getting started. As a cutting-edge division of Canadian Solar, a global leader founded in 2001, we stand at the forefront of manufacturing high-performance solar panels, inverters, and advanced energy storage solutions. In this fast-growing, high-impact industry, our deep commitment to sustainability drives everything we do, creating innovative technologies that power a brighter, greener future.
Across Canadian Solar's powerful ecosystem—including CS Power Systems, CSPowerTech, e-STORAGE, Recurrent Energy, MSS, and CSI Solar—we're deeply invested in our people's success. If you're passionate about renewable energy and want to "Make the Difference" by building a lasting positive impact on the planet and communities everywhere, join us at CS Power Systems—where your talent can help shape the clean energy revolution.
Position Title: Senior Counsel, Development
Department: MSS Legal, North America – Supporting Commercial BESS business
Reports To: Deputy General Counsel, Americas
Location: Walnut Creek, CA (in office preferred) OR Remote
Position Summary
Canadian Solar’s Commercial Energy Storage Project Development business, a unit of the Module and Systems Solutions (MSS) business in North America, is seeking an experienced project development lawyer to join its legal team. Experience drafting and negotiating site control, project finance and offtake agreements in the solar and/or energy storage industries is preferred. The ideal candidate will have big firm and in-house transactional experience in project development, real estate, finance, M&A or a related area. We are looking for a confident self-starter with strong interpersonal and organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to operate autonomously supporting the development and construction of distributed BESS projects. This is a full-time position with the opportunity to work in an office setting or remotely.
Responsibilities
- Act as a lead transactional lawyer for the development, financing, and construction of distributed battery energy storage and solar projects.
- Provide strategic and business-oriented legal advice on site control, offtake agreements, regulatory approvals, sale and acquisition of projects, construction contracts, and energy storage system installation and procurement primarily in the United States.
- Assist with all aspects of project financing, including debt financing, tax credit monetization, and ancillary documentation.
- As part of the Legal team, assist in the development of legal policies, processes, and resources for the North America business. Develop and maintain contract templates for the BESS project development business.
- Coordinate and supervise outside counsel when necessary, with a view to balancing legal costs with business goals.
- Ensure that all activities are performed with the highest ethical standards and that transactions comply with Canadian Solar policies and procedures.
Requirements
- 8+ years of relevant experience, including a minimum of 3 years’ relevant transactional experience in a large law firm; in-house experience with a renewable energy developer is preferred.
- Must have energy asset project development experience; experience in the development and financing of distributed solar and/or battery storage projects is preferred.
- Tax equity project finance experience will be looked upon very favorably.
- Solid academic credentials are required, including a JD from a top 50 law school.
- Must be licensed to practice law in your U.S. State of residence.
- Strong drafting skills and experience leading negotiation of complex commercial contracts as part of a deal team.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a fast-paced environment with sales representatives and other highly motivated individuals.
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly within North America for negotiations or for meetings.
Compensation & Benefits
Canadian Solar offers a competitive salary plus fully comprehensive benefits and performance bonus package based on an annual objective achievement. Our generous benefits package includes a 401(k) Retirement Plan, medical/dental/life/disability program, PTO and sick days.
The pay range for this position is $210,000 - $245,000 USD per hour. This range represents annual base salary only, without regard to location, and does not include bonus or other incentives or benefits that may apply. The pay range for this role is subject to change. Canadian Solar Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
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Skills Required
- 8+ years of relevant experience
- Minimum of 3 years' transactional experience in a large law firm
- Experience in renewable energy development
- Solid academic credentials including a JD from a top 50 law school
- Licensed to practice law in U.S. State of residence
- Strong drafting skills for complex commercial contracts
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
What We Do
Founded in 2001 in Ontario Canada, Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) is as a global energy provider with successful business subsidiaries in 20 countries & regions on 6 continents. Canadian Solar is both a leading manufacturer of solar PV modules and a provider of solar energy solutions, with over 14,000 employees globally. With state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Canada, China, Brazil and South East Asian countries, Canadian Solar now has module manufacturing capacity and has delivered more than 55 GW of premium quality solar modules to customers in over 150 countries in the past 20 years. Canadian Solar has solar power projects globally and solar power plants that are in commercial operation, with a resale value of US$1.2 billion. In addition, Canadian Solar has a geographically diversified utility-scale solar power project pipeline around 10 GWp, with projects being developed in the U.S., Japan, Latin America,Australia, EMEA, South East Asia, India and China. Of the total project pipeline, 2.9 GWp of projects are at late-stage development and have secured energy offtake agreements. In 2018, Canadian Solar achieved a revenue of US$3.74 billion, Meanwhile, Canadian Solar was listed as the Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s Tier 1 Module Manufacturer in terms of bankability for Q4 2018, and was named as Top 3 Global Utility-scale Solar PV Project Developer for 2017 by GTM Research. Canadian Solar Founder and CEO Dr. Shawn Qu blogs as a LinkedIn Influencer at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnqu/. Canadian Solar is making the difference by delivering more clean, safe and affordable solar energy to the world.
