Senior Counsel – Project Development

Senior Counsel – Project Development

Houston, TX | Legal Department

Talen Energy’s Legal team partners across the organization to enable strategic growth and manage risk in a complex, highly regulated environment. In this role, you will serve as a primary legal partner to Corporate Development while supporting broader business initiatives across the organization. You will play a critical role in supporting high-value initiatives across the full lifecycle of energy projects, from early-stage development through construction, financing, and commercial operation. You’ll work in a collaborative environment, providing practical legal guidance that directly impacts business outcomes.

How You’ll Power the Future

At Talen Energy, your work directly supports safe, reliable power generation. In this role, you’ll move beyond day‑to‑day contributions to drive meaningful change by: 

• Advising Corporate Development and business teams on strategic projects and transactions

• Supporting the full lifecycle of project development, including site control, construction, financing, and operations

• Identifying legal risks and delivering clear, practical, business-oriented recommendations

• Formulating and delivering timely, high-quality legal advice to business stakeholders

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements aligned to business objectives

• Supporting structuring and execution of major transactions and project arrangements

• Managing outside counsel to ensure efficient and high-quality legal support

• Contributing to mergers, acquisitions, and financing activities

• Supporting development of policies and frameworks for new and evolving business initiatives

• Ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and regulatory requirements

• Communicating effectively across all levels of the organization

• Partnering cross-functionally to drive alignment and execution across the organization

• Operating with a high degree of integrity and alignment to company values and ethical standards

What You Have

Minimum Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from an accredited institution with strong academic credentials

• 5–6+ years of relevant experience in commercial, corporate, or transactional legal practice

• Active bar admission in the primary work location (Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, or DC preferred)

• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements (EPC, development, PPAs, JV/LLC, O&M, NDAs)

• Strong knowledge of project development legal considerations (real estate, construction, mineral/water rights)

• Experience supporting complex transactions and cross-functional initiatives

• Ability to independently manage legal matters and prioritize effectively

• Experience managing outside counsel

• Working knowledge of mergers & acquisitions and financing

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years of training at a nationally or regionally recognized law firm

• 2-3 years of corporate (in-house) experience

• Knowledge of and experience advising companies in the power generation industry.

• Familiarity with regulated markets (e.g., ISO/PJM)

• Experience supporting new business ventures or policy development

Why Talen Energy?

Power the Future

Talen Energy is one of the largest competitive energy and power generation companies in North America. We operate power plants that use diverse fuel sources in the most attractive wholesale power markets and sell energy to wholesale and retail customers in selected competitive markets. Our passion for excellence grows value through safe and efficient operations. We have an inclusive, diverse, respectful, and collaborative workplace, and a strong commitment to innovation, teamwork, and integrity. We generate energy for a brighter tomorrow.

Collaboration

Our passion for excellence grows value through safe and efficient operations. We have an inclusive, diverse, respectful, and collaborative workplace. Talen Energy offers an exceptional benefits program to its employees, including comprehensive health, dental, vision, prescription plans, life insurance, disability insurance, 401(k), and competitive paid time off.

Talen Energy offers an exceptional benefits program to its employees. Benefits include comprehensive health, dental, vision, prescription plans, life insurance, and disability insurance.  In addition, employees are eligible to participate in Talen Energy’s 401(k) plan.  Talen Energy also provides competitive vacation and sick time to its employees. 

We are committed to providing a safe, drug and alcohol-free workplace. Consistent with applicable law and any collective bargaining agreements, positions may be subject to pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. 

Talen Energy is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer dedicated to diversity and the strength it brings to the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, disability, perceived disability or any other protected characteristic as may be defined by applicable law. 

If you need assistance with the application process, please email us at [email protected] 

Please note that roles supporting Talen Energy’s nuclear facilities are subject to rigorous background investigation and security clearance requirements consistent with federal regulatory standards. 

Note to Search Firms and Recruitment Agencies 

Talen Energy is committed to fostering direct engagement with prospective candidates and managing our recruitment activities internally. From time to time, Talen Energy and its companies partner with select executive search firms and recruitment agencies under formal, written agreements aligned to specific business needs. 

Talen Energy does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from search firms or agencies without a current fully executed agreement authorized by an appropriate company representative. Any candidate information submitted in the absence of such an agreement will be considered the property of Talen Energy, and neither Talen Energy nor its subsidiaries will be obligated to pay any fees or compensation related to those submissions. 

Note: You will have an opportunity to add attachments to your application. Please use this opportunity to upload your resume, cover letter, and any relevant documents .