Managing Counsel

• 00029684

Occidental (NYSE: OXY) is an international energy company. We are one of the largest U.S. companies in the oil and gas and carbon dioxide removal sectors with more than 40,000 employees and contractors worldwide. Our greatest asset has been and will continue to be our people.

For more than a century, our high-performing teams have driven advancements in the production of energy. Today we’re applying our culture of innovation to help solve our planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. We have built safe, efficient operations that harness the power of large-scale CO2 storage technology to drive our enhanced oil recovery (EOR) programs. At the same time, we're taking concrete steps on the ground to reduce our emissions.

Oxy’s Low Carbon Ventures group is in late-stage development of projects that implicate novel areas of law involving carbon dioxide removal directly from the atmosphere and individual sources and safe, secure and permanent sequestration of the carbon dioxide in deep underground reservoirs. To provide support for this innovate work, we are looking for an experienced and motivated individual to fill the position of Senior Counsel within our Climate, Environmental, Sustainability and Regulatory (CESR) group based in Houston, TX.

This position offers significant responsibility and autonomy, a wide range of cutting-edge work, interaction with internal clients and leadership, and a collegial work environment. The attorney hired will report to the Associate General Counsel of CESR. The Associate General Counsel reports directly to Oxy’s General Counsel.

We are looking for an experienced and motivated individual to fill the position of Sr Counsel CESR within our Legal team based in Houston, Texas. The ideal candidate should be able to:

Job Duties:
The practice group focuses on legal questions, analysis and guidance in the climate, environmental, sustainability and regulatory fields. We seek someone with experience in many of the following subject matter areas:

• Climate related matters, including:
  • Familiarity with federal and state policy and legislative initiatives focused on reducing companies’ carbon footprints;
  • Working with federal and state regulatory agencies and private clients on greenhouse gas emissions reduction, monitoring, and reporting matters; and,
  • Working on methane emission reduction, monitoring and reporting matters.
• Environmental matters, including:
  • Advising clients on federal and state environmental permitting processes for a variety of media, particularly air, water and underground injection (the UIC program);
  • Advising clients on compliance requirements and helping them navigate enforcement actions; and,
  • Directing internal investigations to identify and correct compliance deficiencies.
• Sustainability matters, including:
  • Helping clients understand their environmental footprint and its importance to shareholders;
  • Providing legal counsel on projects designed to decrease company’s environmental footprint;
  • Working as a liaison with government and regulatory affairs SME’s and federal, state and local agencies; and,
  • Assisting in the development of evolving environmental justice initiatives.
• Regulatory matters, including:
  • Understanding, interpreting and explaining Federal and State regulatory requirements for oil and gas owners and operators;
  • Influencing and managing evolving federal and state regulatory requirements for onshore and offshore CO2 capture and sequestration; and,
  • Participating in certain trade organization committees to influence policy and rulemaking activities.

Desired Expertise Includes:

• Familiarity with federal and state legislative and policy initiatives focused on reducing companies’ carbon footprints, working with federal and state regulatory on cutting edge climate issues involving greenhouse gas emissions reductions and reporting, experience with methane emissions monitoring and reduction initiatives.
• Knowledge of environmental justice concerns would be a plus.

• Knowledge of environmental, industrial health and safety statutes and regulations applicable to the oil and gas industry and carbon capture and sequestration.
• Experience counseling business and operations managers on compliance with those laws and regulations.
• Extensive experience dealing with local, state and federal agencies responsible for enforcing those laws.
• Ability to address both day-to-day environmental issues as well as support in the due diligence and auditing functions.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 6 years of legal experience.
• JD from a top tier law school.
• Experience with a top tier law firm, regulatory agency and/or in-house is preferred.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with senior commercial management.
• Must have strong academic credentials and a stable work history.
• Must be a member of a State Bar in good standing.

Relocation: Will not be offered at this time.

Occidental does not offer sponsorship of employment-based nonimmigrant visa petitions for this role.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, political preference, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.