Legal Associate

• Support the contract review process as established by the Contract Review Office.
• Establish organizational needs and risks of the Contract Review Unit from a legal review perspective.
• Assure that government procurement contracts adhere to the requirements of the Contract Review Policy.
• Identify the agencies with the largest contracting activity, and categorize types of contracts (consulting, construction, supply of goods, etc.).
• Work closely with targeted agencies (as determined by the Contract Review Office) to identify risk areas in the government contracting process.
• Perform legal research involving procurement and contract issues to provide prompt legal counsel.
• Advise agencies regarding parameters of procurement process from start to finish.
• Maintain strong communication and counseling skills for the interaction with high-level Government representatives on sensitive, complex, and high-value activities daily. 
• Familiarize oneself with governmental contracting process, to identify possible improvements and efficiencies.
• Work extensively with internal FOMB teams to determine budget compliance of all contracts.
• Maintain current knowledge of changes in Legislation.
• Attend and lead as necessary meetings with stakeholders, agencies or any related party as required.
• Identify high-risk categories of contracts for each agency/instrumentality.
• Develop and prepare legal opinions, memoranda, and letters for Senior Officials as requested.
• Apply effective risk management techniques and offer proactive advice on possible legal issues.
• Provide legal counsel on government procurement and contracting as necessary while ensure compliance with all applicable laws.
• Promotes a positive work environment that encourages individuals and groups to achieve their goals in the organization.
• Maintain and administer management control procedures for processing incoming (external and internal) correspondence and operational actions.
• Work closely with leadership and staff to ensure that all actions and tasks are appropriately prioritized coordinated and completed within the required date.
• Review current management control procedures and identify processes that improve the operation of the management control system.
• Assign actions to the appropriate officers and subject matter experts.
• Ascertain that communication materials are coordinated and prepared in compliance with established policy.
• Review non-technical materials prepared by others for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and clarity of expression. 
• Distribute completed correspondence via mail and electronic form to the appropriate recipients.
• Promote a positive work environment that encourages individuals and groups to achieve their goals in the organization.
• Other tasks which may be required by operational needs

Key Relationships

Internal Relationships

Daily contact with the Directors, Managers, and staff to achieve the objectives of PROMESA

External Relationships

Frequent contact with consultants, government agencies, attorneys and other stakeholders as needed.

Supervisory responsibilities

The position does not involve supervisory responsibility.

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school with up-to-date and current license to practice law in Puerto Rico
• A minimum of five years of combined experience as an attorney in corporate law, governmental practice and procedures, and administrative law.
• Experience in proposal development, negotiations, and contract; preferably government contracts.
• Experience to business, finance or procurement processes is recommended.
• Government experience is a plus.

• Ability to handle high volume of complex and confidential information with discretion.
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to analyze data and situations, independently develop, effectively present, propose, and successfully implement solutions and alternatives
• Must have an analytical understanding of the implications of PROMESA
• Strong written and oral communication skills required in English and Spanish
• Ability to coordinate tasks and responsibilities among groups of work
• Excellent communications skills in English and Spanish
• Ability to interact in a mature, tactful, and flexible manner with team members
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly, both orally and in writing
• Strong commitment to detail, successful prioritization, and time management skills
• Strict sense of urgency to meet deadlines
• Resourceful and well organized
• Ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with co-workers and consultants, among others
• Ability to learn and adapt to dynamic demands inherent to the job and work environment

Additional information

Physical demands

The physical demands described herein represent those to be fulfilled by an employee to successfully perform the essential tasks of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be reached to allow individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.
 
While carrying out the tasks of this position, the employee is normally sitting, using hands to hold or feel and grasp objects; the employee will often stand, walk, talk, and listen. Specific vision skills required for this job include close-up and color vision.

Working environment

The features of the working environment described herein represent those found by the employee while performing the essential tasks of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to allow individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.
 
While conducting tasks in this job, the employee is not exposed to environmental conditions of work. Noise levels in the workplace are generally low.

Health, safety and environmental requirements

The occupant of this position must comply with all health, safety and environmental policies and procedures and must actively participate in related activities of the organization. The occupant of the position will also be trained in any specific procedures and regulations applicable to the position, if needed.
 
This description is based on a management evaluation made in accordance with the requirements and tasks of the position as of the date of preparation of the description. This description is a general guide for the employees, managers, and colleagues, and does not include an exhaustive list of all elements and details of the job. Management reserves the right to modify this description at any time or change the tasks and responsibilities on a temporary or open-ended basis to meet objectives, timetables and recruiting goals.