Dir, Legal Affairs

Job Summary

The Director of Legal Affairs oversees contract administration, regulatory compliance, and legal documentation within a telecommunications environment, with a strong focus on relationship management across internal teams and external partners. Manages contracts, agreements, and risk-related activities while ensuring compliance with federal, state, and industry regulations. Serves as a key liaison with regulatory agencies, municipalities, and cross-functional teams. Ideal candidates bring strong organizational skills and legal or paralegal experience in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities and essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Supervise Contracts/Legal Administrator
• Contract/Legal Administration: review and/or prepare, negotiate, and handle the progress of various contract, legal, maintenance agreements and other documents for ultimate signature by applicable Company officers
• Management of Company’s document archiving and retrieval system (Cobblestone): input and manage contract, legal, insurance, business affairs, regulatory and other related documents into database upon completion, establish/set up/manage contract files, set critical data triggers
• Review, advise on, and/or distribute fully executed contract copies to appropriate internal staff and outside parties (customers, vendors, attorneys)
• Prepare, issue and/or revise NDA’s, Right of Entry Agreements, Master Agreements for Construction, Lump Sum Agreements, Staffing Agreements, various Sales agreements, etc.
• Prepare, issue, revise and maintain current Company website legal documents (i.e., MSA’s, Services Schedules, Privacy Policies, AUP’s, etc.)
• Interface with and aid Permit Coordinator and other Engineering personnel in establishing/registering Company entities as telecommunications provider with various local municipalities and in obtaining permits, providing requested Company information and documentation in support thereof
• Process and manage Engineering requests for temporary and/or permanent easements with Disney, Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, and other applicable municipalities; track and complete the process through to recordation; preparation of Notices of Commencement and Permits for same
• Draft and prepare correspondence to outside counsel, customers, etc.
• Manage and provide support on broad range of risk management matters, including handling customer and other requests for Smart City certificates of insurance (COI’s) and obtaining and maintaining same from vendors, etc.; handling COI triggers in Cobblestone and making contact (phone, fax, email) with vendors to obtain COI or renewal COI; assistance with coordinating annual policy renewal and audit information requests; review of vendor insurance certificates for compliance with purchase order and contract requirements; requesting and obtaining new and renewal Bonds for projects, as required
• Keeping Track of Contract expirations
• Handling of company Business Affairs matters including but not limited to: preparing and tracking of corporate approvals and requests for corporate and/or financial documentation; requesting, instructing, and overseeing the filing and recordation of Smart City company name changes, address changes, etc. with Smart City’s Registered Agent vendor; supply timely and accurate information regarding permit processing, policies, and procedures; business licenses
• Coordinate and handle responses to local/state/federal Subpoena, Court Order for requested records
• Act in the capacity of the primary Company regulatory affairs and industry relations liaison and direct interface with the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), USAC, NECA, and other industry associations. Have extensive working knowledge of and familiarity with FPSC and FCC Rules and processes, Florida Statutes, etc., and monitor and coordinate the Company’s compliance therewith. Monitor and stay abreast of FPSC and FCC regulatory dockets, legislation, and all other state and federal industry regulatory issues, and keep Company apprised of same
• Formulate and submit all Company Federal, State, and other regulatory, industry and other data and information request responses, quarterly/annual filings, certifications, etc., as required. File any requested and/or required FPSC General Exchange and/or Access Tariff revisions
• Perform required research on entities causing fiber cuts and other damage to Smart City facilities necessary to send formal Notice to owners/principals of such entities; coordinate billing following completion of repairs to entities that cause the damage
• Prepare Facility Conflict Letters and Service Availability Letters for Engineering and/or Sales
• Coordinate Call Tracing/Trap and Trace Requests
• Coordinate and handle annual customer/customer agent Due Diligence requests
• Coordinate and handle Better Business Bureau Complaint responses
• Oversee and monitor Customer Bankruptcy filings received; filing of Proofs of Claims
• Coordinate and oversee Company Trademark matters and filings with NY outside counsel
• Monitor, maintain, obtain, and implement customer agreement required annual Consumer Price Index increases
• Provide notarization on Company documents, as required
• Working with Insurance brokerage for requirements for necessary deposits or Bond’s for building on land controlled by Agencies such as railroads, gas companies, etc.
• Perform other duties and/or contribute to various projects working with minimal supervision, including helping other departments and team members, as requested by executives, upper management, supervisors, managers, or other department heads to meet company and departmental goals input and manage contract, legal, insurance, business affairs, regulatory and other related documents into database upon completion, establish/set up/manage contract files, set critical data triggers
• Review, advise on, and/or distribute fully executed contract copies to appropriate internal staff and outside parties (customers, vendors, attorneys)
• Prepare, issue and/or revise NDA’s, Right of Entry Agreements, Master Agreements for Construction, Lump Sum Agreements, Staffing Agreements, various Sales agreements, etc.
• Prepare, issue, revise and maintain current Company website legal documents (i.e., MSA’s, Services Schedules, Privacy Policies, AUP’s, etc.)
• Interface with and aid Permit Coordinator and other Engineering personnel in establishing/registering Company entities as telecommunications provider with various local municipalities and in obtaining permits, providing requested Company information and documentation in support thereof
• Process and manage Engineering requests for temporary and/or permanent easements with Disney, RCID, and other applicable municipalities; track and complete the process through to recordation; preparation of Notices of Commencement and Permits for same
• Draft and prepare correspondence to outside counsel, customers, etc.
• Manage and provide support on broad range of risk management matters, including handling customer and other requests for Smart City certificates of insurance (COI’s) and obtaining and maintaining same from vendors, etc.; handling COI triggers in Cobblestone and making contact (phone, fax, email) with vendors to obtain COI or renewal COI; assistance with coordinating annual policy renewal and audit information requests; review of vendor insurance certificates for compliance with purchase order and contract requirements; requesting and obtaining new and renewal Bonds for projects, as required
• Handling of company Business Affairs matters including but not limited to preparing and tracking of corporate approvals and requests for corporate and/or financial documentation; requesting, instructing, and overseeing the filing and recordation of Smart City company name changes, address changes, etc. with Smart City’s Registered Agent vendor; supply timely and accurate information regarding permit processing, policies, and procedures; business licenses
• Coordinate and handle responses to local/state/federal Subpoena, Court Order for requested records
• Act in the capacity of the primary Company regulatory affairs and industry relations liaison and direct interface with the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), USAC, NECA, and other industry associations. Have extensive working knowledge of and familiarity with FPSC and FCC Rules and processes, Florida Statutes, etc., and monitor and coordinate the Company’s compliance therewith. Monitor and stay abreast of FPSC and FCC regulatory dockets, legislation, and all other state and federal industry regulatory issues, and keep Company apprised of same
• Formulate and submit all Company Federal, State, and other regulatory, industry and other data and information request responses, quarterly/annual filings, certifications, etc., as required. File any requested and/or required FPSC General Exchange and/or Access Tariff revisions
• Perform required research on entities causing fiber cuts and other damage to Smart City facilities necessary to send formal Notice to owners/principals of such entities; coordinate billing following completion of repairs to entities that cause the damage
• Prepare Facility Conflict Letters and Service Availability Letters for Engineering and/or Sales
• Coordinate Call Tracing/Trap and Trace Requests
• Coordinate and handle annual customer/customer agent Due Diligence requests
• Coordinate and handle Better Business Bureau Complaint responses
• Oversee and monitor Customer Bankruptcy filings received; filing of Proofs of Claims
• Coordinate and oversee Company Trademark matters and filings with NY outside counsel
• Monitor, maintain, obtain, and implement customer agreement required annual Consumer Price Index increases
• Provide notarization on Company documents, as required
• Perform other duties and/or contribute to various projects working with minimal supervision, including helping other departments and team members, as requested by executives, upper management, supervisors, managers, or other department heads to meet company and departmental goals

Qualifications – The ideal candidate for this position will demonstrate:

• A vital interest in contributing to the success of the department’s goals
• Competency and experience in Microsoft Office with advanced knowledge in Word and Outlook; proficiency in Adobe
• Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
• Eagerness to adapt existing processes to new, improved systems
• Excellent organizational skills, time management, initiative, attention to detail, follow through
• Exceptional customer service skills with an ability to explain complex situations in simple terms
• Ability to multi-task and accomplish tasks in fast-paced environment with minimal supervision
• Ability to effectively work cross functionally with other teams with a collaborative and positive attitude
• Possess a proactive, rather than reactive, attitude within the team through mentoring and knowledge sharing
• Significant understanding of telecommunications, regulatory influences, telephone industry standards, local telecom practices and procedures, local/city/state/government rules, and regulations required/highly desired
• Knowledge of all state/local/RR permitting regulations regarding Right-of-Way, Property Rights, and Easements highly desired

Working Conditions

• Indoor office working environment with prolonged sitting.
• Hybrid work schedule with in-office and at-home workdays. Schedule may vary depending on business needs.

Other Requirements

• Law Degree and/or Paralegal certification; Bachelor’s Degree is required.
• 3 to 5 years related legal administrative or paralegal experience and/or training, with transactional emphasis
• 5 or more years’ experience in Telecommunications and/or Utilities industry is highly preferred
• State of Florida Notary license is required
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check and drug screening