Paralegal

Thank you for considering a career at Port Houston. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. By applying, you are taking an important step toward advancing your career with an organization committed to excellence.

Port Houston offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a diverse, inclusive work environment. Joining our team means embarking on a fulfilling career path with opportunities for growth and impact.

Before submitting your application, please ensure your resume is ready for upload in either .doc or .pdf format. Application must be completed in full.

Position Summary:

The Paralegal provides legal and administrative support to the Legal Department for Port Houston. This position supports attorneys with legal research, contract and document preparation, contract management, real estate and general transactional matters, litigation matters, administrative matters, public information requests, and records retention. The position plays a critical role in facilitating the legal function’s compliance with federal, state, and local laws 
and supporting port operations, real estate, procurement, environmental, and other matters.

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

• Assist in drafting, reviewing, and organizing legal and business documents including contracts, leases, memoranda, forms, and correspondence, under attorney supervision.
• Research legal, governmental, and business matters, and prepare memoranda regarding such matters, under attorney supervision.
• Research and maintain familiarity with legislation, court decisions, and regulatory matters, and prepare memoranda regarding such matters, under attorney supervision.
• Provide paralegal assistance in transactions, litigation and disputes, and administrative matters, under attorney supervision.
• Assist with the preparation of agendas, briefing books, minutes, resolutions, and supporting materials for meetings of the Port Commission and its committees and task forces.
• Track key legal deadlines and coordinate filings for litigation and administrative proceedings and matters.
• Create and track schedules and deadlines for transactional matters.
• Develop, manage, and maintain the Legal Department’s document management system and contract repository.
• Support responses to public records requests in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act.
• Support the Legal Department in managing outside legal counsel relationships and billings.
• Assist with the review and routing of contracts in coordination with various departments at Port Houston.
• Coordinate notarization, execution, and filing of legal instruments and records with relevant authorities.
• Provide assistance and information to Port Houston stakeholders, under attorney supervision.
• Perform other paralegal duties, under attorney supervision.
• Act in accordance with Port Houston core values (i.e., respect, excellence, accountability, diligence, and you).

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree, Associate degree, or paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant paralegal experience, preferably in public sector, real estate, environmental, transportation, or administrative law.
• Experience supporting an in-house legal department of a port authority, transportation agency, or governmental entity preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Behaviors:

• Knowledge of public sector legal operations, legal terminology, and Texas laws governing public sector entities preferred.
• Knowledge of real estate law, transactions, instruments, closings, and other matters related to real estate preferred.
• Knowledge and proficiency in computer technology and software, including the use of Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), Adobe Acrobat programs, legal document management systems, and enterprise systems (e.g. Workday).
• Knowledge of legal, governmental, and business processes and documents preferred.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong communication skills, including oral and written, as appropriate for the assignment and audience.
• Self-management and leadership skills.
• Well-developed and professional interpersonal skills, including the ability to interact and work effectively with leadership, staff, and external contacts.
• Notary Public certification preferred.
• Ability to handle multiple matters simultaneously.
• Ability to undertake large, long-term projects, develop innovative methods to complete them, and implement solutions.
• Ability to handle and maintain confidential information with the appropriate discretion.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to frequently changing priorities.
• Ability to work in a team environment.

Key Competencies Required:

• Applied Learning
• Attention to Detail
• Effective Communication
• Flexible and Adaptive
• Focus Upon Quality
• Manages Workflow
• Legal Research & Writing
• Time & Task Management
• Document & File Management
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Confidentiality & Discretion
• Public Sector Awareness

This work site location of this job is:

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but due to open office environment noise level may occasionally be high.  To apply, please go to porthouston.com/careers.  Only applications submitted through the Port Houston Careers website will be acknowledged.  Port Houston is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the U.S. Government.

Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

We appreciate your interest in Port Houston. Port Houston is an equal employment opportunity employer. Port Houston’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Port Houston also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Application must be completed in full.