Senior Counsel, Project Finance

Ever since we started in 2007, Sunrun has been at the forefront of connecting people to the cleanest energy on Earth. It’s why we’ve become the #1 home solar and battery company in America. Today, we’re on a mission to change the way the world interacts with energy, and we’re building a company and brand that puts power at the center of life. And we’re doing it by designing a dynamic culture where employee development, well-being, and safety come first. We’re unlike any other solar company. Our vertically integrated model gives us total control over every part of the energy lifecycle – from sale through installation and beyond – so you can find endless opportunities for growth. Come join a career you can grow in and a culture you can run with.

Overview
As a leader at Sunrun, you’ll bring our leadership principles to life by creating the experience, leading by example, and communicating well & often. You’ll keep score to drive results, develop people to help them grow, and build a deliberate culture where our values shine: We Love People, We Love to Create, and We Love to Run. Most importantly, you’ll attract and retain top talent to help Sunrun build the best team on the planet. Together, we run.

This is a pivotal role for a senior legal professional, primarily focused on Project Finance and Commercial Transactions, to drive Sunrun's core mission. You will serve as the in-house legal expert, leading the structuring, negotiation, and closing of complex, high-value transactions, including tax equity, debt, and asset-backed securitizations for distributed renewable energy. Your strategic counsel on both financing and critical commercial contracts will directly enable the rapid expansion of clean energy solutions, requiring mastery-level expertise and the autonomy to advise executive stakeholders and manage outside counsel on multi-million dollar deals under the latest federal legislation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Transaction Leadership (Project Finance):

• Serve as a primary in-house legal driver for the structuring, negotiation, and closing of complex project financing transactions, including back-leverage debt, term debt, and subordinated debt, asset-backed securitizations, and tax equity and ITC transfer transactions that are structured as large portfolio financings of distributed generation assets.

• Independently draft, review, and negotiate all core tax equity and ITC transfer transaction documentation, including partnership LLCAs, purchase agreements, and ITC transfer agreements, and support external counsel in drafting debt and ABS documentation.

• Manage corporate approvals and disclosures related to project financing transactions, including drafting resolutions, operating agreements, and affiliate agreements, and coordinating with executive and board stakeholders for transaction approvals.

• Oversee and direct the legal due diligence process, closely working with other legal and business teams to respond to investor questions, including KYC, corporate, and consumer protection compliance due diligence.

• Advise on the implementation and impact of federal legislation (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act and The One Big Beautiful Bill Act) on project finance transactions, including coordinating closely with external tax counsel and the business to implement such legislation and regulations related to project finance transactions (e.g., transferability, ITC adders, FEOC provisions).

2. High-Level Project Development and Commercial Contracts:

• Provide strategic direction in the drafting and negotiation of primary project agreements critical to the business, including engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts, installation and sales partnership agreements, distributed power plant (DPP) agreements, lead generation agreements, operations and maintenance (O&M) agreements, and long-term equipment supply agreements.

• Serve as the legal lead in working with Sunrun’s installation and sales partners on commercial agreements related to sales and installation partnerships.

• Function as the ultimate internal expert on matters related to our construction and sales partners, seeking appropriate input to ensure contracts are fully bankable.

3.Autonomous Collaboration and External Management:

• Operate autonomously as a legal and strategic resource to non-lawyer business partners, including the Project Finance, Business Development, Installation and Sales Partnerships, and Operations teams, providing practical, high-impact, and solution-oriented legal advice.

• Manage and oversee outside counsel with little direction,driving efficient utilization and ensuring high-quality, cost-effective service delivery across multiple simultaneous, complex transactions.

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Required Qualifications

• J.D. Degree from an accredited law school.

• Active Membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar.

• Minimum of 8-10+ yearsof dedicated, high-level experience practicing law, with a primary focus on Project Finance and Development, preferably with experience in a leading law firm's Project Finance and Development group and as senior in-house counsel for a major renewable energy developer or fund.

• Mastery-level expertisein distributed renewable energy (ideally residential solar and storage) transactions, including expertise in portfolio financing structures and associated consumer finance regulatory aspects.

• Proven ability to independently drive numerous complex, high-value transactionsfrom term sheet to closing under tight deadlines.

• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with an ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and decisively to executive leadership.

Physical Demands

• Ability to perform normal office duties

• Ability to operate office equipment, including computers, and determine the accuracy of work

• Ability to interact and participate in meetings

Travel

• Less than 5% travel is required, primarily for team-building purposes

Recruiter:

Please note that the compensation information is made in good faith for this position only.  It assumes that the successful candidate will be located in markets within the United States that warrant the compensation.  Please speak with your recruiter to learn more.

Starting salary/wage for this opportunity:

Compensation decisions will not be based on a candidate's salary history. You can learn more here.

This job description outlines the primary responsibilities, some essential job functions, and qualifications for the role. It may not include all essential functions, tasks, or requirements. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and you need reasonable accommodation during the hiring process or to perform this role, please contact us at candidateaccommodations@sunrun.com.

Sunrun is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind.  We believe that empowering people and valuing their differences are essential for our mission of connecting people to the cleanest energy on earth. Learn more here: EEO | Sunrun