Company Overview
Come grow with us! We are One Rayonier , a team that works together to create value by prioritizing safety, challenging the status quo, giving back to our communities, and driving innovation through continuous learning. With nearly 100 years of experience, we’re still discovering new ways to make lives better with our trees, our land, and — our most important resource — our people .
At Rayonier, we strive to create an employee experience where you feel valued and proud to be part of our team. We foster a respectful, inclusive and collaborative environment that celebrates your unique talents and perspectives. Experience the Rayonier difference: We’re big enough to offer exciting career paths, but small enough for you to know your colleagues by name. Come join a team that empowers you to make a difference!
The Assistant General Counsel, Forestry , will report to the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, and will provide advice and counsel to forest resources and land-based solutions businesses. This includes responsibility for all commercial activities, litigation, real estate transactions and land use matters. This position will be responsible for managing one or more junior in-house attorneys.
Primary Responsibilities
- Serve as lead counsel to the forestry business with respect to all legal matters and strategic acquisitions and dispositions in assigned geography.
- Serve as lead counsel to the land-based solutions businesses, including minerals, pipelines, hunting and recreation, solar, communication towers, carbon capture and storage, and carbon credit projects.
- Manage, develop and mentor members of the law department to ensure delivery of high quality, timely legal services.
- Draft, review and negotiate contracts and other documents to be used by the business units and work closely with management to structure all business transactions, including strategic acquisitions, dispositions and ventures.
- Review and negotiate all company corporate procurement contracts, ensuring terms are favorable, mitigate risk, and support the operational needs of the business units.
- Oversee and manage litigation for the business units, ensuring that legal strategies and outside counsel performance remain aligned with the Company’s strategic objectives.
- With others in the business, advise with respect to, and participate in, the state and local administrative and political processes to advance the Company’s interests and objectives.
- Assist environmental and real estate personnel on issues relating to land management and real estate development, including wetland delineation, mitigation and permitting.
- Counsel and train management and supervisory personnel on compliance with applicable law, and advise same on the effects of coming changes in law that may affect the businesses.
- Implement the Company’s compliance program with respect to the businesses.
- Manage one or more junior in-house attorneys.
- Manage outside counsel and other legal consultants (and their budgets).
Required Qualifications
- B.A. or B.S. undergraduate degree and J.D. degree from a respected law school with indicia of academic achievement, and admission to the bar of at least one state (Florida or Georgia would be preferred but not required for hire).
- The ideal candidate will have at least 12 years of law firm or in-house legal experience in the forestry, real estate, renewable energy and/or land use sectors.
- Ability to manage outside counsel and work collaboratively with business teams.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, be detail oriented, able to prioritize work and multi-task in a busy legal office, meet deadlines, be an excellent communicator (both verbal and written), and be capable of working independently with little direct supervision.
- Strong work ethic, show initiative (i.e., a self-starter), be a team player with excellent interpersonal skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality within a strictly confidential environment.
- Strong Microsoft Word experience, familiar with Microsoft Excel, and ready, willing and able to learn new or unfamiliar technology resources (e.g., Gemini, Legal Tracker and Contract Management Software).
- Must be willing to work in the Atlanta, Georgia office at least 3 days per week.
