Assistant General Counsel

Come join a team of mission-driven doers as we work to build a more sustainable future!

LanzaJet, Inc. is a Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) technology provider and fuels producer committed to enabling energy security while also decarbonizing the aviation industry. Our patented ethanol-to-SAF technology is poised to deliver a significant impact on global aviation’s ability to decarbonize and meet its net-zero goals by 2050. At LanzaJet, we have a goal of enabling the production of 1 billion gallons of SAF and renewable diesel. And, we’re well on our way working across 25 countries and five continents. We’re enabling the continued and sustainable growth of aviation.

Backed by industry leading investors including Airbus, All Nippon Airways, Breakthrough Energy, British Airways, Groupe ADP, International Airlines Group (IAG), LanzaTech, Microsoft, Mitsui, MUFG Bank, Shell, and Southwest Airlines, LanzaJet is accelerating the path for the future of fuels. 

With over 16 years of technology development, LanzaJet's proprietary technology has now been deployed at commercial scale with the world’s first biorefinery in operation producing drop-in fuels that can be used in today’s aircraft and infrastructure.  

Named a TIME100 Most Influential Companies, Fortune’s Most Innovative Companies, and S&P Platts Global Rising Star Company of the Year, LanzaJet is globally recognized as a leading company and a best companies to work for, leading the way across the industry. 

As we expand our global footprint, LanzaJet is catalyzing the next generation of SAF in key markets such as Japan, Australia, India, United Kingdom, Europe, and South America. Our team of passionate innovators is dedicated to turning the vision of a secure and sustainable future into a reality today. Because as we say at LanzaJet,  

Someday is Now.  

We are leading the charge towards a the future of the aviation industry. 

Join us! 

We’re looking for a highly motivated, business-minded Assistant General Counsel. This role will act as a key partner to the General Counsel and leadership team, helping us scale quickly and responsibly as we build and finance sustainable fuel projects.

You’ll take the lead on commercial and IP-related work across a wide range of agreements, while also stepping into broader legal issues as they arise. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who thrives in ambiguity, moves quickly, and enjoys building things from the ground up.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, edit, finalize, and negotiate international and domestic corporate and commercial agreements. Agreements include fuel offtake agreements, feedstock and other supply agreements, master services agreements, joint venture and special purpose vehicle arrangements, confidentiality agreements, licensing and basic engineering design package agreements, consulting agreements and customer agreements. 

• Manage contract documentation/approval flows to ensure consistency with internal processes. 

• Assist with the development of streamlined, organized, and efficient policies and procedures for contracts and other legal functions. 

• Assist with contract challenges, and other disputes, including understanding the issues, providing guidance on solutions, and drafting settlement agreements. 

• Provide proactive and pragmatic counsel and guidance for the accomplishment of overall business objectives of the Company, while fully complying with applicable laws and regulations and avoiding unacceptable risks; perform informed cost-benefit analysis when identifying risks under tight deadlines. This includes supporting and offering improvements to business processes. 

• Opportunities to provide support on non-commercial practice area issues (labor and employment, real estate, tax and customs matters, corporate governance, etc.). 

• Proactively develop and maintain technical knowledge in biofuels, remaining up to date
• on current trends and best practices in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel. 

• Works autonomously and seeks management input in unusual situations, high complexity issues, and matters that may post some legal, financial, and/or reputational risk to the company. 

Requirements

• In-house legal experience preferred, including supervision of outside counsel. 

• At least 6 - 10 years prior experience in corporate transactions, contracts negotiation, and/or commercial transaction experience preferably with a background in energy or renewables, oil & gas operations, governmental contracting, and/or intellectual property. Candidates with significantly more experience than this minimum are encouraged to apply. 

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM-related field strongly preferred

• Committed to our vision, mission and core values and to exercising the highest level of ethics and discretion.
• Business acumen, with the ability to understand the company’s business objectives and anticipate the legal issues that could arise. 
• Approaches legal matters with a sense of pragmatism and flexibility to recommend solutions that enable our company’s success while protecting its legacy and future. 

• Desire and ability to participate and collaborate in meetings with diverse array of customers, vendors, attorneys, management, and other third parties. 

• Drives results and execution: Identifies issues and raises them so that appropriate actions can be taken to resolve problems or improve the client experience; takes personal ownership to follow through on commitments and achieve results with high quality; and demonstrates a strong bias for action and is able to balance priorities to keep plans on track. 

• Thinks strategically: Aligns own work with broader business strategies and goals; stays aware of the business implications of the biofuels market and SAF industry trends.
• Must be licensed to practice law preferably in Illinois.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship now and in the future

Overview of Benefits

• Competitive base salary, bonus, and stock options. Based on experience, the base salary range for this position is $200K to $240K
• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Vacation, Holiday, and Sick Pay

This position is open to candidates authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer. LanzaJet is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law.