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Arcadis · 2 hours ago

Major Projects Legal Director

Phoenix, AZ

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

15+ years exp

Arcadis is a global leader in sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions. The Major Projects Legal Director will lead the legal strategy for high-risk, cross-border infrastructure projects, advising on setup, structure, and risk allocation while collaborating with various teams across different time zones.

Civil EngineeringConsultingWater

Culture & Values

No H1B

Responsibilities

Lead the legal strategy for Arcadis’ portfolio of major projects which include large-scale, complex, or strategically significant projects and programs - typically exceeding €20 million in revenue, involving substantial risk, and requiring extensive global collaboration across sectors such as rail, road, aviation, buildings, water, and energy

Advise on procurement models (e.g. D&B, PDB, PPP, Alliancing), JV arrangements, and risk allocation

Embed legal insight early in project pursuit and structuring, partnering with commercial, technical, and legal leaders

Align project governance with corporate risk appetite, standards, and commercial priorities

Use project data and legal insights to inform strategy, identify trends, and improve decision-making and commercial outcomes

Lead high-stakes negotiations on client contracts, consortium agreements, and partnering structures where needed

Review and develop bespoke terms, deviation strategies, and negotiation frameworks

Ensure contractual positions are commercially sound and aligned to enterprise legal risk appetite and reward outcomes

Coordinate global business area legal directors and local legal teams to maintain consistent legal positioning across jurisdictions

Act as legal lead in global Major Project governance forums and project reviews

Institutionalize legal best practices in areas of expertise through playbooks, templates, and knowledge-sharing

Provide training and coaching to legal and commercial teams in areas of expertise to build capability and alignment to risk appetite

Set and oversee legal risk thresholds for major project delivery

Contribute legal expertise to internal governance, approvals, and project risk reviews

Provide strategic input on disputes and claims where appropriate

Qualification

Legal strategyInfrastructure projectsContract negotiationRisk allocationCommon law licenseAlternative delivery modelsCross-border collaborationCultural fluencyCommercial acumenInterpersonal skillsStrategic thinking

Required

Law degree and license to practice in a common law jurisdiction (US strongly preferred); must be US-based with valid work authorisation

Extensive experience advising in infrastructure, construction, or engineering sectors

Minimum 15 years' post-qualification experience, ideally including both top-tier law firm training and senior in-house roles. If you have the capabilities and mindset to succeed, we encourage you to apply - regardless of years of practice

Deep knowledge of alternative delivery models (e.g. Alliance, Progressive D&B, PPP) and international contracting

Demonstrated autonomy in leading complex matters with high commercial and reputational stakes

Strong interpersonal skills and cultural fluency; able to work across time zones with stakeholders in North America, Australia, and Central Europe

Commercially sharp with the judgment to know when to hold the line—and when to adapt