Job Type: Full Time
Job Location: USVI
Legal Counsel
Purpose of the Role
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Legal Counsel serves as a trusted legal and strategic advisor to SkyCity’s executive leadership team. This role provides legal guidance across all aspects of the Company’s operations and major infrastructure projects, supporting commercial transactions, contract negotiations, risk management, claims management, governance, and regulatory compliance.
The Legal Counsel plays a critical role in protecting the Company’s interests while enabling business objectives and supporting the successful delivery of the airport redevelopment projects in St. Thomas and St. Croix.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Advisory & Commercial Support
- Provide practical, business-focused legal advice on a broad range of commercial, contractual, operational, and project-related matters.
- Review, draft, negotiate, and advise on contracts, amendments, memoranda of understanding, procurement agreements, and other commercial arrangements.
- Partner with executive leadership and project teams to identify legal and commercial risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.
- Support the development and execution of negotiation strategies on significant commercial matters and key stakeholder agreements.
- Ensure contractual obligations and legal commitments are effectively managed throughout the project lifecycle.
Claims, Disputes & Risk Management
- Identify, assess, and advise on legal, contractual, and commercial risks associated with major infrastructure and development projects.
- Manage project-related claims and disputes through various stages of the dispute resolution process, including negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration, and litigation.
- Act as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders and external counsel on complex claims, disputes, and litigation matters.
- Provide strategic direction to external legal advisors while monitoring outcomes, costs, and litigation strategy.
- Support project teams in preserving contractual rights and addressing emerging risks and claims.
Corporate Governance & Compliance
- Support the CEO and leadership team in maintaining sound corporate governance practices and regulatory compliance.
- Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of legal policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
- Monitor changes in applicable laws, regulations, and legal requirements and communicate potential business impacts.
- Promote ethical business practices and ensure adherence to legal and contractual obligations.
Executive Reporting & Stakeholder Management
- Prepare legal briefings, reports, presentations, and recommendations for executive leadership and other stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain reporting mechanisms for contract management, claims, legal matters, and compliance activities.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with government agencies, consultants, external counsel, project partners, and other key stakeholders.
- Provide timely and clear communication of legal risks and recommendations to support strategic decision-making.
Leadership & Culture
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing work environment grounded in integrity, professionalism, accountability, and excellence.
- Demonstrate sound judgment, discretion, and a commitment to the highest ethical standards.
- Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and effective risk management.
Qualifications & Experience
Required
- Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree from an accredited institution.
- Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- Eligibility for admission to the United States Virgin Islands Bar Association or qualification to practice under applicable in-house counsel provisions, including VI Supreme Court Rule 202.1.
- Minimum of 5 years of legal experience in private practice, in-house counsel, or a combination thereof.
- Demonstrated experience in commercial contracts, contract negotiations, and risk management.
- Strong working knowledge of commercial, corporate, construction, infrastructure, or project-related legal matters.
- Excellent legal drafting, analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
- Proven ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and effectively to non-legal stakeholders.
- Exceptional negotiation, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred
- Experience supporting major infrastructure, transportation, aviation, public-private partnership (P3), construction, or capital development projects.
- Experience managing litigation, arbitration, adjudication, claims, and dispute resolution matters.
- Previous experience working directly with executive leadership teams and boards.
Working Environment
- Full-time, onsite position based in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Regular interaction with airport operations, project teams, government stakeholders, consultants, and external business partners.
- Dynamic, fast-paced environment supporting a transformative airport redevelopment program.
Why Join SkyCity?
SkyCity is partnering with the Virgin Islands Port Authority through a Public-Private Partnership (P3) to redevelop the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas and the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix. This landmark infrastructure program will modernize the Territory’s airports, enhance the traveler experience, and support long-term economic growth throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is a unique opportunity to serve as a key legal advisor on one of the most significant development projects in the Caribbean while working directly with executive leadership to help shape the future of aviation infrastructure in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
