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.

1. Strategic Transaction Leadership (Project Finance):

• Serve as the primary legal driver for the structuring, negotiation, and closing of complex project financing transactions, including construction debt, term debt, back-leverage, and tax equity investment (e.g., partnerships flips, inverted leases) specifically structured for large portfolio financing of distributed generation assets.

• Independently draft, review, and negotiate all core transaction documentation, including credit agreements, security documents, intercreditor agreements, and participation agreements, with an emphasis on creating efficient, standardized, and bankable transaction templates.

• Oversee and direct the legal due diligence process, providing high-level risk analysis and pragmatic mitigation strategies related to permitting, title, environmental, and regulatory compliance.

• 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 Contracts:

• Provide strategic direction in the drafting and negotiation of primary project agreements critical to financial closing, including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts, Operations and Maintenance (O&M) agreements, and long-term equipment supply agreements.

• Serve as the legal lead for project acquisitions (MIPA/MIPSA) and greenfield development, assisting executive teams with structuring deals, risk allocation, and mitigating complex site-specific and development risks.

• Function as the ultimate internal expert on real estate and land use legal matters, ensuring the project security interests are perfected and fully bankable.

3. Autonomous Collaboration and External Management:

• Operate autonomously as the primary legal and strategic resource to non-lawyer business partners, including the Finance, Business Development, Construction, 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.

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

• Experience with stand-alone energy storage project financing and related contracts.

• Familiarity with regulatory issues related to interconnection and wholesale energy markets (e.g., ISO/RTO rules).

• Proven success operating in a senior role within a high-growth startup or corporate environment in the clean energy sector.

• Existing network with executive-level contacts at lenders, tax equity investors, and law firms active in the renewable energy space.

• Direct experience with consumer finance compliance, including TILA, RESPA, and other consumer protection laws, as applicable to solar lending/leasing products.

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 [email protected].

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