Chief Legal Officer

Full role title:
CHIEF SHARED PROSPERITY & LEGAL OFFICER

Hybrid (3x a week on-site)

The Port of Portland is seeking an exceptional executive to serve in the newly created role of Chief Shared Prosperity & Legal Officer - a senior leadership position at the center of law, enterprise strategy, governance, people, and public stewardship. This is not a traditional legal role. Serving as a trusted thought partner to the Executive Director and a key member of the executive team,
this leader will help ensure the Port operates as a unified, accountable, and mission-driven institution while shaping a resilient organization for the future.

As Chief Shared Prosperity & Legal Officer, you will lead and integrate four critical enterprise functions:
Contracts & Procurement, Culture & Strategy, Human Resources, Legal & Records Management ensuring the Port functions as a unified, values-driven, and high-performing public agency. This role calls for both deep legal judgment and broad executive leadership—a leader who can anticipate and manage complex legal, organizational, and governance issues with enterprise impact, build trust, and advance the Port’s mission of building shared prosperity for the region.

• Expert Legal Guidance: Advise the Executive Director, Executive Leadership Team and Commission on legal, regulatory, and governance implications of organizational decisions, and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing public agencies and special districts.
• Executive Leadership
  :
  Lead and collaborate with the executive team to develop and implement business, legal, and enterprise strategies that advance the Port’s shared prosperity goals and strategic plan, manage organizational risk, and reduce potential legal exposure.
• Provide executive leadership for Human Resources and enterprise people strategy for a capable, engaged, and future-ready workforce.
• Provide executive leadership and governance over the Contracts and Procurement function to ensure integrity, transparency, legal compliance, and strong fiscal stewardship aligned with Port and Commission policy. Promote fair access, compliance, and measurable outcomes, supported by accurate reporting and data transparency.
• Lead enterprise approaches Shared Prosperity by integrating priorities into agency systems, leadership expectations, planning processes, and decision-making frameworks.
• Provide transformational, values-driven leadership that strengthens Culture and Strategy
  , organizational trust, accountability, and inspires measurable performance in support of the Port’s mission.

The Port of Portland is a public entity that operates with private-sector rigor and scale. With With more than $500 million in annual revenues and approximately 800 employees
, the Port supports nearly $10 billion in regional GDP and close to 100,000 jobs across aviation, marine, and commercial development.

The successful candidate will be a seasoned executive leader who brings sound judgment, strategic perspective, and the ability to operate effectively within a complex public institution. This individual is equally comfortable advising at the highest levels, stewarding public trust, and leading large enterprise functions that shape organizational culture and workforce experience.

• 15 or more years of experience in the practice of law with progressively increasing responsibility, including service as a Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, Managing Attorney, Senior Corporate Counsel, or equivalent role.
• Extensive senior leadership experience in a complex public, quasi-public, or highly regulated organization, with responsibility spanning multiple enterprise functions (e.g., legal, governance, risk, human resources, culture, strategy, contracts & procurement, and operations).
• Significant experience providing legal counsel to a public body or agency on complex legal, policy, workforce, and governance matters.
• Demonstrated skill in balancing risk mitigation with enabling organizational strategy, innovation, and long-term value creation.
• Deep and broad knowledge of human capital, organizational strategy, and…