Job Description

Your success is a train ride away!
As we move America's workforce toward the future, Amtrak connects businesses and communities across the country. We employ more than 20,000 diverse, energetic professionals in a variety of career fields throughout the United States. The safety of our passengers, our employees, the public and our operating environment is our priority, and the success of our railroad is due to our employees.
Are you ready to join our team?
Our values of 'Do the Right Thing, Excel Together and Put Customers First' are at the heart of what matters most to us, and our Core Capabilities, 'Building Trust, Accountability, Effective Communication, Customer Focus, and Proactive Safety & Security' are what every employee needs to know and do to be most impactful at Amtrak. By living the Amtrak values, focusing on our capabilities, and actively embracing and fostering diverse ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives, together we will honor our past and make Amtrak a company of the future.
Work Location: This role can be based out of Philadelphia, PA or Washington, DC (4-days in office)
SUMMARY OF DUTIES:
Amtrak seeks a seasoned attorney with a balanced background in infrastructure, engineering projects and real estate/development. The ideal candidate will have deep experience drafting and negotiating large-scale construction agreements and supporting the full lifecycle of infrastructure projects--from procurement through execution and administration. Equally important is expertise in real estate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, easements, and development agreements (including P3s and commercial developments).
This role provides legal support for:

• Major infrastructure and engineering initiatives.
• Real estate and development projects.
• General corporate matters.
• Procurement-related issues (as a secondary focus).

The successful candidate must be well-versed in federal and state statutory and regulatory requirements, Amtrak's grant agreements, and the needs of Amtrak's stakeholders, including state and commuter partners. Post-execution, the attorney will support contract administration, claims resolution, potential construction litigation, advice and counseling, forensic construction scheduling, and award protests.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide legal counsel throughout the lifecycle of major infrastructure, engineering, and construction projects, including procurement, negotiation, execution, administration, and dispute resolution.
• Support real estate and development transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, easements, and public-private/commercial development agreements.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners such as architectural, engineering, and construction management firms to ensure alignment with legal obligations and risk mitigation strategies.
• Review and interpret complex engineering and construction documents (e.g., plans, specifications, schedules) to identify and advise on legal exposure and risk.
• Advise on contract administration, potential claims, and legal strategies related to construction or design issues, including forensic construction scheduling.
• Provide legal guidance on procurement processes, including RFI/RFQ/RFP development and contract drafting.
• Monitor and respond to changes in applicable laws and regulations affecting infrastructure and real estate activities.
• Manage outside counsel engaged on project-related matters and ensure compliance with Amtrak's legal and financial guidelines.
• Conduct training and briefings for internal stakeholders on legal issues related to infrastructure, construction, and real estate operations.
• Perform special assignments and projects as delegated by the Deputy General Counsel or other senior legal leaders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Juris Doctor from accredited law school and admission to and current good standing in a state.
• Experience in providing legal advice and guidance on construction, procurement, and real estate matters in a corporate, governmental, or law firm environment.
• Knowledge and experience in governmental contracting at the state or federal level.
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and administering internal corporate programs.
• Demonstrated ability to apply legal and risk analysis to factual circumstances and exercise sound judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to both convey clear and accurate legal advice and be solution-oriented to assist clients in achieving business objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to apply and integrate organizational goals and objectives in work product and procedures.
• Demonstrated legal writing skill in describing key facts, analyzing legal issues and presenting advice clearly and succinctly.
• Experience demonstrating skill in budget development, analysis, and monitoring functional areas.
• Ability to manage a large work load of varying complexity efficiently and independently.
• Ability to provide strategic and day-to-day direction to colleagues at all levels, and ability to work genially and productively with such colleagues.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with people at all levels within and outside of the organization.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to people at all levels within and outside of the organization on potentially sensitive or highly charged issues sufficient to exchange information, work cooperatively, facilitate understanding, and persuade and influence others.
• Ability to respond to the priorities of business leaders and external customers, and experience in doing so.
• Ability to think, plan, organize and implement strategically and experience in doing so.
• Ability to draft memoranda setting forth legal advice and experience in doing so.
• Ability to conduct training for business leaders on matters relating to transactions as well as legal requirements of the company and experience in doing so.
• Ability to use common office software for developing and exchanging electronic correspondence (e.g., Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, OneDrive).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 9+ years of professional legal experience in providing legal advice and guidance on construction, procurement, and real estate matters in a corporate, governmental, or law firm environment.
• A general understanding of and experience with construction law, government contracts, real estate law, environmental law, utilities law, and general corporate law.
• Experience in evaluating and responding to governmental requests for proposals.
• Experience drafting, interpreting, and providing guidance on legislation.

COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.

The salary/hourly range is $163,000-$211,140, Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, internal equity, etc. Depending on an employee's assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee's base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position and/or long-term incentive plan compensation. In addition to your salary, Amtrak offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes health, dental, and vision plans; health savings accounts; wellness programs; flexible spending accounts; 401K retirement plan with employer match; life insurance; short and long term disability insurance; paid time off; back-up care; adoption assistance; surrogacy assistance; reimbursement of education expenses; Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility; Railroad Retirement sickness and retirement benefits; and rail pass privileges. Learn more about our benefits offerings
Requisition ID:164521
Posting Location(s):Pennsylvania; District of Columbia; Maryland; Virginia
Work Arrangement:06-Onsite 4/5 Days for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
Relocation Offered:No
Travel Requirements:Up to 25%
You power our progress through your performance.
We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.
Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.
Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.
In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.
In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. 1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.
Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law..

Skills Required