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General Counsel

ZOLA Electric

ZOLA Electric

Legal
San Jose, CA, USA · California, USA · United States · San Mateo, CA, USA
Posted on Sep 18, 2025

Company Introduction

At ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE (ZOLAi), we are redefining what’s possible in emerging markets. More than an energy company, we are an AI technology platform embedding intelligence into energy, connectivity, and financial services infrastructure across the Global South. Our mission is bold: Energy Equality for All. Always PAMOJA — one team, one mission.

Nearly 3 billion people and businesses still lack reliable, affordable energy — a barrier that has fueled inequality in income, healthcare, education, and climate for centuries. Technology can finally close that gap.

With roots in Tanzania as Off Grid Electric, we’ve spent over a decade scaling distributed energy. Today, as ZOLAi, we deliver the world’s first AI-enabled enterprise technology platform for emerging market infrastructure — uniting hardware, control, data, and software layers to empower Energy-as-a-Service providers with growth, efficiency, and financing to deploy, manage, and optimize entire networks.

Already, we power over 3 million people and businesses across 10 countries, transforming energy access into a foundation for connectivity, financial inclusion, and opportunity for generations to come.

Always PAMOJA. Always Energy Equality

We are looking for a General Counsel with 5–7 years of corporate legal experience to join our leadership team in a part-time capacity. You’ll play a pivotal role in safeguarding ZOLA’s interests, enabling business growth, and ensuring strong governance.

Role Overview

The General Counsel will serve as the company’s lead in-house legal advisor, providing strategic and operational guidance on a wide range of corporate legal matters. This is a part-time, in-office role (50% of a full-time schedule), ideal for a legal professional who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and is excited about leveraging AI-enabled tools to work smarter and faster.

Key Responsibilities

  • Advise senior leadership and the Board on corporate governance, compliance, and risk management.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate corporate contracts and international commercial agreements, including joint ventures, vendor partnerships, financing arrangements, and technology licenses, equity incentive plans, insurance (renewals)
  • Draft agreements that minimize risks and maximize legal rights
  • Support cross-border transactions and regulatory matters across Asia, EMEA, Latin America Africa.
  • Evaluate legal risks, anticipate potential issues, and identify proactive solutions that will eliminate or mitigate risks
  • Manage and resolve disputes, litigation, and regulatory inquiries, working with external counsel when needed.
  • Implement scalable legal processes and policies that enable growth while safeguarding the company’s interests.
  • Collaborate with internal teams (finance, operations, sales, product) to ensure legal alignment with business goals.
  • Explore and apply AI-enabled tools and workflows to enhance legal productivity, contract management, and compliance monitoring.
  • Serve as Company Secretary to the Board, ensuring strong governance practices.
  • Build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support business objectives.

Requirements and Skills

  • 5–7 years of corporate legal experience, preferably with exposure to international transactions.
  • Expertise across corporate contracts, dispute resolution, international transactions, and corporate governance.
  • Experience in an in-house counsel role at a startup, scale-up, or multinational company (preferred).
  • Overall broad legal knowledge (corporate law, restructuring, M&A, equity transactions, facility agreement transactions, litigations, IP and patent law, labor law, equity incentive plans etc)
  • Strong business acumen with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives.
  • Hands-on, highly productive approach, with the ability to balance strategic and tactical priorities.
  • AI-curious and enabled: open to leveraging new technologies to improve efficiency and insight.
  • Mission-driven with a passion for renewable energy, impact, and sustainability.
  • Degree in Law

Why Join ZOLAi?

Mission Driven With Global Impact

Operate at the intersection of AI, emerging market infrastructure

Strategic Seat at the Table

Diverse, Global Team

Unmatched Learning Curve

Competitive Package, High Ownership

Ready to apply?

We can’t wait to meet people who are passionate, driven, and inspired by what we’re building. Apply now and help us shape the future of energy access.