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Patriot Maritime is a maritime government contracting company providing management, crewing, and vessel support services to the U.S. government under contracts with MARAD and the Military Sealift Command (MSC). With approximately 83 shoreside employees and operations across multiple vessel programs including the Ready Reserve Force (RRF), Watson-class vessels, Bob Hope vessels, and other federal maritime programs Patriot operates at the intersection of commercial maritime expertise and federal government contracting. Headquartered in Houston, TX, our team supports the nations strategic sealift mission and military readiness.

The Paralegal will serve as an embedded legal resource supporting day-to-day legal operations, labor and employment matters, government contracting compliance, and corporate governance during a period in which Patriot is restructuring its in-house legal function. This role requires a highly organized, discreet professional who can work independently across a broad legal scope in a lean GovCon environment.

Key Responsibilities

Contract & Government Contracting Support

• Draft, review, and manage contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, advisor agreements, and contract modifications across MARAD/MSC vessel management programs.
• Assist with Service Contract Act (SCA) and Davis-Bacon Act compliance documentation and wage determination tracking.
• Maintain contract files, correspondence logs, and deliverables for multiple active government contracts.
• Support Basis of Estimate (BOE) documentation and proposal preparation in coordination with operations and finance.
• Track contract performance obligations, reporting deadlines, and key milestones.

Labor & Employment Law Support

• Support labor relations matters involving multiple maritime unions (MMP, MEBA, SUP, MFOW, SIU, ARA) under the direction of HR and senior leadership.
• Assist with ERISA and Taft-Hartley multiemployer benefit plan compliance, including trustee documentation and plan filings.
• Research labor and employment law issues including FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, and applicable California and Texas employment law.
• Assist in preparing position statements, EEOC responses, and other agency correspondence.
• Draft and revise employment documents including separation agreements, non-disclosure agreements, non-disparagement clauses, offer letters, and policy updates.
• Maintain personnel and employment-related legal files in compliance with applicable recordkeeping requirements.

Litigation & Outside Counsel Coordination

• Serve as primary point of contact for coordinating with outside counsel on active legal matters.
• Organize and maintain litigation files; assist with document collection, review, and production in response to legal proceedings.
• Track and calendar court deadlines, hearings, and filing requirements.
• Assist with workers' compensation matters and coordinate with insurance carriers and state agencies as needed.
• Review and route outside counsel invoices for approval by the CFO.

Corporate Governance & Compliance

• Maintain corporate records including entity registrations, officer/director documentation, and annual filings.
• Support compliance with federal regulations governing maritime and government contracting.
• Assist in preparing and reviewing company policies, procedures, and employee-facing legal documents.
• Support senior leadership with legal research, internal memos, and briefing materials as needed.

General Legal Administration

• Conduct legal research using Westlaw, LexisNexis, or equivalent platforms.
• Prepare summaries, memos, and presentations for the President, HR Director, and CFO.
• Manage the legal document library and ensure version control and retention compliance.
• Assist in evaluating and onboarding outside legal counsel as the company's legal function evolves.

Qualifications

Required

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree, or Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-approved program.
• Minimum 3 years of paralegal experience, preferably in government contracting, maritime, labor & employment, or litigation.
• Working knowledge of federal contracting regulations (FAR/DFARS) and/or labor law compliance frameworks.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to draft clear, professional legal documents independently.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, work with minimal supervision, and maintain strict confidentiality.

Preferred

• Experience supporting in-house legal departments or operating as a sole legal resource in a government contracting or maritime environment.
• Familiarity with SCA/Davis-Bacon wage and hour compliance.
• Experience with multiemployer benefit plans and ERISA/Taft-Hartley frameworks.
• Exposure to California and/or Texas employment law.
• Experience with contract lifecycle management systems or legal document management platforms.

Compensation & Benefits

Patriot Contract Services offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer contribution
• Paid time off and holidays
• Hybrid work schedule
• Professional development support

Equal Opportunity Employer

Patriot Contract Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.