VP, Legal

Job Overview:  

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The VP, Legal will play a crucial role in providing legal guidance and support across the organization. This position requires expertise in drafting and negotiating a wide range of technology and commercial agreements, with a focus on SaaS, cloud-based solutions, managed services, and vendor agreements. The successful candidate will lead a small legal team while also being hands-on in managing and executing key legal functions. This role demands a proactive, hands-on leader who can balance strategic oversight with detailed contract work, ensuring that all contracts are compliant with applicable laws and regulations while mitigating risks and protecting the company's interests.

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The ideal candidate runs towards, not away from, transformation and rebuilding, including both the org/team and strategy. Seasoned change management expertise is a must.

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Exceptional Leadership:  

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As a leader in the company, you’ll serve as a role model for the rest of Andela. Think about the feedback your peers typically give you – if it usually sounds like the below, we want to hear from you.

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• Low ego, low drama, servant leader: You share credit, take blame. You like being wrong because it means someone else had an even better idea.
• One team mentality: You break silos across teams. You put the company and mission first above your team alone.
• Great listener, hungry for feedback: You’re always seeking to improve – our product, our business, yourself. You solicit diverse opinions and deeply listen.
• Owner, not renter: You see a problem, you fix it or find someone who will. The buck stops with you.
• Player-coach: You fly high (create strategy) AND low (know the details that matter). You roll up your sleeves and get scrappy. You do this without micromanaging, empowering your team while actively engaging in important details.
• Business problem solver: You’re not just a functional expert; you consistently get praise for approaching your function through the lens of solving business problems.

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Key Responsibilities:  

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• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of technology and commercial agreements, including but not limited to SaaS agreements, cloud-based services contracts, managed solutions agreements, and vendor agreements.  
• Provide legal advice and support on matters related to commercial transactions, intellectual property, data privacy, and compliance.  
• Lead and mentor a small team of legal professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.  
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including sales, finance, operations, and product development teams, to ensure contracts align with business objectives and mitigate potential risks.  
• Advise on legal issues related to the company's products and services, including new product launches and enhancements.  
• Advise on legal guidance related to employment law.  
• Manage and resolve legal disputes, including contract disputes and regulatory compliance issues.  
• Stay up-to-date with relevant laws and regulations affecting the technology industry and ensure the company's compliance with applicable legal requirements.  
• Lead and/or collaborate the development and implementation of company policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risks.  
• Provide training and guidance to employees on legal and compliance matters as needed.  
• Lead corporate governance matters and other legal projects as required.

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Qualifications:  

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• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.  
• Active membership in good standing with a state bar.  
• Minimum of 15 years of relevant legal experience, preferably with a focus on technology and commercial agreements.  
• In-depth knowledge of SaaS, cloud-based solutions, managed services, and vendor agreements.  
• Strong understanding of intellectual property, data privacy, and regulatory compliance issues related to the technology industry.  
• Proven ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts with attention to detail and accuracy.  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams.  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.  
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.  
• High ethical standards and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and integrity.