Legal Counsel - Vendor/Procurement

We’re Progress – we offer the best products to develop, deploy, and manage high-impact business applications. We are bold, forward-thinking innovators who build solutions that work and care about our customers. We invent and reinvent every day, work together as one, value and respect each other, and cheer our wins. Join us as a Counsel working out of your home office in the United States.

The successful candidate for this position will advise management and other internal clients with respect to the company’s global purchasing of products and services. Responsibilities include reviewing a broad range of vendor contracts, including those covering software, hardware, hosted services, consulting, or marketing (e.g., event sponsorship, insertion orders, etc.), as well as contractor agreements and other third-party engagement agreements. The successful candidate will also serve as the legal advisor on, and in some cases lead, projects focused on continuous improvement to the company’s processes related to vendor management. Candidates for this position will be qualified lawyers with solid business experience. The ideal candidate will have experience with – and will thrive on – working as a self-starter in an environment that is fast-paced, business and results-oriented and team-based. In House vendor/procurement law experience will be required.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING IN THIS ROLE:

• Partner with procurement and business leaders to negotiate a broad range of vendor/procurement agreements, including technology, professional services, events, sponsorships, subscription, and content services agreements to maximize benefits and minimize risks for the company
• Engage with key stakeholders to identify the objectives, goals, risks, and business context of various agreements under negotiation, then apply judgment to negotiate and revise considering those factors
• Ensure that vendor/procurement agreements align with company policies and risk tolerance
• Serve as key partner with Procurement team to implement and improve the company’s Vendor Risk Assessment (VRA) process, including participation in cross-functional Vendor Risk Management Council, comprised of representatives from Legal, Procurement, IT operations, InfoSec and internal audit
• Work collaboratively with the procurement team and other key stakeholders on continuous improvements and updates to the company’s Global Procurement policy.
• Advise stakeholders and internal business teams regarding associated risks, applicable to vendor onboarding and purchases
• Develop and maintain template contract documents and provisions, playbooks with acceptable alternatives for routine and recurring purchasing and licensing transactions and process improvements
• Ensure compliance with US and international laws and regulations dealing with privacy and data protection in relation to the company’s engagement with vendors, suppliers and sub-processors.
• Manage M&A-related diligence of target’s vendor/procurement agreements, vendor risk assessment program and procurement policies
• Perform other duties as requested

WHAT THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL NEED TO HAVE:

• A qualified attorney admitted to practice in one or more states in the United States and a member of one or more state Bar(s) in good standing.
• Experience with drafting and negotiating contracts, including technology and technology related contracts.
• Please note this is NOT a senior level role, so only needs a few years of experience specific to working with vendor/procurement legal focus.
• Experience in international environment and working with international vendors and contracts
• Working knowledge of data privacy and security requirements.
• In-house experience with a publicly traded company and/or demonstrated knowledge of best practice internal controls, procedures, risk surveillance, dispute management and escalation.
• Excellent oral and written, presentation and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to build strong cross-functional working relationships.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues and solutions to clients clearly and succinctly and develop credibility at all levels of the business organization.
• Proven analytical, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in tight timelines and to prioritize

Personal Qualities:

• Solid ethical practice and commitment to professional responsibility
• Confident, talented, independent and highly motivated with the ability to accept significant responsibility.
• Positive attitude and self-starter.
• Excels in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
• Able to successfully manage competing priorities and work independently on a wide range of issues and projects, while delivering quality work under demanding deadlines.
• A team player, able to learn from and share experiences with other members of the Progress Legal team.
• Ability to lead projects and initiatives and be the go-to person for consultation on the legal risks of our global purchasing of products and services.

BENEFITS

• Medical, dental, vision, life & disability, and financial benefits (including 401(k) retirement savings plan. Tuition Reimbursement program. Additional voluntary benefits including crucial illness/hospital indemnity, identity theft protection, auto & home insurance, legal, and pet insurance.
• Competitive salary, bonus, and best-in-class Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) with a 27-month lookback
• Flexible paid vacation time, paid day off for your birthday, and company holidays. A variety of leave plans, including Parental Leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and an employee well-being program focusing on physical, mental, and financial health.

Progress is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer!

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