Coherent

Associate General Counsel, Legal

Coherent • $150K — $200K *
Washington, DC 20011In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
1 week ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctorate required; BA or BS in business-related field preferred.
  • Minimum 15 years of legal experience, particularly in ITAR and CMMC compliance.
  • Experience in the defense industry or a public company is preferred.
  • Proven leadership experience in developing and managing legal and compliance teams.
  • Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the senior legal strategist for ITAR compliance and export control policy.
  • Lead and mentor a team, driving expertise in export controls and compliance strategies.
  • Provide legal advice to various departments on ITAR-controlled technologies.
  • Draft and negotiate export-related agreements, including TAAs and MLAs.
  • Oversee export licensing, reexports, and deemed exports under ITAR for compliance assurance.
  • Act as the company's representative to the U.S. Department of State on export control matters.
  • Direct ITAR audits and voluntary disclosure activities, advising leadership on compliance risks.

Benefits

  • Hybrid working arrangements available.
  • Opportunities for professional training and development.
  • Involvement in high-impact strategic initiatives in the defense sector.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities
  • Serve as the enterprise authority and senior legal strategist for ITAR compliance matters, directing complex classification, licensing, and jurisdictional determinations under the USML while shaping company-wide export control policy and regulatory risk management strategy.
  • Lead and mentor a high-performing team of legal and compliance professionals, establishing strategic direction, driving organizational capability development, and fostering enterprise-wide expertise in export controls and regulatory compliance.
  • Provide strategic legal advice to engineering, program management, supply chain, and business teams regarding ITAR-controlled technologies
  • Draft, review, and negotiate export-related agreements, including Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs), Manufacturing License Agreements (MLAs), and nondisclosure agreements involving controlled technical data
  • Provide strategic oversight and expert legal counsel on export licensing, reexports, and deemed exports under ITAR, guiding complex regulatory decisions and ensuring enterprise-wide compliance with U.S. export control requirements.
  • Serve as the company's senior representative and trusted advisor to the U.S. Department of State (DDTC), leading high-impact regulatory interpretations, disclosures, authorizations, and strategic engagement on complex export control matters affecting enterprise operations and compliance posture.
  • Collaborate with compliance, engineering, and IT to strengthen data management and technology control plans
  • Direct enterprise-wide ITAR audit, investigation, and voluntary disclosure activities, leading complex compliance reviews, risk assessments, and remediation strategies while advising senior leadership on regulatory exposure and corrective actions. Develop and deliver training to business units and leadership on ITAR obligations and regulatory updates
  • Monitor and interpret regulatory developments impacting Coherent' s ITAR-controlled products and operations
  • Provide strategic oversight of defense contracts counsels and serve as the enterprise authority on DFARS and related federal acquisitions regulations, guiding complex contractual, regulatory, and compliance matters across defense-related programs and operations.
  • Oversee all legal and compliance requirements for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certificate (CMMC) efforts across the company with regard to level 1 and level 2.
  • Collaborate closely with IT and business units to ensure compliance with CMMC
  • Provide training on CMMC to key stakeholders.
  • Proven experience leading and developing high-performing legal and compliance teams, driving strategic initiatives, organizational effectiveness, and enterprise-wide regulatory compliance excellence.

Education & Experience
  • BA or BS in business or related field preferred; experience in ITAR and CMMC as well as DFARs.
  • Juris Doctorate
  • 15 years legal experience
  • Experience working in a public company in the defense or related sector preferred

Skills
  • Leadership capabilities to xxxx
  • Strong interpersonal, teaming, and problem-solving skills.
  • Work effectively with other members of Coherent Corp. xxxxx.

Working Conditions
  • Advanced knowledge of international trade regulations including ITAR, CMMC, EAR, etc.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written
  • Individual must possess strong organizational, multitasking, and problem-solving skills and maintain flexibility in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
  • Customer service oriented with both internal and external customers
  • Individual must be proficient with Microsoft Office products & a PC based environment
  • Understanding of DDTC system and U.S. government licensing systems
  • Experience with Denied Party screening systems
  • Interact and communicate effectively with others and manage multiple tasks simultaneously

Physical Requirements
  • Onsite / Hybrid
  • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

About Coherent

Coherent, Inc. is a global leader in providing laser-based solutions to a broad range of commercial and scientific research customers. The company designs, manufactures, and markets lasers, laser-based systems, precision optics, and related accessories for a diverse group of customers. Coherent's markets include scientific research, OEM components and instrumentation, microelectronics, materials processing, and life sciences. The company's products are used in a wide range of applications. Coherent was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Learn more about Coherent
Size
5,085 employees
Market Cap
$4.6 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
-$419.7 million
Founded
1966
5 Year Trend
+27.8%
Revenue
$1.2 billion
NASDAQ
COHR
* Ladders Estimates

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