Position Summary: We are seeking a highly skilled and proactive Senior Commercial Counsel to join our in-house legal team. This role serves as a strategic legal advisor to business leaders across Marketing, Technology, Digital, Supply Chain, and Corporate Functions, providing practical, business-focused legal counsel while managing legal risk in a fast-paced retail environment. The ideal candidate will bring extensive legal expertise, strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative, proactive and engaging approach to address complex legal and business challenges. As a key team member, you will provide practical, business-oriented legal solutions while balancing business objectives with risk mitigation.
Duties and Responsibilities: Commercial Contracts: -
- Lead contract negotiations and provide strategic legal advice to cross-functional teams, including Marketing, IT, Finance, and Digital/Omnichannel operations.
- Affiliate Marketing Agreements, CRM/SMS/Email, Social Media Marketing, MarTech.
- Draft, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including SaaS/software licenses, technology services agreements, vendor contracts, Master Service Agreements, and marketing and promotional agreements.
- Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, and standardized processes.
- Drive efficient workflows and track resolution of key contract issues.
- Lead informal dispute resolution and settlement negotiations.
Data Privacy, Technology & AI Governance: -
- Serve as the company's lead privacy attorney and primary legal resource for company-wide data privacy, advising on complex technology outsourcing, software, data security, and data analytics transactions.
- Develop, maintain, and drive company-wide compliance with privacy policies, digital Terms of Use, procedures, and best practices, ensuring continued alignment with global and domestic privacy regulations.
- Provide guidance on data protection requirements and emerging technology issues, including artificial intelligence, automated decision-making, and responsible AI governance.
- Advise on company policies, social media issues, privacy and consumer protection, technology, customer data governance, and information security.
- Drive the company's long-term strategies by educating business units on topical issues, including vendor data sharing, consumer data, advertising, SMS and social media, and pricing.
- Partner with IT and Omnichannel teams on technology development and implementation, addressing legal considerations throughout.
- Advise on information security and data privacy legal requirements in third-party contracts, including negotiating federal- and state-required contractual terms and best practices, such as privacy notices, consent mechanisms, and related disclosures.
Marketing: -
- Provide advice and counsel to the Marketing and Omnichannel teams on promotions, events, sweepstakes, and related contracts.
- Proactively partner with the Marketing and Omnichannel teams on digital/website compliance with marketing, advertising, promotional events, and privacy laws, including sweepstakes and contests, digital, text and email marketing, social media, influencer and endorsement campaigns, and membership/loyalty programs.
- Draft and negotiate various agreements in the areas of marketing, talent, influencer, endorsement, and sponsorship.
Litigation Management & General Counsel Support: -
- Manage relationships with outside counsel and oversee litigation strategy as needed.
- Provide legal guidance on compliance and regulatory matters.
- Conduct internal training programs to educate teams on legal requirements.
- Support General Counsel on day-to-day legal operations, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.
Qualifications: - JD from an accredited institution and active bar membership.
- 7+ years of relevant legal experience, ideally a combination of in-house and law firm roles.
- Proven expertise in commercial contract negotiation and drafting.
- Significant experience in privacy laws, regulations, and best practices, including CCPA, state privacy breach notification laws, digital marketing compliance, and consumer protection; experience negotiating data processing agreements (DPAs), SaaS agreements, and cloud services/technology procurement contracts.
- Superior organizational, negotiation, and project management skills.
- Strong business judgment with a practical, solutions-focused mindset.
- Ability to work independently while fostering collaboration.
- Ability to provide practical, effective counsel, find alternative solutions to problems, and hold the line when warranted in a respectful and authoritative manner and suggest workable alternatives to meet the desired goals.
- Detail-oriented, resourceful, adaptable, flexible, organized, discreet and cost-conscious problem solver who can remain calm and work under pressure.
- Ability to identify, explain and balance business and legal risks.
- Sound judgement and strategic thinking in all legal matters.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills.
- Build trusted relationships with senior business leaders as a strategic partner across the organization.
- Influence business strategy through practical, business-focused legal advice.
- Develop scalable legal processes and playbooks that support company-wide efficiency.
Minimum Requirements: - JD from an accredited institution and active bar membership.
- 7+ years of relevant legal experience, ideally a combination of in-house and law firm roles.
Application Process: To apply, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your qualifications and relevant experience.
Work Environment: This position is located in Charlotte, NC and the candidate must be willing to relocate, if not already in the Charlotte Metro area.
Pay Rate: $160,000.00 - $175,000.00 Annually
