Managing Counsel, Commercial - Partnerships

Overview

A global HR technology organization is seeking a Managing Counsel - Partnerships to provide senior-level legal support focused on partnership agreements and commercial transactions. This role is an individual contributor position within the Employment, Product, and Commercial Legal sub-team, supporting global partnership deals including embedded, reseller, and channel arrangements. The role also provides critical support to the EMEA sales team.

Responsibilities

• Strategize, draft, and negotiate complex partnership agreements such as embedded services, channel/reseller agreements, and referral programs.
• Collaborate closely with Partnerships, Sales, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to align partnership agreements with business objectives while mitigating legal and operational risks.
• Develop and improve templates, playbooks, processes, and other resources related to partnership deals.
• Provide additional legal support for EMEA sales by reviewing, redlining, and negotiating commercial agreements alongside regional counsel.
• Deliver legal training and guidance to Partnership and other go-to-market stakeholders to enable effective navigation of complex commercial issues.
• Maintain a solutions-focused approach in negotiations to minimize roadblocks and resolve issues efficiently.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading the structuring and negotiation of strategic, embedded, and channel partnership agreements.
• Expertise in commercial transactions, particularly enterprise-level SaaS agreements and global sales support.
• Strong commercial drafting skills with the ability to create clear, precise, and enforceable partnership frameworks.
• Excellent negotiation skills with a focus on practical, creative solutions to complex commercial challenges.
• Sharp commercial instincts and strategic thinking, balancing business success with legal risk management.
• Strong knowledge of data protection laws, especially GDPR; familiarity with U.S. data protection laws is a plus.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, maintaining responsiveness and adaptability under pressure.
• Capacity to work independently while collaborating effectively with Partnerships, Finance, Product, and other teams.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with stakeholders while maintaining independent legal judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to balance flexibility and firmness in negotiations, acting as a strategic business partner.
• Fluency in automation and AI capabilities.
• A positive attitude with humor and humility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in the HR Tech industry or familiarity with bespoke HR services agreements is beneficial but not required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual salary range: $66,300—$149,150 USD, dependent on location, skills, experience, and market factors.
• Competitive benefits including:
  • Flexible paid time off and working hours
  • Fully remote work from anywhere
  • 16 weeks paid parental leave
  • Mental health support services
  • Stock options
  • Learning and development budget
  • Home office budget and IT equipment
  • Budget for local in-person social events or co-working spaces

Location

• This is a fully remote position.
• Applications from candidates in EMEA time zones will be prioritized; candidates in the US East Coast time zone are also considered.

Additional Information

• The role reports to the Director, Legal - Commercial.
• The hiring process includes interviews with a recruiter, hiring manager, legal team, and stakeholders, a written exercise, a bar raiser interview, reference checks, and prior employment verification.
• The organization is committed to fair and unbiased compensation and equity pay globally.
• The work culture supports asynchronous work, empowering employees to plan their schedules around their lives.
• Candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of background, identity, or experience, with accommodations available upon request.
• Fluency in English is required for application and communication.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.