Senior Counsel, Legal Vendor Contracting, Corporate Transactions

The Guardian Law Department seeks a Senior Counsel, Legal Vendor Contracting, reporting to the Assistant General Counsel, Corporate Initiatives & Transactions (CIT), Head of Legal Vendor Contracting, responsible for negotiating, executing and providing legal guidance and strategy on enterprise-wide, strategic vendor contracting and sourcing initiatives. The Guardian Law Department’s mission is to partner as trusted advocates and advisors to drive strategic solutions that advance Guardian’s purpose, priorities and values.

The CIT Team is a multidisciplinary legal practice group within the Law Department responsible for a broad remit, focused on providing enterprise-wide legal advice and support for matters involving (i) company mergers/acquisitions/dispositions; (ii) vendor contracting and outsourcing.  (iii) strategic investments, capital market transactions, reinsurance and other strategic projects; (iv) corporate real estate and facilities; and (v) investment-related transactions.

As Senior Counsel, Legal Vendor Contracting, you will operate with autonomy on day-to-day matters, escalating judgement calls and risks as appropriate to the Assistant General Counsel, CIT. You will act as a strategic thought partner in the CIT Team and Law Department, seeking opportunities for improvement and ensuring excellent client service relating to enterprise-wide vendor contracting and outsourcing initiatives that often intersect with key strategic priorities and transactions.

In this role, you will:

• Provide legal counsel to senior-level internal business clients on significant vendor contracting transactions, including drafting and negotiating the following types of agreements: Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), SaaS, cloud and technology agreements, outsourcing and managed services agreements, and professional services, recruiting and consulting contracts.
• Lead multidisciplinary transaction teams to deliver excellent results. 
• Collaborate closely with Guardian’s sourcing procurement function to negotiate and execute complex vendor contracting transactions, outsourcing arrangements, and strategic third-party relationships, while balancing risk, speed and business objectives.
• Partner with senior Law Department leadership on optimizing service delivery strategy and processes
• Partner with Legal Operations and IT to support automation and modernization of the vendor contract function.
• Stay informed of relevant industry trends, technology changes, and best practices to inform strategy and decision-making.

You have:

• J.D. required
• New York bar admission
• 8+ years’ progressively responsible transactional experience in a law firm or in-house legal department with commercial, technology, or outsourcing transactions
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex vendor and services agreements
• Excellent legal and business judgment, can produce superior results and follows through on commitments
• Demonstrated confidence in advising and presenting to executive level management
• Experience in financial services, insurance or regulated industries and legal vendor contracting
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
• A high degree of integrity and sensitivity in handling confidential information
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with close attention to detail and the ability to prioritize, be flexible and change direction as appropriate
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written; ability to interact with clients, including executive management
• Exhibits initiative, strategic thinking, and thought leadership, with a resourceful and proactive attitude
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams on complex projects, provide leadership and direction through teams of senior managers, sets clear performance expectations, provides feedback, coaching, recognition, and champions career development
• Drive engagement through inclusion, cascading communications and actioning feedback in engagement surveys
• Knowledge of and experience in AI initiatives is a plus
• Experience in and knowledge of financial services, insurance, or regulated industries is a plus

Functional Leadership Skills & Behaviors 

Interpersonal Effectiveness 

• Demonstrate ability to use communications and stories to inspire, motivate and influence others on ideas.
• Communicate with conciseness, composure and confidence in an engaging manner.  
• Go beyond the expected and engage others to do more.
• Proactively seek out leadership or significant project opportunities rather than wait for direction. 
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