VP, Associate General Counsel

The Vice President, Associate General Counsel will lead the Business Transactions Unit in the Legal Department, with an emphasis on corporate and commercial contract matters. In this position, you will give legal advice, ensure representation in legal proceedings, prepare legal research and perform legal and policy analysis of issues. You will create and administer contracts on behalf of MOHELA.  The Vice President, Associate General Counsel is under the general direction of the General Counsel. You will also supervise the support staff with the possibility of supervising other attorneys. These responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Provide daily legal advice on corporate and commercial matters, with particular focus on commercial and governmental contracts, as well as general business transactions.

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide-variety contracts with third-parties, including but not limited to loan servicing agreements, subcontracting agreements, vendor agreements, technology agreements (e.g., complex servicing platform agreements). This will include both agreements in which the company provides services, as well as procuring services and/or product.

• Draft, review, and implement contract templates and contract playbooks for the company, as well as engage in process design to enhance the effectiveness of the procurement and contracting processes. 

• Draft, review, and implement requests for information, request for proposals and like documentation as well as assisting other business units in the company’s due diligence efforts relative to prospective business partners.

• Provide legal support on real estate, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate financing matters.

• Work collaboratively with the Federal Contracts team in reviewing contract modifications, as well understanding and advising on legal strategy as it relates to federal contract matters and disputes.

• Retain and supervise approved outside legal counsel for corporate and commercial matters.                                                      
• Monitor legal and regulatory changes affecting commercial agreements and update contract templates and playbooks accordingly.

• A key leader in the company’s implementation of a contract management platform.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Doctor of Jurisprudence from a nationally accredited law school and a current member in good standing in at least one state bar.
• Licensed, eligible to practice law in Missouri or the ability to obtain admission to the MO state bar in a timely manner.
• Must have at least 12 years of experience in a corporate law practice, either with a law firm or in an in-house legal department.
• At least 5+ years of experience developing and executing contract and risk mitigation strategies as well as negotiating complex, high-stakes contracts.
• Demonstrated experience in transactional law, including drafting, negotiating, and implementing contracts, as well as developing related policies, strategies, and playbooks.
• Experience in a leadership capacity, including managing and mentoring other attorneys or legal personnel.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to collect data and draw legal conclusions.
• Excellent drafting, organization, and time-management skills.
• Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Self-motivated team player with a high degree of professionalism, positive attitude, and confidentiality. Must be able to multi-task and work well under pressure and with competing priorities.
• Must be a U.S. citizen with an active 6C Public Trust Security Clearance or the ability to obtain this level of clearance.
• Some travel may be required. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with federal contract laws, including Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Education Acquisition Regulation (EDAR), and other government/agency procurement regulations.
• Experience in the student loan industry or other consumer finance and/or collections industry is a plus.
• Experience with implementing a contract management platform.