Job Description

Our client, the leading higher education technology solutions provider and Amazon Web Services (AWS) 2024 EdTech Champion is seeking to hire a seasoned and sophisticated Chief Legal Officer (CLO) to guide the organization into its next phase of growth and modernization. This executive will report directly to the CEO and will be based at the Company’s headquarters in Reston, VA.

The CLO is a core member of the executive leadership team and will be responsible for all legal affairs of the Company. This legal executive will lead innovation in the department to facilitate sophisticated problem-solving for the organization’s complex suite of products, services and clientele. They will serve as a strategic business partner (with a business mentality around growth) who will collaborate with other senior leaders to accelerate the growth and evolution of the Company. In addition, this executive will lead a high-performing legal team and serve as a change catalyst in driving the operational modernization of the function to enable the growth & scale of the organization.

Simply put, this is an extraordinary opportunity.

The ideal candidate will have prior experience as a CLO/General Counsel and a deep understanding of the enterprise software industry, including its complex legal landscape. A proven ability to collaborate & partner effectively across the business with a Board of Directors and lead within a management team is required. Experience in the EdTech sector and a background in private equity-owned organizations are a strong plus, but they are not required. This attorney must demonstrate strong business acumen, an innovative mindset, and the ability to swiftly and decisively translate complex legal principles into practical, actionable business solutions.

Responsibilities include:

• Serve as a key business partner to the Company’s business leaders to facilitate company growth; develop and implement legal policies and procedures in accordance with business needs; facilitate and support the company's plans to scale products and services.
• Modernize the legal function appropriate for the Company’s evolving environment and prospective growth; implement new technologies, hire and lead lawyers and employees as needed and manage the day-to-day operations of the legal department.
• Lead complex legal matters and all major transactions including SaaS, commercial agreements, compliance, privacy and regulatory, intellectual property, employment, general corporate and M&A.
• Manage corporate governance and administration, including preparing Board of Director materials and corporate resolutions and administering corporate records.
• Work closely with the Company’s sophisticated clientele.
• Build trust and influence the leadership and business roadmap.
• Lead a team of 20 legal professionals.
• Manage selection, retention, management and optimization of outside counsel.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• J.D. degree and 15+ years legal experience.
• Prior CLO/General Counsel experience in the enterprise SaaS industry with a proven success in scaling and modernizing legal departments.
• Knowledge and experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, SaaS (on prem and cloud), M&A, familiarity with AI, employment, privacy and corporate matters. Some experience with government contracts and compliance are ideal but not required.
• Experience in the EdTech industry and private equity-owned organizations ideal but not required.
• Solutions-focused lawyer who understands the role the legal function can play in supporting business objectives and uses knowledge of the law and business to advise on risk/reward trade-offs and help move the business forward.
• Proven track record of strong negotiation, organizational, and management skills Must be a doer: Ability and desire to roll up one’s sleeves and do the work as well as handle the big picture strategic matters.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, hardworking, responsive, proactive, team player, critical thinker, intellectually curious and a problem solver.
• Presence and stature coupled with the energy and drive to gain credibility with the senior leadership team.
• High performance and results oriented.
• Down to earth and positive/can-do attitude.
• Collaborative worker and problem solver (not a “black and white” thinker).
• Confident, learner with a strategic mind.
• Quick thinker, responsive and reliable.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead a high performing legal function.
• Don’t forget to mention GoInhouse.com as your source when applying.

Our client hires executives who are masters of their profession and outstanding leaders passionate about building a great company. It selects individuals who are curious, selfless, ambitious, effective in a no-nonsense way, and transparent in their communication and approach.

Solutus Legal Search is proud to have been exclusively retained to assist our client with this special engagement. Resumes submitted directly to our client will be forwarded to Solutus Legal for evaluation.

Ref. #890-SLS

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