Senior Counsel

Role: Senior Counsel

Level: Senior Manager

Location: DC/Hybrid; Possible Remote

Society Overview

The American Chemical Society ("ACS") vision is to improve all lives through the transforming power of chemistry and, nearly 150 years after its founding, the Society is one of the world's largest and most influential champions of science, scientific advancement, and scientists in a global community of members and customers. ACS Publications produces over 80 peer-reviewed journals, which are ranked the "most-trusted, most-cited and most-read" journals in chemistry. The ACS Chemical Abstract Service is a leader in scientific information solutions for innovators around the world to accelerate scientific breakthroughs. ACS Society Programs brings broad networks of scientists together to create connections, foster a passion for science and create opportunity among its more than 220,000 members worldwide in a way no other professional organization can match.

Office of General Counsel

The ACS Office of General Counsel ("OGC") takes great pride in building strategic partnerships with the business to advance the ACS mission. We focus on opportunities to engage meaningfully with global operations and programs leaders and on being integral contributors to the business. We value teammates who are curious about new challenges and opportunities, creative in their problem solving, committed to excellence, and kind.

Position Summary

We are looking for a Senior Counsel to join OGC. This is a mid-level, high potential position that will report to the Assistant General Counsel, Commercial & Contracts, and provides expertise on a wide range of in-house legal activities with a special emphasis on commercial and contract related matters for ACS and its global operations.

The Senior Counsel will contribute to OGC to help ensure the ACS complies with the many legal obligations facing it as a large nonprofit. The OGC team works with all internal ACS Divisions to enhance the Society's missions and protect its legal rights. This role requires strategic thinking, business acumen, the ability to work collaboratively across various departments, and excellent negotiation skills.

To succeed in this role, you must be capable of handling multiple complex matters at the same time, developing organized and well-thought-out plans, and providing clear advice and guidance on often nuances issues to an entrepreneurial and rapidly expanding organization across geographies, cultures, and functions. The ideal candidate will be drawn to the opportunity to be a part of a growing strategic GC function that is a sought-after, highly engaged, and resource trusted to advance ACS's reputation and success, and who places personal value on curiosity, creativity, commitment to quality and kindness.

Key Responsibilities

As a member of the Office of General Counsel team, we all share a responsibility for:

• Upholding and advancing ACS strategy and core values and realizing its commitments to inclusion and belonging across its mission and operations;
• Operating from a position of trust in one another's professional skills, always assuming common purpose and good intentions, and acting out of kindness.

As an individual contributor, you will:

• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a variety of commercial contracts for ACS business units including but not limited to SaaS agreements, vendor agreements, partnership agreements, cloud services, professional services, master services agreements, SOWs, non-disclosure agreements, data protection agreements, and events.
• Assist in developing and enhancing the contract & procurement management processes.
• Identify and implement ways to enhance the vendor contract negotiation process.
• Ensure third party agreements are consistent with ACS business practices.
• Educate internal customers on contract risk, terms, and conditions.
• Develop and maintain internal contracting and negotiation playbooks and templates.
• Advise on complex development and commercial licensing concerns, including license terms, technology transfer, AI and TDM.
• Collaborate with sales, procurement, and legal colleagues to advance efficiencies in licensing and contracting processes.
• Effectively work with outside legal counsel, as necessary.
• Support internal and third-party risk management initiatives.
• Support OGC on other matters for ACS and its global affiliates.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school and admitted to practice, and in good standing with at least one state bar. DC and New York preferred.
• Minimum 6 years of experience with a government agency, multinational organization or law firm, with a minimum of 3 years focusing on contract negotiations and commercial transactions. In-house experience strongly preferred.
• Strong ability to exercise independent judgment and make decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Demonstrated ability to provide creative and pragmatic solutions-oriented legal advice while balancing legal risk and business success.
• Strong issue spotting, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to distill complex issues, communicate complex concepts in a straightforward manner, and advise internal business clients with practical solutions.
• Data privacy experience a plus.
• Exhibits self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse disciplines, cultures and backgrounds.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and sometimes competing priorities.
• Optimism, patience, and a sense of humor are welcomed.

DC-based: This role is based in our Washington, D.C. office. A reasonable rate of compensation for this position is between $163,000-$190,000 per year.

ACS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account or health care savings account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and 4-week work from anywhere; each benefit is subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply based on skills, experience, and location.

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of ACS. ACS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.