Associate Counsel - Vendor Contracts

Job Description

As part of the Vendor Contracting Team, the Associate Counsel will:

• Prepare, analyze and negotiate a variety of commercial contracts, from deal initiation through to execution and retention. This entails the review of nonstandard, high risk, complex agreements, with a focus on technology from suppliers including, including technology, software, and licensing and SaaS agreements as well as customized software development.

• Oversee all contracting aspects of complex commercial engagements phase of the vendor lifecycle, including, but not limited to identifying and mitigating risk, adoption of including company’s key terms and conditions, and ensuring third party the vendor’s obligations are consistent with the business’s requirements.

• Work within the framework of commercial contracting best practices, the law, regulations and company policies and procedures.

• Maintains a thorough and up- to date knowledge of all aspects of commercial contracting and educates internal customers on contract risks, terms and conditions.

• Identify and make process improvements and enhance systems to enhance the vendor contract negotiation process.

• Provide guidance to internal clients to understand and follow corporate contracting policies.

• Lead the annual review and update of contract templates to keep templates up to date with company standards, regulatory compliance and reasonable commercial contracting standards.

• Lead in development and maintenance of internal contracting and negotiation guides, standards, and playbooks.

• Prepare, draft, and negotiate complex and/or technical contracts including identifying potential risks and offering mitigation solutions and the coordination of subject matter experts.

• Advises and counsels Company senior management on diverse issues of laws that arise in the Company’s business operations; researches and prepares legal memoranda and opinions to apply technical legal knowledge to varying business situations and personnel issues; assists Company management with risk identification and management.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Hiring Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited law school

• 5+ years of experience in the legal field with at least 5 years commercial contract negotiation experience and a minimum of 3 years focus on technology agreements.

• 3 years of direct experience and expertise with complex IT contracts as well as in-depth knowledge of best practices using a variety of contracting types to procure hardware, software, and services. 

Preferred Skills

• Prior Healthcare-related experience is a plus

Salary Range

At Blue Cross NC, we take great pride in a fair and equitable compensation package that reflects market-price and our starting salaries are typically planned near the middle of the range listed. Compensation decisions are driven by factors including experience and training, specialized skill sets,  licensure and certifications and other business and organizational needs. Our base salary is part of a robust Total Rewards package that includes an Annual Incentive Bonus*, 401(k) with employer match, Paid Time Off (PTO), and competitive health benefits and wellness programs. 

*Based on annual corporate goal achievement and individual performance.