Associate Corporate Counsel, Commercial & Compliance (Open To Remote)

We are seeking a highly motivated and energetic Associate Corporate Counsel, Commercial & Complianceto join our legal team to provide business-oriented advice and to properly minimize risk. In this role, you will review and negotiate a variety of commercial contracts, including vendor agreements for DBI’s information technology, corporate services, brand, sourcing, and marketing teams. You will provide general assistance on international and domestic compliance initiatives including investigations and policy implementation. Additionally, you will support DBI’s various business segments by providing advice and guidance on existing and potential licensing and distribution agreements. We are Open to Remote based candidates for this opportunity, however due to periodic onsite meetings (about once/month), we prefer candidates within driving distance of Columbus, OH.

Reports To: Director, Corporate Counsel

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Draft and negotiate commercial transactions in support of retail and corporate matters including master service agreements, software licensing and development agreements, marketing agreements, e-commerce, distribution agreements, licensing agreement, professional services, and influencer agreements.

• Provide practical business solutions to business partners related to contract negotiations; identify opportunities to minimize risks and improve processes and efficiencies that add value to the business.
• Support ongoing domestic and international compliance programs using associate-facing and vendor-facing policies, procedures, internal investigations, and associate training.
• Assist in continued development and improvement of all aspects of contracts and compliance programs (associate training, policy updates and implementations, etc.)
• Support departments across DBI by providing analysis of existing licensing agreements, distribution agreements, and design and agency agreements.
• Collaborate with other members of the legal team and other cross functional partners to analyze and assist with various aspects of DBI’s business initiatives related to contracts, commercial transactions, and compliance.

Required Skills

• Manage for results by efficiently managing a variety of projects in a timely, efficient manner with strong follow-through skills.
• Ability to efficiently identify, assess and prioritize risk, and manage risk accordingly.
• Adept at providing practical business solutions and strategic advice, including ability to analyze and simplify complex problems. Understand the big picture and be willing to constructively challenge the status quo, generate new ideas, and encourage change.  Understands underlying issues and addresses root causes, analyzes quantitative information, and presents it in an effective way, seeks input from others and makes timely decisions.

• Customer focused, team oriented, dedicated to working with and through others to exceed the expectation of the customer (internal and external).

Competencies:

Strategic Thinking – Creates and effectively communicates long term vision. Keeps team’s work aligned to strategy. Creates and adjusts plans. Understands big picture to constructively challenge the status quo. Generates new ideas. Encourages innovation. Manages change effectively. Knows internal strengths and weaknesses.

Leading & Motivating – Models and supports DSW values. Assesses, identifies, retains, and develops talent. Builds complementary teams. Motivates, supports, and challenges associates. Resolves conflict. Makes tough decisions. Provides timely feedback. Works with and through others to exceed expectations of customers (internal/external)

Managing for Results – Produces sustainable results consistently. Holds team accountable. Recognizes and resolves complex problems. Understands underlying issues and addresses root causes. Measures, analyzes quantitative information, and presents it effectively. Seeks input from others. Makes timely decisions.

Qualifications:

Experience:

• Minimum of 2-3 years’ experience, preferably working with a public company, retailer or a mid to large sized law firm.
• Licensed to practice law in good standing in at least one state.

• Extensive experience negotiating a variety of commercial contracts, including marketing and influencer agreements, information technology agreements, and professional services.
• Experience in providing legal advice with attention to business and operational impacts as well as legal.

Preferred:

• Experience with domestic and international compliance programs a plus.

Education:

• Completion of a Juris Doctor or equivalent.