Western Governors University - Contracts Attorney
If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.
Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
**Current WGU employees must submit their internal application before 04/05/22 to be considered for the position. **
The Contracts Attorney will join Western Governors University’s Legal department to review, negotiate, and maintain contracts undertaken by WGU and its affiliated organizations. This position will work with internal stakeholders (“clients”), legal and business subject-matter experts, vendors and other third parties to ensure that contracts provide adequate legal protection and otherwise support the University’s mission to expand access to high-quality education.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
At the direction of the Legal Operations Supervisor, serve as contracts counsel for various internal clients
Draft, analyze, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts related to the business of WGU and its affiliated organizations, including but not limited not to, complex technology agreements, SaaS agreements, content licensing agreements, inbound services agreements, software licenses, non-disclosure agreements, affiliation agreements, and consulting agreements to ensure compliance with policy and risk tolerance
Independently spot legal issues arising in contracts and liaise with legal subject-matter experts, including Privacy, IP, Regulatory, Employment, and Corporate Finance attorneys
Independently spot business issues arising in contracts and liaise with business subject-matter experts, including in the areas of Accessibility, Procurement, and Information Security
Provide practical, business-oriented solutions to contractual issues
Manage contract intake, workflow and archiving processes
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to minimize total contract processing time, and to provide a seamless client experience
Assist client organizations enforce vendor compliance with contract terms, such as service level availability
Stay up-to-date on industry and legal trends in relation to contract drafting, interpretation, negotiation, and management
Advance the creation of new contract templates along with the continuous improvement of existing templates, playbooks, standard contract terms, and forms to evolve with business needs and legal requirements
Advise clients on issues of contract interpretation and informal dispute resolution with vendors
Perform legal research on contract-related issues as needed
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:
Required Skills
Sound independent judgment and professional integrity
The ability to build relationships, both internally and externally
Strong analytical and communication skills
The ability to innovate improvements to existing tools and processes
The ability to accurately prioritize and respond to issues and requests
Exhibit sound judgment with an ability to know when to escalate issues to legal or business leadership
The ability to independently monitor and resolve multiple, concurrent matters
Proficiency with Microsoft Office including the redlining features in MS Word
Preferred Skills
Prior experience in higher education or non-profit
Experience with contract and/or vendor management systems
Familiarity with e-signature solutions
Competencies:
Organizational Impact:
Works to achieve operational targets within job areas impacting department, function, or office results.
Work is performed independently on moderately complex projects and assignments with some guidance required for direction and complex tasks. Sets objectives for oneself to meet the goals of projects or assignments.
Problem Solving & Decision Making:
Responsible for employing adjustments or recommended enhancements to systems and processes to solve problems or improve the job area’s effectiveness while leveraging a systems-thinking approach.
Problems faced may require an understanding of a broader set of issues and job areas.
Communication & Influence:
Collaborates with contacts typically within the job area to obtain or provide information requiring some explanation or interpretation.
Leadership & Talent Management
May provide guidance and assistance to entry-level professionals and or support employees.
Demonstrates the WGU leadership principles in all aspects of service to students, employees, and partners of WGU.
Job Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
2+ years applicable experience (one year of law clerking experience may be considered)
Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA-accredited law school
Admission to the Utah State Bar, or ability to become admitted within one year from the date of hire
Preferred Qualifications:
Prior experience in higher education or non-profit.
Experience with contract and/or vendor management systems.
Familiarity with e-signature solutions.