Sr. Legal Counsel & Corporate Risk Manager

Sr. Legal Counsel & Corporate Risk Manager As our Sr. Legal Counsel & Corporate Risk Manager you will be both the guardian of our legal interests and the architect of our enterprise-wide risk framework. From negotiating contracts to embedding compliance and shaping risk strategies, you’ll partner across the business to protect MERGE’s momentum while enabling bold growth. This is a high-impact role for a sharp, strategic thinker who thrives in dynamic environments—and knows how to balance legal rigor, risk control, and business agility. Responsibilities Contracts & Legal Advisory: Serve as the primary legal advisor for all commercial agreements (client MSAs and SOWs, vendor, licensing, technology, and partnership contracts). Lead negotiations to ensure favorable terms while enabling business growth. Templates & Playbooks: Create, update, and maintain contract templates, negotiation playbooks, and approval workflows to drive efficiency, consistency, and scalability. Risk & Liability Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual risks—including indemnities, limitations of liability, confidentiality, IP ownership, data protection, and regulatory compliance (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA). Business Partnering: Provide pragmatic, business-minded legal counsel to Sales, Procurement, HR, Finance, IT, and Product teams—enabling deals to close quickly without compromising safeguards. Corporate Governance: Support entity management, corporate filings, and board governance. Partner with Finance and HR on equity administration, corporate structure, and internal controls. Policy Development: Draft and maintain company policies (privacy, compliance, ethics, code of conduct) that align with legal requirements and industry standards. Outside Counsel Management: Select, manage, and coordinate external counsel for specialized legal needs, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality support. Regulatory Watch: Monitor changes in law and regulation affecting contracts, governance, advertising/marketing, and data protection; advise leadership on impact and implementation. Training & Enablement: Deliver contract training and legal awareness sessions to business teams to empower first-line review and escalation of only material issues. Enterprise Risk Strategy & Framework Lead the development and implementation of MERGE’s enterprise risk management (ERM) framework, ensuring alignment with business strategy and operations. Establish and evolve risk appetite and tolerance levels with input from executive leadership. Embed risk intelligence into decision-making processes and planning cycles. Risk Identification & Assessment Proactively identify legal, regulatory, strategic, operational, financial, technological, cybersecurity, reputational, and compliance-related risks. Conduct in-depth, data-driven risk assessments using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Monitor internal and external trends relevant to a marketing and technology-driven organization. Analyze privacy and data security risks related to PII, HIPAA, GDPR, and other frameworks. Mitigation & Controls Design and recommend scalable, practical mitigation strategies that balance rigor with usability. Partner with business leaders to operationalize risk and compliance controls. Ensure mitigation plans are embedded into processes rather than bolted on. Risk Monitoring & Reporting Develop and manage KRIs, early warning systems, and risk heat maps. Deliver high-impact reporting and insights to senior management and the Board. Support quarterly risk updates, Board presentations, and ad hoc deep-dives. Crisis Management & Business Continuity Shape and test enterprise-wide crisis response and continuity plans. Conduct scenario planning and tabletop exercises to ensure organizational preparedness. Help maintain operational continuity and recovery protocols. Regulatory Compliance & Governance Ensure MERGE’s practices meet or exceed applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards. Partner with HR, Finance, and IT on compliance, data privacy, and equity/governance issues. Conduct contractual risk assessments for clients, partners, and vendors. Stakeholder Collaboration & Engagement Build strong relationships with senior leaders, Legal, Compliance, Audit, and Insurance. Serve as a trusted advisor, translating complex legal and risk issues into clear, actionable guidance. Champion legal and risk awareness through training and engagement across teams. Qualifications J.D. from an accredited law school; member in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar. Bachelor’s in Finance, Risk Management, or Business a plus. Advanced degree or certifications (CRM, FRM, CIA, CISA) desirable. 7–10 years post-qualification legal experience, with at least 3–5 years in-house. Background in contracts, compliance, corporate governance, and enterprise risk management. Industry experience in marketing, technology, healthcare, or professional services highly valuable. Strong in contract law, regulatory compliance, data privacy, and enterprise risk frameworks (ISO 31000, COSO ERM, FAIR). Analytical thinker, clear communicator, able to distill complexity into clarity. Pragmatic, protects the business while enabling growth. What Success Looks Like Risk is a catalyst for smart growth, not a roadblock. Contracts and compliance processes are streamlined and business-friendly. Leaders make informed decisions, backed by legal rigor, data, and foresight. MERGE is resilient, compliant, and ready to scale with confidence. MERGE believes in transparency and equity. Salary range information is included in this posting: The salary range for this role is $175,000-$200,000, based on skills, experience, location, and other factors. MERGE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not require visa sponsorship now or in the future. We’re committed to fostering an environment where our team members can thrive in both their careers and personal lives, feel supported, and succeed. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-09-21