Associate General Counsel, Legal

Coherent•Washington, WA

22h•Hybrid

About The Position

Serve as the enterprise authority and senior legal strategist for ITAR compliance matters, directing complex classification, licensing, and jurisdictional determinations under the USML while shaping company-wide export control policy and regulatory risk management strategy. Lead and mentor a high-performing team of legal and compliance professionals, establishing strategic direction, driving organizational capability development, and fostering enterprise-wide expertise in export controls and regulatory compliance. Provide strategic legal advice to engineering, program management, supply chain, and business teams regarding ITAR-controlled technologies. Draft, review, and negotiate export-related agreements, including Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs), Manufacturing License Agreements (MLAs), and nondisclosure agreements involving controlled technical data. Provide strategic oversight and expert legal counsel on export licensing, reexports, and deemed exports under ITAR, guiding complex regulatory decisions and ensuring enterprise-wide compliance with U.S. export control requirements. Serve as the company’s senior representative and trusted advisor to the U.S. Department of State (DDTC), leading high-impact regulatory interpretations, disclosures, authorizations, and strategic engagement on complex export control matters affecting enterprise operations and compliance posture. Collaborate with compliance, engineering, and IT to strengthen data management and technology control plans. Direct enterprise-wide ITAR audit, investigation, and voluntary disclosure activities, leading complex compliance reviews, risk assessments, and remediation strategies while advising senior leadership on regulatory exposure and corrective actions. Develop and deliver training to business units and leadership on ITAR obligations and regulatory updates. Monitor and interpret regulatory developments impacting Coherent’ s ITAR-controlled products and operations. Provide strategic oversight of defense contracts counsels and serve as the enterprise authority on DFARS and related federal acquisitions regulations, guiding complex contractual, regulatory, and compliance matters across defense-related programs and operations. Oversee all legal and compliance requirements for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certificate (CMMC) efforts across the company with regard to level 1 and level 2. Collaborate closely with IT and business units to ensure compliance with CMMC. Provide training on CMMC to key stakeholders. Proven experience leading and developing high-performing legal and compliance teams, driving strategic initiatives, organizational effectiveness, and enterprise-wide regulatory compliance excellence.

Requirements

BA or BS in business or related field preferred; experience in ITAR and CMMC as well as DFARs.
Juris Doctorate
15 years legal experience
Experience working in a public company in the defense or related sector preferred
Leadership capabilities
Strong interpersonal, teaming, and problem-solving skills.
Work effectively with other members of Coherent Corp.
Advanced knowledge of international trade regulations including ITAR, CMMC, EAR, etc.
Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written
Individual must possess strong organizational, multitasking, and problem-solving skills and maintain flexibility in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
Customer service oriented with both internal and external customers
Individual must be proficient with Microsoft Office products & a PC based environment
Understanding of DDTC system and U.S. government licensing systems
Experience with Denied Party screening systems
Interact and communicate effectively with others and manage multiple tasks simultaneously

Responsibilities

Serve as the enterprise authority and senior legal strategist for ITAR compliance matters, directing complex classification, licensing, and jurisdictional determinations under the USML while shaping company-wide export control policy and regulatory risk management strategy.
Lead and mentor a high-performing team of legal and compliance professionals, establishing strategic direction, driving organizational capability development, and fostering enterprise-wide expertise in export controls and regulatory compliance.
Provide strategic legal advice to engineering, program management, supply chain, and business teams regarding ITAR-controlled technologies.
Draft, review, and negotiate export-related agreements, including Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs), Manufacturing License Agreements (MLAs), and nondisclosure agreements involving controlled technical data.
Provide strategic oversight and expert legal counsel on export licensing, reexports, and deemed exports under ITAR, guiding complex regulatory decisions and ensuring enterprise-wide compliance with U.S. export control requirements.
Serve as the company’s senior representative and trusted advisor to the U.S. Department of State (DDTC), leading high-impact regulatory interpretations, disclosures, authorizations, and strategic engagement on complex export control matters affecting enterprise operations and compliance posture.
Collaborate with compliance, engineering, and IT to strengthen data management and technology control plans.
Direct enterprise-wide ITAR audit, investigation, and voluntary disclosure activities, leading complex compliance reviews, risk assessments, and remediation strategies while advising senior leadership on regulatory exposure and corrective actions.
Develop and deliver training to business units and leadership on ITAR obligations and regulatory updates.
Monitor and interpret regulatory developments impacting Coherent’ s ITAR-controlled products and operations.
Provide strategic oversight of defense contracts counsels and serve as the enterprise authority on DFARS and related federal acquisitions regulations, guiding complex contractual, regulatory, and compliance matters across defense-related programs and operations.
Oversee all legal and compliance requirements for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certificate (CMMC) efforts across the company with regard to level 1 and level 2.
Collaborate closely with IT and business units to ensure compliance with CMMC.
Provide training on CMMC to key stakeholders.