Corporate Counsel, Procurement & Construction

Fleet Data Centers•Mercer Island, WA

6h•Onsite

About The Position

Fleet Data Centers is seeking a Corporate Counsel, Procurement & Construction to join their team. This role will be a key legal partner to various internal teams, including procurement, construction, engineering, real estate, finance, and operations, supporting active projects. The position involves a hands-on approach to negotiating commercial and legal terms with vendors, contractors, and partners, and managing the legal aspects of data center construction projects from contract formation through execution. The role also includes managing outside counsel, developing and improving contracting processes, and advising on compliance issues related to procurement and construction. The ideal candidate will be a practical, business-minded lawyer who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and possesses strong negotiation and communication skills.

Requirements

5–10 years of legal experience with a strong focus on construction, procurement, infrastructure, or other complex capital projects.
Meaningful hands-on negotiation experience in equipment procurement and/or data center construction matters; experience in other mission-critical infrastructure sectors will also be considered.
Strong working knowledge of EPC, design-build, construction management, equipment supply, engineering services, and other project delivery contracts.
Experience managing outside counsel and driving clear, practical work product in support of internal business teams.
Ability to excel in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where priorities can shift quickly and the legal team is expected to be pragmatic, responsive, and business-oriented.
Strong judgment, concise communication skills, and a solutions-oriented approach to risk management.
Ability to lead nuanced negotiations to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
JD from an accredited law school and active license to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction in good standing.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience supporting data center, digital infrastructure, energy, utilities, or mission-critical real estate projects for a hyperscaler or developer.
Experience with global or cross-border procurement, trade compliance, or supply-chain risk issues.
Experience building or refining contracting templates, playbooks, or legal processes in an in-house environment.

Responsibilities

Lead drafting, review, and negotiation of a wide range of agreements supporting data center development, including equipment procurement agreements, EPC contracts, design-build agreements, construction management agreements, engineering and consulting agreements, and other procurement-related documentation.
Serve as a day-to-day legal partner to procurement, construction, engineering, real estate, finance, and operations teams on active projects.
Take a hands-on role in negotiating commercial and legal terms with equipment vendors, OEMs, contractors, subcontractors, and engineering partners.
Support the legal aspects of data center construction projects from contract formation through execution, advising on risk allocation, schedule, performance, claims, and change management issues.
Manage outside counsel on specialized matters, local law issues, and overflow support to ensure practical, timely, and cost-effective execution.
Help develop and improve templates, playbooks, and contracting processes that enable the business to move quickly while managing risk appropriately.
Advise on compliance issues relevant to procurement, construction, and supplier relationships, including cross-border and supply-chain considerations where applicable.