Counsel, Government Contracts & Compliance

Promise • Washington, DC

2d • $175,000 - $200,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Promise modernizes how government agencies and utilities support people in financial difficulty. We build technology that makes it simple for residents to receive benefits, engage with assistance programs, set up flexible payment plans, and stay on track—while helping agencies increase efficiency, recover revenue, and deliver services with dignity. Our mission is to transform public systems so they work better for everyone, especially the most vulnerable. Our team includes experts from companies like Palantir, Google, Stripe , and esteemed government leaders. We work hard and believe deeply in what we do. We're looking for excellent people to build innovative, resilient technology. Backed by over $50 million in funding from top investors – such as Reid Hoffman, Howard Schultz, Michael Seibel, Y Combinator, 8VC, The General Partnership, First Round Capital, Kapor Capital, XYZ Ventures, and Bronze Investments – Promise has been recognized as one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies of 2022,” “Forbes Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2024,” and Y Combinator’s #1 GovTech startup. Promise's government and utility business is growing in both volume and complexity, and this role owns the contracting and compliance work that powers it. You'll take government contracting end to end—reviewing, drafting, and negotiating solicitations, bids, and customer agreements—and partner with security on the reviews and certifications (FedRAMP, agency security questionnaires) that public-sector customers require, bringing in senior legal leadership on the most complex or novel matters. You'll be a key legal partner to our pursuit and deployment teams, turning complex public-sector requirements into terms Promise can sign and deliver against. It's a role with real ownership and room to grow into more senior legal leadership over time.

Requirements

• JD and active membership in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar.
• 5+ years practicing, with meaningful government contracts work across federal and/or state and local procurement, in-house or at a firm.
• Familiarity with FedRAMP and government security reviews, plus data protection and privacy; experience with StateRAMP, CMMC, or similar is a plus.
• You negotiate complex agreements with government and enterprise counterparties and land workable terms.
• You want to deepen your government-contracts expertise and grow into more senior legal leadership.
• You give clear, business-minded advice and help the company move fast without taking on undue risk.

Nice To Haves

• Govtech, fintech, or public-benefits/payments experience; familiarity with utilities or other regulated industries.

Responsibilities

• Own Public Sector and Commercial contracting: Review, draft, and negotiate solicitation terms, contracts, subcontracts, and customer agreements across federal, state, local and other procurements.
• Lead contract-side security and compliance review: Partner with security and IT on FedRAMP and agency security reviews, data protection terms, and the certifications and questionnaires Promise customers require.
• Keep bids compliant: Advise on solicitation requirements, certifications and representations, flow-downs, and eligibility so bids are compliant and signable.
• Strengthen contracting practices: Improve and scale the templates, playbooks, and processes that keep contracting efficient as the company grows.
• Manage outside counsel: Engage and oversee specialized outside counsel where needed, keeping spend efficient.
• Stay ahead of regulation: Track changes in public-sector procurement rules, data privacy, and compliance regimes that affect Promise.
• Advise the business: Serve as a resource on the legal team for business development, deployment, product, and security on deal structure, risk, and regulatory questions.

Benefits

• Equity for All: All full-time employees receive stock options to share in our company’s success.
• 100% Paid Health Coverage: We cover 100% of base medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and their dependents.
• Hybrid Work: We collaborate in the office at least four days a week to stay connected and aligned as a team.
• Flexible Time Off: Self-managed FTO and paid holidays — we trust you to manage your time responsibly.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree