Counsel - Supply Chain

Forterra • Arlington, VA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

About the role Forterra is seeking a highly skilled Counsel to join its Legal team with primary responsibility for supply chain, while assisting with Growth, Operations, and Technology Transactions. This role requires deep experience supporting complex hardware and software supply chains in regulated environments, including the defense industrial base. The Counsel will serve as a key legal partner to supply chain, operations, engineering, and finance, providing practical, risk-based guidance across sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, and vendor relationships. The ideal candidate brings both strategic insight and hands-on execution, with the ability to independently manage complex negotiations, design scalable contracting frameworks, and advise on supply chain risk, compliance, and resilience in a rapidly evolving environment.

Requirements

• 6+ years of relevant hands-on experience, including significant experience advising on supply chain, manufacturing, and technology transactions, preferably in the defense, aerospace, robotics, or advanced manufacturing sectors.
• Demonstrated expertise in negotiating complex supplier and service agreements, as well as familiarity with government contracting.
• Strong working knowledge of export controls, defense procurement regulations, and supply chain compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to operate independently while partnering closely with cross-functional business teams.
• High integrity, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfort working with evolving technologies, hardware / software integration, and mission-critical systems.
• Candidates must also be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Currently holds an active secret clearance
• A combination of both law firm and in-house experience, preferably in defense
• Experience with international or cross-border transactions involving defense technology

Responsibilities

• Independently draft, negotiate, and manage a broad range of supply chain and technology agreements, including supplier master agreements, long-term supply agreements, contract manufacturing, subcontracting, logistics, and professional services / consulting agreements.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to supply chain and operations, leading supplier negotiations and advising on sourcing strategies and commercial risk allocation, including indemnification, liability, IP ownership, and termination.
• Advise on legal and regulatory requirements impacting Forterra’s supply chain, including ITAR, EAR, DFARS, Buy American Act, TAA, counterfeit parts prevention, and supplier cybersecurity requirements.
• Support supplier diligence, onboarding, and risk assessments, including evaluation of financial stability, geopolitical risk, sanctions exposure, and compliance posture.
• Develop and maintain standard supply chain contract templates, playbooks, training, and escalation frameworks to support efficient scaling of operations.
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, quality, security, and program teams on manufacturing readiness, product changes, obsolescence, and end-of-life planning.
• Provide guidance on intellectual property protection and licensing in supplier and manufacturing relationships, including background IP, foreground IP, and data rights.
• Support government and prime contractor programs by aligning supplier terms with customer flow-down requirements and program obligations.
• Advise on disputes, claims, demands, and supplier performance issues, working closely with internal stakeholders to achieve timely and practical resolutions.
• Monitor legal, regulatory, and industry developments affecting defense and advanced technology supply chains and proactively advise leadership on emerging risks and mitigation strategies.
• Assist with broader transactional, commercial, and corporate matters, as needed.

Benefits

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.
• Basic Life/AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption.
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees