Director, Operations Counsel

HarbourVest Partners • Boston, MA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

For over forty years, HarbourVest has been home to a committed team of professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to deliver impactful solutions to our clients and investing partners. As our global firm grows, we continue to add individuals who seek a collaborative, open-door culture that values diversity and innovative thinking. In our collegial environment that’s marked by low turnover and high energy, you’ll be inspired to grow and thrive. Here, you will be encouraged to build on your strengths and acquire new skills and experiences. We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion that promotes mutual respect among all employees. Understanding and valuing these differences optimizes the potential of both the individual and the firm. HarbourVest is an equal opportunity employer. This position will be a hybrid work arrangement. You will receive 18 remote workdays per quarter to use at your discretion, subject to manager approval. For example, you may choose to work in the office 4 days per week and take one remote day weekly (typically 13 weeks per quarter), leaving 5 additional remote days to be used as needed. Join our outstanding team at HarbourVest as the Director, Operations Counsel. This opening in our Legal & Regulatory Compliance department based in Boston, MA, USA, allows you to influence our global firm with your legal knowledge and creative ideas. You will handle commercial contract negotiations and provide advice on general corporate matters as they arise, ensuring smooth operations. These may include privacy, security, governance and secondary fund transfers (training will be provided for secondary fund work). The ideal candidate is someone who is: Accountable with critical thinking abilities and the ability to take ownership of an issue and provide concise and timely advice to the business units. Able to apply appropriate judgment to identify material risk and avoid unnecessary protracted negotiation where unwarranted. Proficient in developing and improving legal review processes to scale with the growth of the business grounded in an appropriate risk/reward analysis. Skilled at independently drafting, negotiating, and closing contracts. Capable of explaining legal concepts to business colleagues and communicating effectively with internal and external parties.

Requirements

• A can-do attitude, as well as excellent interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional research, writing, and counseling skills.
• Attention to detail and strong writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in negotiating SaaS agreements.
• Juris Doctor (JD) and licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.
• 5+ years of experience post JD at another financial services firm or technology firm.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with market data agreements is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, examine, and negotiate commercial contracts and NDAs for all departments in the firm, both domestic and international. This includes SaaS agreements, cloud services agreements, market data agreements, and others.
• Counsel internal clients on contract disputes with vendors and partner with senior leaders to craft solutions and settlements.
• Learn and understand the risk tolerance of each function in the firm and establish standard contract terms to reflect the needs of each department, empowering business ownership.
• Recognize and analyze legal and business risks related to commercial contracts and formulate approaches to lessen those risks.
• Offer advice on general corporate concerns, including privacy, and support legal initiatives across the firm.

What This Job Offers

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