Principal Corporate Counsel, Export Controls & Sanctions

Microsoft•Washington, DC

5d•$132,200 - $248,600

About The Position

Microsoft’s Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) Global Trade Legal team advances Microsoft’s mission through international trade policies, strategies, and solutions that foster a culture of compliance, trust, and innovation across Microsoft with our partners and customers worldwide. The Export Controls and Sanctions team within Global Trade CELA focuses on advancing Microsoft’s commitment to compliance with export control and sanctions laws and regulations in the countries where Microsoft operates. The team has an immediate opening for a highly motivated Principal Corporate Counsel to counsel and collaborate with business, engineering, trade compliance, and CELA teams to build and continuously improve durable, risk-based export control and sanctions compliance programs and tools, including through the responsible use of AI. In this role, you will help lead the advancement and implementation of export control compliance strategies and solutions, while also supporting the team’s sanctions matters and contributing directly to Microsoft’s broader trade compliance program. You will partner with stakeholders across all levels and disciplines of the organization to identify and resolve legal and business risks, advise on regulatory and compliance matters, and handle day-to-day project-related legal issues. To be successful, you will demonstrate sound, principled, and consistent judgment in fast-paced, ambiguous environments; a thorough understanding of export control and sanctions laws and regulations, including those issued and administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and comparable regulatory authorities in relevant jurisdictions; a track record of cross-functional collaboration; a commitment to integrity; solution-driven creativity and a business-enabling mindset; and the ability to bring clarity to complex legal and business issues. Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Requirements

Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND 4+ years experience as a practicing attorney OR equivalent experience.
Active license to practice law in a jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in relevant jurisdiction

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctor Degree or international equivalent degree AND 6+ years experience as a practicing attorney in the area of international trade, with an emphasis on U.S. export control laws and regulations, including at a law firm and/or in-house or U.S. government experience OR equivalent experience
Experience advising multinational companies on international trade matters, with an emphasis on export control laws and regulations
Knowledge of other international trade laws and regulations, including EU and UK export control laws and regulations and U.S., EU, and UK sanctions laws and regulations
Experience counseling companies in technology industries, including cloud services, digital services, AI, consumer electronics, and telecommunications
Experience in a combination of law firm, in-house, and U.S. government legal roles
Ability to adapt to evolving business and regulatory priorities, exercise sound judgment in ambiguous situations, and deliver practical, risk-informed solutions
Track record of providing legal advice in consideration of business goals, risk tolerance, and stakeholder priorities
Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with cross-functional teams to drive consensus and achieve results
Hands-on project management skills to efficiently manage multiple and varied mission-critical projects and meet deadlines

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted legal advisor to business, engineering, and trade compliance stakeholders, providing strategic counsel on international trade laws, with a particular focus on export control laws and regulations
Counsel key stakeholders on a broad range of export control- and sanctions-related regulatory, commercial, and contracting matters
Oversee export control and sanctions compliance and regulatory matters, including stakeholder escalations and government inquiries and disclosures
Partner with cross-functional teams to develop, implement, and continuously improve export control and sanctions compliance programs
Support the design and implementation of scalable compliance frameworks, operational processes, training, policies, and procedures that enable compliance-by-design
Provide practical, strategic, and timely guidance aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements
Drive risk reduction and operational excellence by identifying opportunities to simplify processes, improve decision-making, and leverage automation
Monitor and assess legal and regulatory developments, communicate business impacts to leadership, and support external advocacy for effective approaches to export control and sanctions policy