Senior Director, Legal, Commercial Transactions

Equinix • Toronto, ON

6d • $230,000 - $344,000

About The Position

Equinix is seeking a Senior Director to lead the Global Contracts Americas region team and one of its two Strategic Accounts teams. Based in the Americas, this senior legal leader will support named accounts and represent Global Contracts across the region, providing leadership for complex, strategic transactions and keeping current with regional legal developments. The role advises the business in alignment with corporate objectives and risk thresholds, builds relationships with Americas stakeholders, and works with colleagues across the global Legal department. The position operates across global time zones and is expected to provide leadership and senior stakeholder coverage during Americas working hours.

The Senior Director will lead the Strategics team and legal support for a globally significant portfolio of named customers, including AI, Neocloud, SaaS, semiconductor, Channel and OEM accounts. The role personally leads or oversees high-value negotiations, advises senior leaders across business functions, and develops the team’s vision, capabilities and operating model. As a member of the Global Contracts leadership team, the Senior Director contributes to the function’s strategy, culture, talent, transformation, resourcing and performance.

The role also champions technology, including AI tools, data, standardisation and disciplined operating practices to improve legal service delivery, reporting and scalability. It oversees work allocation, risk, resourcing, budgets and external counsel, and supports governance and operational excellence in collaboration with the Vice President, Legal, Global Contracts and the broader One Legal team.

Requirements

• Law degree and admission to practise in a relevant jurisdiction, such as a U.S. state.
• Substantial post-qualification legal experience appropriate for a Senior Director role.
• Deep experience negotiating commercial contracts and leading complex, strategic, high-value and high-impact transactions.
• Demonstrated people-leadership success and interest in managing, coaching and developing lawyers and contracts professionals.
• Experience evolving a team’s capabilities, structure, operating model or strategic direction.
• Experience supporting senior business leaders in an international, fast-moving and commercially demanding environment.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrix organisation and work across functions, reporting lines, geographies and time zones.
• Strong commercial and legal judgment, including assessing risk and recommending practical solutions that balance legal and business considerations.
• Executive presence and ability to advise, challenge and influence the organisation’s most senior leaders.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including explaining complex matters clearly, concisely and persuasively.
• Strong emotional intelligence, interpersonal awareness and cultural sensitivity.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to prioritise short-term pressures while advancing longer-term objectives.
• Pragmatic, adaptable, proactive and solution-oriented approach, with confidence to make timely decisions and drive action in ambiguous situations.
• Experience with Channel arrangements, partnerships, indirect go-to-market models or comparable commercial ecosystems.
• Strong understanding of how technology, data, process and knowledge management can scale a legal organisation and improve business outcomes.
• Willingness and ability to work flexibly across global time zones when business needs require it.
• Leadership style and personal approach consistent with Equinix and One Legal culture and values.

Nice To Haves

• At least 15 years of experience in a similar role is preferred.
• At least five years of strong law-firm experience is preferred.
• Strong interest in emerging technology markets, particularly data centre, AI, Neocloud infrastructure, SaaS or related technology sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate Global Contracts’ presence and engagement across the Americas, representing the function in senior business forums and building stakeholder relationships.
• Translate regional priorities and risks into legal support plans, ensuring early engagement and responsive, consistent, commercially pragmatic advice.
• Provide senior escalation support for significant regional and strategic matters, coordinate Americas-based legal colleagues, and manage external counsel when required.
• Lead the Strategics team and its legal support for named accounts, setting its vision, strategy and operating model.
• Oversee account strategy, pipeline, risk, resourcing, escalations and legal delivery across the full deal lifecycle.
• Partner with the Channel Lead on Channel go-to-market support and collaborate with Global Contracts and One Legal colleagues where portfolios intersect.
• Personally lead or oversee complex, strategic, high-value transactions and negotiations; balance commercial, legal and operational considerations; advise executives; and drive matters to closure.
• Turn deal experience into scalable positions, templates and training, and mentor the team in negotiation and domain knowledge.
• Lead, coach and develop lawyers and contracts professionals; set objectives, provide feedback, manage performance, recognise contributions, and support mentoring and succession planning.
• Contribute to Global Contracts strategy, operating model, talent, culture and resourcing, and support global policy, process, technology and transformation initiatives.
• Champion technology, including AI tools, standardisation, platforms, processes, knowledge resources and data-driven monitoring of workload, risk and performance.
• Work with the Vice President, Global Contracts on risk frameworks, policies and escalation paths; oversee work allocation, resourcing, budget and external counsel use; and report on significant matters and risks.
• Promote collaboration with shared-services teams and continuous improvement in operational practices.

Benefits

• Employee Assistance Program.
• Health or healthcare insurance options.
• Life insurance.
• Disability insurance.
• Voluntary or optional benefit plans.
• Retirement or savings plans, including employer contributions in the U.S. and sponsored plans in Canada.
• Accrued paid time off or vacation and personal time.
• Paid holidays.
• Bonus eligibility; equity may be offered depending on the position.

What This Job Offers

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