Senior Legal Counsel

Xylem•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

The Senior Legal Counsel serves as the primary legal partner to Xylem’s Measurement and Control Solutions segment, providing practical, commercially oriented advice across a broad range of matters. This legal generalist works closely with segment leadership and cross-functional partners to identify and manage risk, enable business objectives, support sound decision-making, and escalate specialized matters when appropriate. The role calls for strong judgment, business acumen, responsiveness, and the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for nonlegal stakeholders.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
Active license to practice law in at least one relevant jurisdiction.
At least 5 years of relevant legal experience, preferably including in-house experience supporting a business or operating unit.
Broad experience with commercial contracting and general business legal matters, including recognizing when specialist expertise is needed.
Strong business acumen and ability to provide clear, concise, actionable guidance to nonlegal stakeholders.
Excellent negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and operate effectively in a complex, matrixed, global environment.
Experience partnering with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
Commitment to professional ethics, discretion, and confidentiality.
Efficient use of legal technology, including the Microsoft suite, contract lifecycle tools, and matter management tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a technology, manufacturing, industrial, or other complex global business.
Experience with complex commercial technology agreements, compliance matters, disputes, corporate matters, strategic transactions, employment, regulatory, and product-related issues.
Experience managing external counsel and legal spend.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary day-to-day legal advisor to the assigned segment and develop a deep understanding of its products, strategy, operations, customers, markets, and risk profile.
Partner with segment leaders and functional teams to provide pragmatic legal guidance that balances business objectives, legal requirements, risk, and reputation.
Participate in business and leadership discussions to identify legal implications early, shape solutions, and support timely decision-making.
Triage legal matters, manage priorities, and coordinate with subject-matter experts, regional counsel, and external counsel when specialized support is required.
Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including supply, services, technology, SaaS, licensing, and other business agreements with customers, distributors, and subcontractors.
Advise on contract interpretation, performance issues, claims, disputes, remedies, and risk allocation.
Improve contracting practices through practical templates, playbooks, approval guidance, and training for business stakeholders.
Provide general legal support on day-to-day matters involving sales and marketing, operations, channel management, product-related issues, strategic initiatives, and organizational changes.
Advise on corporate governance, delegations of authority, entity matters, and internal decision-making processes relevant to the segment.
Support business development, partnerships, integrations, restructurings, and other strategic transactions in coordination with specialist counsel.
Partner with Ethics & Compliance and business leaders to promote compliance with applicable laws, company policies, and ethical standards.
Identify emerging legal and regulatory risks affecting the segment and recommend practical mitigation strategies.
Support internal reviews, investigations, audits, and corrective actions in coordination with relevant specialists, as appropriate.
Develop and deliver targeted legal and compliance training for segment leaders and employees.
Assess disputes, claims, and potential litigation; coordinate with litigation specialists and external counsel on scope, strategy, cost, and business-leader communications.
Promote proactive dispute avoidance and commercially reasonable resolution of matters.
Build trusted relationships across the segment and Legal function, share insights, and support consistent legal advice.
Contribute to Legal function priorities, knowledge sharing, process improvement, and scalable tools and resources.
Use sound judgment in deciding when to act independently, collaborate, or escalate.