Description:

How You Make An Impact
The Associate Counsel is an entry-level attorney supporting An American Retail Automotive Services Company Global's legal, contractual, and compliance functions, primarily for procurement-related initiatives across North America (U.S. and Canada), with occasional involvement in global matters. Reporting to the Senior Counsel – North America, this role plays a vital part in ensuring the efficient execution of procurement contracts and legal operations that underpin An American Retail Automotive Services Company sourcing, services, and vendor management activities.

Working under general supervision, the Associate Counsel manages a diverse range of legal assignments—ranging from routine to moderately complex—and serves as a key point of contact for procurement-related contract matters. This includes drafting and negotiating agreements, engaging with stakeholders to align legal terms with business objectives, and providing timely legal advice to support business execution. The role requires independent judgment, the ability to manage competing priorities, and a proactive mindset to identify legal risks and efficiency opportunities. While guided by departmental policies and senior legal leadership, the Associate Counsel regularly interacts with outside counsel, contributes to the refinement of legal templates and processes, and supports continuous improvement efforts within the legal function. This position does not have supervisory responsibilities but may mentor interns or assist less experienced staff when needed.

Responsibilities include:

Contract Review, Drafting, and Negotiation

Draft and review a wide range of procurement contracts and associated legal documents, including SaaS agreements, service agreements, purchase agreements, statements of work, amendments, and assignments.
Participate in negotiation sessions with vendors and internal stakeholders, responding to counterparty redlines and advocating for terms that balance legal protection with business objectives.
Develop and review negotiation strategies, incorporating feedback from business teams and precedent agreements to manage legal risk and ensure consistency with corporate standards.

Legal Risk Management and Stakeholder Support

Collaborate with cross-functional business units—including Procurement, IT, Finance, and Operations—to identify, analyze, and mitigate legal and contractual risks on both routine and complex transactions.
Proactively raise legal concerns, offer practical solutions, and ensure stakeholder alignment throughout the contract lifecycle.
Work with outside counsel as needed to address disputes, escalate matters, or seek specialized guidance.

Process Optimization and Legal Operations

Assist in maintaining and updating standard contract templates and fallback provisions to reflect changes in law, policy, and business practice.
Contribute to departmental initiatives aimed at increasing legal efficiency, streamlining workflows, and reducing contract cycle time.
Support ongoing efforts to enhance contract management practices, compliance tracking, and document standardization.

Compliance and Governance

Support the Legal and Compliance teams in ensuring adherence to internal policies and applicable legal and regulatory frameworks.
Monitor evolving legal standards relevant to procurement and advise on required updates to templates or practices.
Help ensure alignment between contractual practices and An American Retail Automotive Services Company internal controls, risk tolerance, and global legal standards.

General Legal Support and Development

Provide legal research, drafting, and administrative support to senior counsel and other members of the Legal team.
Take initiative in learning An American Retail Automotive Services Company business and legal environment to increase the strategic value of legal advice.
Mentor interns or less experienced staff as appropriate, contributing to knowledge sharing and team development.

What You'll Need:

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited institution (required)
Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, or eligibility to obtain in-house counsel registration where required
0–2 years of post-JD experience; experience supporting corporate legal departments, procurement, or commercial contracts preferred
Foundational understanding of procurement, commercial, and technology contracting principles
Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills, with attention to detail and ability to adapt templates and terms to specific business needs
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality legal support in a fast-paced environment
Effective communication and interpersonal skills; able to explain legal concepts clearly to non-legal audiences
Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams or internal business partners
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and comfort with contract management or legal workflow tools
A learning mindset and commitment to professional development and legal operations excellence
Supports a global workforce across multiple time zones, which may occasionally require flexible work hours to address urgent or time-sensitive matters.