Commercial Legal Counsel

What You'll Do:

We're seeking an experienced Commercial Legal Counsel to join our team.In this role, you'll focus on technology contracts, cross-functional collaboration, and contract management. You'll serve as a strategic business advisor, helping navigate complex agreements while balancing legal and regulatory risks with business objectives. You're adaptable, comfortable with ambiguity in a changing business environment, approach problems with a solution-oriented mindset, and balance thoroughness with efficiency to keep business moving forward.

Join our team and play a crucial role in supporting the initiatives of a systemically important financial market utility (SIFMU) and the world's largest equity derivatives clearing organization. This role reports to the Director, Assistant General Counsel (Commercial).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily.

• Independently lead the review, red lining, drafting, and negotiation of vendor procurement contracts including SaaS, software license, cloud computing, AI, professional services, NDAs, and other related agreements.

• Provide pragmatic legal advice to business stakeholders on contract terms and risk mitigation strategies.

• Partner with Business Stakeholders, Strategic Sourcing, IT, TPRM, Security, and other relevant departments to ensure contracts meet legal, security, compliance, and operational requirements.

• Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, and processes to streamline the contracting process.

• Support the continuous improvement of contract management practices and systems.

• Support the enforcement of policies and procedures for the legal department and commercial transactions team.

• Perform other duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Qualifications:

The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary functions.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of commercial contracts experience

• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to build strong relationships across departments

• Experience negotiating contracts with a track record of finding creative solutions to complex issues

• A practical and business-minded approach with the ability to balance legal risks with business objectives

• Ability to quickly spot potential issues, identify what matters most, and seek guidance from your manager and team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• In-house experience with technology transactions including SaaS, software licenses, AI and professional services.

• Familiarity with trading industry and/or experience working with regulatory agencies or regulated financial institutions.

Technical Skills:

• [Required] Microsoft Office (Excel, Word)

Education and/or Experience:

• [Required] JD degree and active bar membership

• [Required] Bachelor's degree from accredited college or university

Certificates or Licenses:

• [Required] Admitted to practice law in Illinois

About Us

The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) is the world's largest equity derivatives clearing organization. Founded in 1973, OCC is dedicated to promoting stability and market integrity by delivering clearing and settlement services for options, futures and securities lending transactions. As a Systemically Important Financial Market Utility (SIFMU), OCC operates under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. OCC has more than 100 clearing members and provides central counterparty (CCP) clearing and settlement services to 19 exchanges and trading platforms. More information about OCC is available at www.theocc.com.

Benefits

A highly collaborative and supportive environment developed to encourage work-life balance and employee wellness. Some of these components include:

• A hybrid work environment, up to 2 days per week of remote work
• Tuition Reimbursement to support your continued education
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance
• Technology Stipend allowing you to use the device of your choice to connect to our network while working remotely
• Generous PTO and Parental leave
• 401k Employer Match
• Competitive health benefits including medical, dental and vision

Visit https://www.theocc.com/careers/thriving-together for more information.

Compensation

• The salary range listed for any given position is exclusive of fringe benefits and potential bonuses. If hired at OCC, your final base salary compensation will be determined by factors such as skills, experience and/or education.
• In addition, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer.
• We typically do not hire at the maximum of the range in order to allow for future and continued salary growth. We also offer a substantial benefits package as noted on www.theocc.com/careers
• All employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus. Discretionary bonuses are based on various factors, including, but not limited to, company and individual performance and are not guaranteed.

Salary Range

Incentive Range

This position is eligible for an annual discretionary incentive compensation award, for which the target range is listed above (see Incentive Range). The amount of such award, if any, will be based on various factors, including without limitation, both individual and company performance.

Step 1
When you find a position you're interested in, click the 'Apply' button. Please complete the application andattach your resume.

Step 2
You will receive an email notification to confirm that we've received your application.

Step 3
If you are called in for an interview, a representative from OCC will contact you to set up a date, time, and location.

For more information about OCC, please click here.

OCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer