Senior Director, Business and Legal Affairs

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in South Africa.

📋 Description

• Oversee and direct the contracting process for global sales and strategic partnership agreements.

• Create, maintain, and enhance standardized contracting templates and associated documents.

• Draft, review, negotiate, finalize, and provide guidance on master services agreements and related sales materials.

• Manage reseller, referral, finder’s fee, marketing collaboration, education benefits, channel, integration, affiliate, promotion, side-letter, non-standard deal, and amendment agreements.

• Provide counsel to teams on data privacy and security, collaborating with the Privacy team on data sharing agreements.

• Conduct SDN screenings and clearances, and manage OFAC course blocking and embargo reviews for the edX platform.

• Collaborate with Revenue Operations, Finance, and Accounting on the Deal Desk to address performance and operational challenges.

• Enhance playbooks, workflows, and decision-making processes.

• Establish and implement internal policies and procedures that support scalable, profitable growth and effective legal risk management.

• Develop FAQs, language/response banks, and training materials; facilitate training sessions.

• Offer advice to Product & Engineering, Customer Success, Solutions & Support regarding enterprise product risks, platform features, cross-product sales, pricing, packaging, and self-service functionality.

• Counsel Marketing, Strategy, and Product Marketing on branding, marketing compliance, intellectual property rights, contractual obligations, and strategic initiatives.

• Provide ad hoc support to Legal, Compliance, and Privacy, including expertise on legacy edX sales products, SDN screening, OFAC course blocking, content partner renewals, learner and partner escalations, and trademark issues.

⛳️ Requirements

• Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing in at least one State Bar.

• Over 8 years of relevant legal experience.

• Capability to independently draft, negotiate, and manage a high volume of diverse contracts and non-standard agreements from inception to completion.

• Proficiency in enhancing legal operations speed, scalability, and simplification while minimizing manual processes and friction points.

• Strong business acumen and judgment, including assessing legal risk within a business context and recommending innovative, practical solutions.

• Strategic and critical thinking capabilities, with the ability to advise cross-functional teams on contractual and legal risks and requirements.

• Capacity to respond to business needs and balance competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Willingness to proactively navigate ambiguous situations, new agreements, and product types, as well as shifting business objectives.

• Strong attention to detail and exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Outstanding organizational, prioritization, and change management abilities.

• High level of accountability and ownership; capable of collaborating with all tiers of company leadership, management, and staff.

• Eligibility to work lawfully in South Africa; foreign nationals must provide the necessary work permit documentation.

🏝️ Benefits

• Two complimentary Getsmarter short courses each year.

• Subsidized medical aid through the Discovery Health Medical Scheme.

• 4% contribution from 2U towards the Discovery Life Pension Fund and Group Risk Benefit.

• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• Generous leave policy, including time off for volunteering with non-profit organizations, study leave, sports leave, and a company-wide festive season break.

• Comprehensive benefits that vary by country.

• Excellent work/life balance.

• Reasonable accommodations available throughout the recruitment process.