Assistant General Counsel, Product & AI Innovation | Hybrid | Reston, VA

About Ellucian

Ellucian powers innovation for higher education, partnering with approximately 3,000 customers across 50 countries, serving more than 21 million students. Ellucian's AI-powered platform, trained on the richest dataset available in higher education, drives efficiency, personalized experiences, and strengthened engagement for all students, faculty and staff. Fueled by decades of experience with a singular focus on the unique needs of learning institutions, the Ellucian platform features best-in-class SaaS capabilities and delivers insights needed now and into the future. These solutions and services span the entire student lifecycle, including data-rich tools for student recruitment, enrollment, and retention to workforce analytics, fundraising, and alumni engagement. Ellucian's innovative solutions, vast ecosystem of partners and user community of more than 45,000 provides best practices leading to greater institutional success and achieving better student outcomes.

About the Opportunity

Ellucian is seeking a strategic, collaborative, business-minded and technology-forward Assistant General Counsel, Product and AI Innovation to join our growing Legal team. This role will serve as a key legal advisor working closely with Product, Engineering, Information Security, and Strategy teams, helping drive innovation while managing legal, regulatory, intellectual property, privacy, and operational risk. This role will support product development, technology innovation, artificial intelligence initiatives, strategic partnerships, and technology commercialization efforts across the company

As a trusted business partner, you will provide practical legal guidance throughout the product lifecycle, support the development and deployment of AI-enabled solutions, and advise on technology, privacy, and data-related matters. You will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders to help ensure our products are designed, developed, and delivered responsibly while supporting Ellucian’s strategic business objectives. This role will play a critical part in enabling the company's product strategy, partner ecosystem, and AI initiatives while supporting a fast-paced global SaaS business.

This role offers the opportunity to shape the legal framework supporting next-generation technologies and contribute to Ellucian’s leadership in higher education technology. The ideal candidate combines deep technology and product counseling experience with strong business judgment and the ability to provide practical, solution-oriented legal guidance that supports growth and innovation.

Where you will make an impact

Product & Technology Counseling

• Serve as legal advisor to Product, Engineering, Data, Security, and Innovation teams throughout the product lifecycle.
• Provide proactive legal guidance on the development, launch, enhancement, and commercialization of SaaS, cloud, data, AI-enabled, and emerging technology products and services.
• Advise on product design decisions, feature development, customer commitments, intellectual property considerations, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with product and engineering teams to identify legal risks early and develop practical solutions that enable innovation and speed to market.
• Support product roadmap initiatives by evaluating legal implications of new technologies, business models, and strategic opportunities.

• Support Product and Engineering teams in addressing privacy and data-related legal considerations throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Review and advise on data collection, use, sharing, retention, transfer, and security-related matters.
• Partner with Privacy, Information Security, Compliance, and business stakeholders to identify and mitigate legal risks associated with product development and customer solutions.
• Provide legal guidance regarding privacy and data protection obligations under applicable laws and regulations, including GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, FERPA, and emerging AI-related regulations.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments impacting technology, AI, privacy, and data practices and provide practical guidance to business stakeholders.

AI, Data & Emerging Technology

• Advise on data governance, data rights, data licensing, data usage, and data commercialization strategies.
• Advise on legal and regulatory issues related to artificial intelligence, machine learning, generative AI, automation, and emerging technologies.
• Counsel stakeholders on AI-related contractual, intellectual property, privacy, transparency, bias, and regulatory considerations.
• Monitor evolving legal and regulatory developments related to AI, data protection, and technology innovation and provide practical guidance to business stakeholders.
• Support enterprise AI governance initiatives and contribute to the development of policies, standards, and controls for responsible AI deployment.

Intellectual Property & Technology Commercialization

• Advise on intellectual property ownership, licensing, protection, and commercialization strategies.
• Support product and engineering teams in evaluating intellectual property risks associated with product development and technology acquisitions.
• Collaborate with intellectual property counsel on patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters.
• Assist in the integration and commercialization of acquired technologies and intellectual property assets.
• Support initiatives involving product monetization, technology licensing, and strategic use of company intellectual property.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Support compliance efforts related to privacy, security, consumer protection, accessibility, and industry-specific regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Privacy, Security, Compliance, and Risk teams to develop governance frameworks that support business objectives while maintaining appropriate controls.
• Conduct legal risk assessments for new products, partnerships, and strategic initiatives.
• Develop guidance, policies, and training materials to support legal compliance and risk awareness across the organization.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build strong relationships across Product, Engineering, Security, Data, Sales, Alliances, Procurement, and Executive Leadership teams.
• Serve as a trusted advisor capable of translating complex legal concepts into practical business recommendations.
• Contribute to legal department initiatives focused on process improvement, operational excellence, technology enablement, and scalable legal support models.
• Support strategic initiatives and special projects as directed.

What you will bring

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 10–12+ years of legal experience, including significant experience supporting technology, SaaS, cloud, data, and software businesses.
• Experience counseling product, engineering, and technology teams on product development and commercialization matters.
• Demonstrated expertise in technology transactions, strategic partnerships, software licensing, SaaS agreements, and commercial contracting.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property, data governance, privacy, AI, and emerging technology issues.
• Experience advising on legal and regulatory frameworks affecting technology companies, including privacy, cybersecurity, AI governance, and digital services regulations.
• Familiarity with global privacy and technology regulations, including GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, AI-related regulations, and other emerging legal frameworks.
• Strong negotiation, drafting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and operate independently while collaborating effectively across cross-functional teams.
• A practical, business-oriented mindset and commitment to delivering clear, actionable legal guidance.

Extra Credit

• Experience supporting AI-enabled products, data platforms, or emerging technology initiatives.
• Experience working with strategic alliances, cloud ecosystem partnerships, or technology marketplaces.
• In-house legal experience at a global SaaS, cloud, software, or technology company.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, or technology integration activities.
• Familiarity with higher education technology, enterprise software, ERP, CRM, student systems, or regulated technology environments.
• Experience building scalable product review, AI governance, or technology risk management processes.

What makes #Ellucianlife

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, and vision
• Flexible time off
• Thrive Flex Lifestyle Account (LSA) that allows you to contribute towards your health, financial or learning interests
• 401k w/ match & BrightPlan - to help you save for the future
• Parental Leave
• 5 charitable days to support the community that supports us
• Telemedicine
• Wellness
  • Headspace Care (mental health)
  • Wellbeats (virtual fitness classes)
• RethinkCare & Wellthy– caregiver support
• Diversity and inclusion programs which provide access to internal employee resource groups
• Employee referral bonuses to encourage the addition of great new people to the team
• We Foster a learning culture with:
  • Education Assistance Program
  • Professional development opportunities
  • LinkedIn Learning

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#LI-Hybrid