Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal Counsel

Your work days are brighter here.

We're obsessed with making hard work pay off, for our people, our customers, and the world around us. As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we're shaping the future of work so teams can reach their potential and focus on what matters most. The minute you join, you'll feel it. Not just in the products we build, but in how we show up for each other. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm. We're in this together, tackling big challenges with bold ideas and genuine care. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun-drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you'll do meaningful work with Workmates who've got your back. In return, we'll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you've found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too.

About the Role

As a Senior Legal Counsel at Workday, you will play a crucial role in managing the full contract lifecycle for a fast-growing, innovative company. You will directly support the outbound and inbound segments of the business. Support both outbound customer-facing transactions and inbound procurement/vendor transactions, including SaaS agreements, DPEs, AI addenda, vendor agreements, partner agreements, and related amendments. This position demands critical thinking, high integrity, and strong operational management. You will be directly responsible for negotiating, drafting, and managing a wide array of agreements that establish complex business relationships with customers, vendors, and partners. This involves collaborating closely with Sales, Procurement, Deals Operations, and other Legal teams to structure agreements and ensure all contracts comply with company models, guidelines, and other applicable legal requirements. Success requires a proactive approach, excellent communication skills, exceptional attention to detail, adaptability in a changing business environment, and the ability to work independently while managing multiple, competing, and sensitive priorities. A successful candidate will be proactive, solutions-oriented, and able to creatively resolve issues to help accelerate deal closure while appropriately managing risk.

Responsibilities:

Contract Drafting & Negotiation

• Lead the negotiation of proposed contract modifications by customers, prospects, vendors, and partners working directly with sales, procurement, and internal stakeholders; securing necessary internal and external approvals.
• Draft, review, and revise contracts, addenda, including amendments, to address specific business requirements and legal concerns as they arise.
• Act as a primary liaison for the Legal department, providing cross-functional teams with clear guidance on common edits, non-standard terms, policies, and contract-related questions.
• Join calls with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Privacy and AI knowledge-Advise on privacy, data protection, and AI technology issues in commercial transactions, including negotiation of data processing agreement terms, AI addenda, subprocessors, security terms, and related risk allocations.

Process & Workflow Management:

• Help implement legal efficiencies through the negotiation cycle and continuously improve the contracts management system and associated operational processes.

Legal & Business Support

• Maintain and enhance critical processes and collaboration points between the Legal department and other internal business groups.

• Execute assigned projects as determined by the evolving needs of the business and the Legal department.

• Identify and implement process improvements, playbooks, templates, and workflow enhancements that increase contracting speed, consistency, and scalability.

About You

Basic Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree and active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 10+ years of experience drafting and negotiating contracts in a corporate environment
• Direct experience independently drafting and negotiating complex SaaS/technology agreements both on the Inbound and Outbound side, particularly with commercial (sales and procurement)
• Deep experience negotiating Privacy and AI terms
• Sales, customer, and procurement experience
• Prior financial services and/or healthcare inbound or outbound transactions experience

Other Qualifications

• Commercial Expertise: Skilled in drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements including SaaS Agreements, Data Protection, AI Addendum, and Service Level Agreements, as well as complex vendor subscription/technology agreements and subprocessor/Embed Reseller Agreements. Able to reach mutually beneficial outcomes through open dialogue and convey complex legal concepts clearly to both legal and non-legal audiences. Experience with data privacy rules and contracts
• Business Acumen: Applies keen business judgment to align legal strategy with Workday's broader goals. Skilled at building internal and external relationships while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams (sales, services, product, finance, procurement).
• Risk Analysis & Project Management: Proficient in analyzing risk and developing solutions that protect the business while enabling growth.
• Manages legal projects with discipline to keep complex matters on track.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Direct experience using a Contract Management System (e.g., Salesforce, Apttus, Conga) and electronic signature software (e.g., AdobeSign, DocuSign)
• Analytical Thinking: Demonstrates strong analytical skills by breaking down complex information into actionable guidance, identifying transaction patterns, and applying process improvement principles to drive efficiencies in legal workflows.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and thrive in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment