Counsel, Business Operations and Regulatory (Remote)

Cengage is seeking a pragmatic, business-oriented attorney for the role of Counsel, Business Operations and Regulatory This role will partner closely with Cengage Work’s leadership, strategy, sales, product, and operations teams to evaluate various business and product delivery models and structure, negotiate, and close complex commercial transactions while navigating the evolving regulatory landscape impacting workforce education and training. This role will also serve as lead counsel on select Cengage-wide regulatory compliance initiatives. What You’ll Do Here: Business Partnership Serve as a trusted advisor to the Cengage Work business, developing a strong understanding of its products, business models, and strategic priorities Collaborate with product, operations, finance, and go-to-market teams to incorporate legal and regulatory considerations into business decisions Provide practical, risk-based legal advice that supports business objectives Regulatory Advisory, Compliance and Risk Management Advise on federal and state regulatory frameworks that, directly or indirectly, impact Cengage Work, including: Consumer protection laws and disclosure requirements Education financing models (e.g., tuition assistance, employer-sponsored funding, public workforce funding) Postsecondary education laws and regulations Workforce development and training program regulations (e.g., WIOA and related state programs) Collaborate with Cengage’s government affairs team and advisors to monitor, interpret and advise on changes in postsecondary education, workforce education and skills training related laws and regulations that may impact Cengage Work Identify legal, regulatory and operational risks across Cengage Work and partner with compliance, legal subject matter experts and the business to develop policies and procedures to mitigate these risks. As needed, serve as lead counsel on select enterprise-wide regulatory and compliance initiatives. Commercial Transactions, Process Improvement and M&A Support Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements supporting Cengage Work offerings, including customer, partner, and institutional arrangements Provide clear, actionable legal guidance to support transaction strategy and execution Partner with Legal Operations to set the strategic framework for contracting processes supporting Cengage Work, including templates, standards, and playbooks across multiple business models. Serve as an escalation point for complex, non-standard contractual matters, providing advisory guidance to the Contract Management team As needed, support corporate legal team on acquisition and other strategic transactions for Cengage Work. Skills You Will Need Here: J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership 4–7 years of relevant legal experience (law firm and/or in-house) Experience in partnering closely with business teams to advise on complex legal issues in support of strategic objectives Strong analytical, issue-spotting, and problem-solving skills, with a practical, business-oriented approach to risk Willingness to learn a new business and capacity to independently develop expertise in unfamiliar areas; Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex legal projects and independently manage projects cross-functionally with multiple stakeholders Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills Preferred Familiarity with federal and state regulatory regimes affecting postsecondary education and workforce and skills training Experience in technology companies focused on workforce skills, online continuing education, or vocational training Compensation At Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here ( to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy. The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location. Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range. In this position, you will be eligible to participate in the company’s discretionary incentive bonus program. This position’s bonus target amount, which is not guaranteed and is dependent on individual performance and overall company results among other factors, is provided below. 25% Annual: Individual Target $138,200.00 - $179,650.00 USD Employment Equality Statement Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws. Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr