Senior Legal Counsel

Hybrid

Charlotte, North Carolina

Morrisville, North Carolina (Office)

Full time

R51145

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

The Senior Legal Counsel serves as the primary legal partner to the Measurement and Control Solutions segment of Xylem Inc., providing practical, commercially-oriented advice across a broad range of matters. As a true legal generalist, this role works closely with segment leadership and cross-functional partners to identify and manage risk, enable business objectives, support sound decision-making, and escalate specialized matters when appropriate. The role requires strong judgment, business acumen, responsiveness, and the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for nonlegal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Segment Legal Partnership

• Serve as the primary day-to-day legal advisor to the assigned segment, developing a deep understanding of its products, strategy, operations, customers, markets, and risk profile.

• Partner with segment leaders and functional teams to provide pragmatic legal guidance that balances business objectives, legal requirements, risk, and reputation.

• Participate in business and leadership discussions to identify legal implications early, shape solutions, and support timely decision-making.

• Triage legal matters, manage priorities, and coordinate with subject-matter experts, regional counsel, and external counsel when specialized support is required.

Commercial and Contract Support

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including supply, services, technology (including SaaS and licensing agreements), and other business agreements with customers, distributors, and subcontractors.

• Advise on contract interpretation, performance issues, claims, disputes, remedies, and risk allocation.

• Enhance contracting practices through practical templates, playbooks, approval guidance, and training for business stakeholders.

General Corporate and Business Guidance

• Provide general legal support on day-to-day business matters, including sales and marketing, operations, channel management, product-related issues, strategic initiatives, and organizational changes.

• Advise on corporate governance, delegations of authority, entity matters, and internal decision-making processes relevant to the segment.

• Support business development, partnerships, integrations, restructurings, and other strategic transactions in coordination with specialist counsel.

Compliance, Ethics, and Risk Management

• Partner with Ethics & Compliance and business leaders to promote compliance with applicable laws, company policies, and ethical standards.

• Identify emerging legal and regulatory risks affecting the segment and recommend practical mitigation strategies.

• Support internal reviews, investigations, audits, and corrective actions, as appropriate and in coordination with relevant specialists.

• Develop and deliver targeted legal and compliance training for segment leaders and employees.

Disputes and External Counsel Management

• Provide early assessment and strategic guidance on disputes, claims, and potential litigation affecting the segment.

• Coordinate with litigation specialists and external counsel, helping define scope, manage strategy, monitor cost, and keep business leaders informed.

• Promote proactive dispute avoidance and commercially reasonable resolution of matters.

Collaboration and Legal Function Effectiveness

• Build trusted relationships across the segment and the broader Legal function, sharing insights and ensuring consistent legal advice.

• Contribute to Legal function priorities, knowledge sharing, process improvement, and the development of scalable tools and resources.

• Demonstrate sound judgment regarding when to act independently, when to collaborate, and when to escalate.

High-Impact Behaviors

• Business Partnership: Understands business priorities and provides practical, timely advice that enables responsible growth and execution.

• Judgment and Accountability: Makes well-reasoned decisions, takes ownership, and appropriately balances legal risk with commercial considerations.

• Influence and Communication: Communicates complex issues clearly, builds credibility, and influences outcomes across levels and functions.

• Collaboration: Works effectively across the Legal function and with business partners, engaging specialists without creating unnecessary complexity.

• Agility and Learning: Adapts to changing priorities, develops knowledge across legal disciplines, and remains curious about the business and external environment.

• Integrity: Demonstrates sound ethics, protects confidentiality, and acts consistently with company values and professional obligations.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and active license to practice law in at least one relevant jurisdiction.

• At least 5 years of relevant legal experience, preferably including in-house experience supporting a business or operating unit.

• Broad experience across commercial contracting and general business legal matters; experience identifying when specialist expertise is required.

• Strong business acumen and the ability to provide clear, concise, and actionable guidance to nonlegal stakeholders.

• Excellent negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, communication, and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and operate effectively in a complex, matrixed, and global environment.

• Experience partnering with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.

• Commitment to professional ethics, discretion, and confidentiality.

• Efficient use of legal technology stack, including Microsoft suite, contract lifecycle, and matter management tools.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting a technology, manufacturing, industrial, or other complex global business.

• Experience with complex commercial technology agreements, compliance matters, disputes, corporate matters, strategic transactions, employment, regulatory, and product-related issues.

• Experience managing external counsel and legal spend.

The salary range for this position is $140,000 to $170,000 plus bonus. Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience, and work location, and is not typically at the top of the range. At Xylem, we offer a competitive compensation package with a generous benefit package, including Medical, Dental, and Vision plans, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave, and tuition reimbursement.

#LI-SUTTONMOORE

Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.

At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affirmative Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment.

Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation

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