Senior Legal Specialist

Overview REI Co-op is united around discovering, building and celebrating better ways of working in this world, all so that folks can find and pursue a love of the outdoors. When you work for the co-op, you do your best work with the support to live your best life. And you play a part in shaping the future of the outdoors, for people and our planet. Seeking experienced Senior Paralegal to support a dynamic legal team in a fast-paced, business-oriented environment. This role partners closely with attorneys and business stakeholders to drive efficient execution of commercial transactions and contract management that enable strategic business initiatives. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with strong contract expertise, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to manage high-volume workflows while maintaining attention to detail. Under the general direction of a Deputy General Counsel, you will own and drive Legal Transaction related programs and projects Building internal customer & stakeholders relationships to manage expectations and agree on clear goals, objectives, and timelines Building and tracking of program features, milestones, & dependencies Identifies potential legal and compliance risk exposures and drives actions to resolve problems and make process improvements. Educate, promote and facilitate necessary business practice changes in line with legal requirements Consulting on process changes across business groups and documents end-to-end process flow, as applicable Developing and implementation of performance criteria and KPIs, as applicable Collaboration with Legal Department colleagues and external consultants for legal analysis and issue resolution as needed Management of interactions with internal business clients and external service providers to troubleshoot problems and drive improvements Represent the Legal Department and participate in and/or coordinate legal and compliance efforts across the organization Recommend and drives action to resolve problems and process improvements. Be liaison to other areas within the company to educate, promote and facilitate necessary business practice changes in line with legal requirements May supervise others Other duties and projects as assigned Commercial Transactions & Contract Management Draft, review, and manage a wide range of commercial agreements, including vendor, services, merchandising, marketing, licensing, NDA, and technology agreements Coordinate contract intake, triage, and workflow prioritization across business teams Ensure contracts align with company templates, playbooks, and risk tolerances Identify key legal and business risks and elevate appropriately to attorneys Manage and improve contract management systems, templates, and workflows Process Management Develop and maintain standard forms, playbooks, and guidance materials Drive process improvements to increase efficiency, consistency, and compliance Track contract lifecycle, including execution, amendments, renewals, and terminations Cross-Functional Partnership Serve as a liaison between Legal, Sourcing, Marketing, Merchandising, Technology and other business teams Communicate clearly with stakeholders to align on timelines, requirements, and expectations Provide practical guidance to business partners on contracting processes and requirements Risk & Compliance Support Support identification and mitigation of legal and compliance risks in transactions Ensure adherence to internal policies, regulatory requirements, and governance standards Program & Project Support Manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously with minimal supervision Track milestones, dependencies, and deliverables for legal and cross-functional initiatives Provide status updates and reporting to legal leadership and stakeholder Responsibilities and Qualifications Seven+ years’ experience having primary accountability for legal services within a large organization with field operations, preferably a national retailer. Knowledge and experience with current regulatory changes (federal, state, and local). Strong skills in written and oral communication, relationship building, teamwork and leadership to effectively engage individuals at all levels of the organization. Excellent consulting, coaching, presentation, and facilitation skills. BA/BS degree, paralegal certification, or equivalent work experience. High integrity and a proven record of strict adherence to principles of confidentiality. Proactive problem-solver with demonstrated ability to ask probative questions that help determine the best solution (i.e., a solution that meets compliance standards and also works for the company). Detail-oriented, organized and takes initiative to create a better solution or product. Demonstrated ability to work under significant time pressure and deal with changing priorities. Actively participates and collaborates with others on one's own team and across REI for the achievement of business goals. Uses business knowledge, innovative thinking, and sound judgment in the solution of problems or the pursuit of business opportunities. Consolidates information from various sources including feedback from others to reach sound decisions. Considers the ultimate impact of decisions and actions on internal and external customers. Works smart by setting effective work goals, establishing priorities, and planning well in order to produce quality work. Executes effectively by using resources efficiently, meeting deadlines, and keeping others informed of work plans and progress toward goals. Clearly conveys and accurately receives information by a variety of methods and in various situations. Closing At REI, we believe the outdoors is for all . We are committed to becoming a fully inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization. We know that there's strength in our diversity – that each employee brings unique skills, experiences, and perspectives. Every day you are driving change, fostering a culture of respect, and knowing you're backed by benefits that support your whole life. To work towards this commitment and fulfill our brand promise of inspiring and enabling a life outside for everyone, we seek employees who demonstrate different ways of working, create a sense of belonging, and actively listen and learn. Pay Transparency We are committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. As required by applicable Pay Transparency laws, REI provides a range of compensation for roles that may be hired in locations under these requirements. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include a wide array of factors, including: your specific skills and experience, geographic location or other relevant factors. REI offers all regular employees a generous employee discount, access to health benefits, a retirement savings plan and accrued time off. Pay Range $85,400.00 - $136,700.00 per year #J-18808-Ljbffr