Senior Director & Legal Counsel

** This is a hybrid role and the employee is required to be onsite fours days per week at our Charlotte office **

The Senior Director & Legal Counsel will serve as a strategic legal advisor and business partner supporting the company’s commercial, operational, international expansion and risk management functions within the transportation and logistics industry. This is a generalist role with wide-ranging responsibilities, and a flexible approach to dividing projects and assignments.  Additional exposure opportunities include corporate governance, finance/capital markets support, mergers and acquisitions and government affairs matters.

This role primarily is responsible for leading all aspects of contract management, commercial negotiations, insurance compliance and regulatory support related to transportation services, customer agreements, vendor relationships, and operational partnerships. The ideal candidate combines strong commercial contracting expertise with practical business judgment and deep knowledge of transportation, logistics, supply chain, intermodal, trucking, rail, fleet, or equipment leasing operations, along with experience dealing with insurance and risk management programs.

This position works closely with executive leadership, sales, operations, procurement, finance, compliance, risk management, and external counsel to protect the organization’s interests while enabling growth and operational efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities

Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including:      

• Transportation service agreements
• Master service agreements (MSAs) and Statements of Work
• Customer contracts in multiple verticals/products
• Equipment leasing agreements
• Vendor and procurement agreements, including technology, real estate and consulting
• Intermodal and logistics partnerships
• Confidentiality agreements

Provide strategic legal guidance during complex commercial negotiations.

Develop and/or maintain standard contract templates, playbooks, and negotiation guidelines.

Partner with sales and operations teams to accelerate deal execution while minimizing legal and operational risk.              

Advise leadership on contract interpretation, dispute avoidance, indemnification exposure, limitation of liability, insurance provisions, and commercial remedies.

Manage the company’s third-party insurance compliance function and advise on insurance requirements and coverage provisions within customer, carrier, vendor, and leasing agreements.

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active bar membership in good standing.
• 7+ years of legal experience, with significant focus on commercial contracts, insurance oversight, and/or transportation and logistics matters.
• Strong experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and advising on risk transfer provisions.
• Knowledge of transportation industry regulations, insurance structures, and/or operational risk.
• Proven ability to balance legal protection with strategic business objectives – problem solving and partnership, not just issue spotting.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills
• Prefer in-house or law firm legal experience within transportation, logistics, supply chain, rail, trucking, shipping, or equipment leasing industries.
• Highest quality writing and documentation skills, including communicating complex legal issues to non-lawyers
• Good business judgment and common sense

Direct Reports

2 Direct Reports

Benefits

We understand that your role at DCLI is only part of who you are. Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package provide resources for you to be your best self, grow professionally and personally, and reach your full potential.

• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance options for you and your family
• Ample PTO and paid holidays
• 401k with company match
• Flexibility to support a healthy work-life balance
• Wellness resources
• Company-sponsored parties, outings, and other perks

Development Opportunities

At DCLI, you’ll find that everyone – from your coworkers and managers to the senior leadership team – wants to see you succeed and there are opportunities available for you to develop in your current role and prepare to take that next step in your career:

• Tuition reimbursement
• Internal training and educational resources
• Quarterly and annual awards for outstanding performance
• Pathways to promotions and access to advice, feedback, and mentorship
• Participation in professional organizations
• Internships

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