General Counsel / Head of Legal

TAK Communications is a leading national telecommunications and broadband service provider that offers full value chain communications services and solutions to its customers across the US, from project management, engineering, and construction to drops, fulfillment and door-to-door sales in over 40 states. TAK Communications prides itself on being a trusted business partner for its customers in the broadband and communications sector, providing solutions that exceed their expectations.

As a result of significant growth, we are currently in search of our first General Counsel / Head of Legal (GC) to join our Sioux Falls, South Dakota office. The GC is responsible for leading corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives and will provide senior management with expert and strategic legal advice on company initiatives and their implementation, manage the legal function, set internal governance policies, and obtain and oversee the work of outside counsel. TAKs GC is hands-on and directly involved in complex business transactions and negotiating critical contracts. Acting as the organizations legal representative, the GC will set the standard for company-wide compliance issues, ensure risk mitigation, and improve business performance through the legal function.

The Role

Contract negotiation, compliance, risk management (e.g., subcontractor, customer, MSAs, real estate)

• Assists in drafting / reviewing contracts, negotiation, execution and enforcement (when needed)
• Defines best-practice terms to negotiate to, with focus on being commercially advantageous while incorporating downside and liability protections
• Maintains database of contracts, including index of terms and conditions of each contract
• Protects the company's intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets; monitors and addresses potential infringements or violations of intellectual property rights

Compliance, governance and risk management

• Monitors and ensures compliance with all relevant local, state, federal, and international laws and regulations that impact the company's operations
• Advises on legal and regulatory issues related to the communications and broadband service industry, including environmental, labor, and safety
• Advises executive management on corporate governance matters, including compliance with corporate policies and procedures
• Provides guidance on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) functions

Manage legal spend efficiently

• Works with the executive leadership team to manage legal to budget and right-size legal costs internally and with third parties
• Coordinates interactions with external counsel when needed; build and maintain network of trusted specialists at acceptable billing rates
• Defines strategy of in-house execution vs outsourced spend, working to minimize the cost burden of the collective department
• Advises on and manage the resolution of disputes and litigation
• As appropriate, finds pragmatic solutions to legal matters vs. heavy reliance on outside legal counsel

Key member of executive leadership team to frame up legal considerations with a business mindset

• Oversees all matters of legal significance, including contracts, leases, risk management, employment law, corporate governance, and compliance
• Serves as member of Company's Executive Team, providing strategic counsel on legal, business and operational matters
• Advises senior management with respect to the legal implications of all major decisions, strategies and transactions of the Company by balancing complex business needs while mitigating liability exposure in accordance with standard industry customer requirements and understanding standard industry norms and requirements in order to expedite prudent business decisions

Support M&A activities

• Assists in management of external M&A legal firm, when needed
• Defines strategy for in-house support of M&A activities where more efficient than outsourcing
• Builds and maintains the M&A playbook, capturing lessons learned from history of acquisitions
• Resolves post-acquisition legal issues identified during due diligence

Manage the risk profile of the business

• Partners with leaders to develop and implement a corporate risk monitoring, identification, and mitigation strategy across commercial, employee, and product activities
• Reviews company-wide employee education and training for data privacy and data security compliance and ensure those involved with processing data are properly trained
• Develops data privacy protocols, policies, notices and consents and conduct periodic audits to ensure that all compliance with all regulatory requirements, including CCPA and other state regulations

About You

• Thrive in a collaborative environment
• Comfortable working with all levels of management and employees, as well as managing external legal resources
• Successful track record of managing legal spend both internally and externally
• Ability to efficiently drill into and organize complex legal issues; including identifying and defining problems, establishing facts, solving problems, making recommendations and drawing conclusions in a timely and accurate manner
• Pride yourself on being an excellent communicator, influencer and negotiator
• Comfortable operating independently and with limited guidance, yet remain focused on proactive communication and seeking direction as appropriate
• Possess outstanding legal drafting skills and a noteworthy attention to detail
• Dynamic leader who is driven by metrics and achieving extraordinary results

• J.D. required
• 10+ years Post-Qualified, Experience (PQE) ideally a mix of law firm / professional practice, with a minimum of 2 years in-house counsel experience and 3 years experience as Head of Legal
• Familiarity with general corporate legal work (e.g. drafting and reviewing commercial contracts, managing labor / employment matters, resolving disputes and litigation)
• Experience managing outsourced legal spend for cost efficiency and effectiveness
• M&A integration/divestment experience

Preferred Experience

• J.D. from a top tier accredited law school
• Experience in the telecommunications or construction industry

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.