Commercial Counsel

About the role

Checkr creates AI-driven verification technology used by over 140,000 organizations to facilitate hiring, housing, and service decisions. We are seeking a legal professional to join our team and act as a primary advisor to our revenue departments regarding the contracts that drive our business growth. The successful candidate will operate at the intersection of legal acumen and commercial strategy, ensuring that our agreements support scalable growth while protecting the company. You will serve as a trusted advisor to Sales and Revenue teams, providing clear guidance on contractual obligations and risk. This role requires a proactive mindset to identify issues before they become liabilities and to translate complex legal language into actionable business advice. You will be responsible for maintaining the integrity of our contract lifecycle process from initiation to execution. The position demands a balance of autonomy and collaboration as you work alongside cross-functional partners to achieve company objectives.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of commercial agreements, including SaaS, licensing, data provider, and partnership contracts.
• Provide risk-based legal guidance to Sales and Revenue teams while determining when to escalate complex issues.
• Develop and maintain internal legal playbooks, templates, and operational processes to improve efficiency.
• Analyze legal requirements related to company operations, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
• Coordinate with cross-functional partners and oversee outside counsel on specific commercial matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts to protect the company's interests and ensure compliance with applicable laws.
• Advise on the allocation of risk, liability, and indemnification provisions in commercial agreements.
• Assess data privacy considerations and ensure that contracts align with regulatory obligations.
• Translate legal concepts into clear explanations for non-legal stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously with a high attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.
• Monitor changes in relevant regulations and advise the company on necessary adjustments to contracts and policies.
• Support the development of standardized contract templates that reduce review time and legal overhead.
• Collaborate with finance and sales operations to ensure contract terms align with business goals and practices.
• Assist in the evaluation and management of outside counsel relationships for specific commercial matters.

Requirements

• JD degree and active, good-standing membership in the California Bar.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, preferably within a high-growth technology company.
• Understanding of legal risk allocation, liability, indemnification, data privacy, and protection.
• Ability to explain legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously with high attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience with SaaS and licensing agreements in a commercial context.
• Familiarity with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and its application to technology services.
• Commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards and compliance with legal requirements.

Skills & tools

• Commercial contract negotiation
• SaaS and licensing law
• Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) knowledge
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Contract lifecycle management
• Legal research and analysis
• Stakeholder communication
• Process improvement

Nice to have

• Experience in AI-driven verification or technology-driven compliance sectors.
• Background in data privacy regulations and their intersection with commercial contracts.
• Familiarity with revenue operations and sales enablement processes.
• Knowledge of best practices for managing outside counsel and legal service providers.

Practical notes

• Salary range: $188,000 to $221,000 USD (San Francisco).
• Benefits include 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage, a monthly wellness stipend, a learning and development allowance, and up to $25,000 for fertility, adoption, and parental planning services.
• In-office perks include daily lunch, commuter stipends, and snacks.
• Relocation assistance may be provided for candidates moving to a hub location.
• Checkr is an equal opportunity employer and adheres to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.