At Barnes & Noble Education (“BNED”) we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education.

The VP, Associate General Counsel will be a corporate generalist with a strong focus on commercial contracts, that can oversee litigation and employment related matters and assist on corporate governance and SEC compliance as needed.  The position will play a key role in managing the company’s agreements with school partners and strategic relationships with key vendors. Highly visible role within the organization that collaborates with senior management in key business functions, including Operations, Marketing, Finance, HR, and IT, to draft and negotiate contracts that align with corporate objectives and help develop and implement compliance programs and policies to uphold regulatory standards.

Legal Counsel Duties:

• Draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including customer and vendor contracts, NDAs, licensing, consulting, employment, marketing, and promotional agreements; identify, assess, and mitigate contractual risks while optimizing business outcomes.
• Oversee contract review process generally in conjunction with contracts administration and operations teams; collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure legal and business alignment.
• Manage litigation matters, support HR team on employment related matters.
• Develop and implement corporate compliance programs, legal policies, and procedures to support risk management and regulatory adherence.
• Assist with all corporate governance matters, including board and committee support, governance policies, and regulatory compliance.
• Draft, review, and advise on SEC and state filings, including registration statements, prospectuses, and public disclosures.
• Provide legal guidance on HR-related issues, including employment policies, compliance, and employee agreements.
• Additional responsibilities as required.
• Complies at all times with the Standards, policies and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics set out in the Employee Handbook.

Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and admission to the NJ Bar (NY Bar admission preferred but not required).
• Minimum 8 years of legal experience, including preferably at least 3 years in-house at a company.

Experience:

• Strong background in contract law, with experience negotiating and drafting a variety of commercial agreements.
• Knowledge of employment law.
• Proficiency in managing litigation.
• Experience handling public company corporate governance and compliance matters.
• Familiarity with ‘33 Act compliance, SEC filings, and state public disclosures.

Skills & Competencies:

• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and research skills with the ability to handle complex legal matters.
• Proven ability to multi-task and manage shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities and team-building skills.

Note: This is a hybrid role requiring in-office attendance three (3) days per week. Applicants should be within a commutable distance to the Basking Ridge, NJ area.

We believe your success is our success, so our benefits package is designed specifically to support you in every aspect of your life. At BNED, we offer a variety of programs and resources to support the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our employees by offering a competitive total rewards package for full-time employees, which includes medical, dental, and vision plans, 401k, life insurance, commuter benefits, paid time off with paid holidays, and a broad range of other benefits.

The hiring range for this position is $240,000 – $250,000 per year. This range represents the base salary only. The position is also eligible for bonus compensation, with a target bonus of 25% of base salary. Additionally, this role is eligible for equity-based incentives, subject to the terms of the applicable program. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.

At Barnes & Noble Education we empower everyone. Our mission is to support students, faculty, and schools, serving as a catalyst to meet the evolving needs of the education system and a new generation of students. That starts with fostering an environment for our employees where diversity and individuality is celebrated.

Barnes & Noble Education is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. In the spirit of inclusivity, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, protected veteran status, race, religion or sexual orientation.