Senior Counsel (Higher Education)

Location: U.S. remote; candidates in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area are prioritized and should be available to attend the Arlington, VA headquarters two days per week.

Base salary: $178,000–$205,000 annually, with potential bonus eligibility.

Company

hirify.global partners with universities and companies to develop and deliver online education programs through its edX learning platform.

What you will do

• Serve as primary legal counsel to the Degree business on commercial, contracting, operational, and strategic matters.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret master services agreements and related contracts with current and prospective university partners.
• Lead the full contracting process and coordinate business, finance, operations, privacy, compliance, and other stakeholders on deal structure and legal and commercial terms.
• Advise on contractual obligations, partner compliance, higher education laws, regulatory requirements, intellectual property, data privacy, accessibility, and risk management.
• Support day-to-day operational matters, partner disputes, escalations, student-related issues, external communications, and strategic transactions.
• Manage external counsel and monitor legal, regulatory, and industry developments affecting online education.

Requirements

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school required.
• Admission to a state bar, current and in good standing.
• 7–10 years of relevant legal experience in a law firm and/or in-house environment.
• Understanding of university operations and academia.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, legal research, writing, and communication skills.
• Experience supporting multiple deals simultaneously and coordinating multiple projects and stakeholders through issue resolution.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and business-oriented judgment.

Nice to have

• Experience with higher education, intellectual property, data security, e-commerce, technology, and/or online accessibility.
• Attention to detail, self-initiative, eagerness to learn, and comfort working with AI-powered tools to improve legal efficiency.
• Ability to work with a diverse team in a fast-paced environment and focus on defined results.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time U.S. benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, and a 401(k) employer match.
• Generous paid holidays and leave policies, including unlimited PTO, volunteer days, parental leave, and a company-wide winter break.
• Work/life balance, inclusive culture, and reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.
• Free snacks and drinks are available in the office.