Corporate Counsel at Buyers Edge Platform, LLC in Chicago, IL

Who are we? Buyers Edge Platform stands at the forefront of revolutionizing the food service industry through technology, purchasing power and partnerships. We are dedicated to empowering stakeholders across the entire foodservice ecosystem (operators, distributors, manufacturers) with efficiency and unprecedented visibility. With a diverse portfolio of over a dozen brands, our mission is clear: to reduce costs, streamline the foodservice supply chain, and propel the industry from manual to automated. Today, we are one of the largest players in foodservice, with over 200K operator locations across North America and over $50 billion of aggregated spend volume. Our commitment to food service excellence is proven in four distinct areas of value: Digital Procurement Network, Fresh Solutions, Supply Chain Management, and Software. Buyers Edge Platform is not just a provider – we are a strategic partner on the journey towards a more efficient, connected, and automated future for the foodservice industry. This role will be hybrid based out of our Waltham, MA or Chicago, IL office. We are unable to provide sponsorship for work authorization for this role. We are a global leader at the forefront of innovation in the Food Service industry and are actively seeking an exceptional Corporate Counsel to join our dynamic legal team. This role presents a rare opportunity for a legal professional to make an immediate impact elevating our organization’s legal strategy on an international scale while negotiating, drafting, and counseling on strategy for the Company’s Digital Procurement Network (DPN), Software as a Service (SaaS), Supply Chain Consulting, and ancillary Food Service verticals. The Corporate Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice to the Company or identified departments and ensuring the Company operates in accordance with legal parameters. As a specialist, the Corporate Counsel will supply support across the Company activities ensuring that legal issues, contracts, disputes, and complex transactions are consummated within the Company’s legal framework. The Corporate Counsel provides a variety of general corporate and commercial legal services to in-house clients for consulting, managing legal processes, developing Company policies, and safeguarding against legal risks. Your impact: Strategic Contract Portfolio Management Lead the end-to-end process of contract creation, negotiation, and execution, focusing on DPN, SaaS, Supply Chain, Consulting, and ancillary Foodservice agreements Collaborate closely with sales, product, and operational teams to ensure contracts align with business objectives Serving as the point of contact for certain contract types Risk Assessment and Mitigation Conduct comprehensive legal analyses to identify and mitigate potential risks associated with commercial transactions Develop strategies to protect the Company's interests in contract negotiations Provide litigation support to General Counsel and outside counsel Regulatory Compliance Oversight Stay abreast of industry-specific regulations and standards within DPN, SaaS, and Foodservice sectors Ensure contracts comply with relevant laws and industry practices. Learn and assist on privacy related matters, including those arising in GDPR controlled jurisdictions Stakeholder Engagement Work cross-functionally with internal brands and teams, including sales, marketing, and finance, to provide nuanced and timely legal guidance to support strategic initiatives Collaborate with external parties, including clients and vendors, to foster positive working relationships Contract Optimization Develop and implement efficient contract management processes, emphasizing continuous improvement and scalability Promoting new technologies within the organization Actively contribute to the development and enhancement of standard contract templates by providing timely revisions to the Associate General Counsel and General Counsel meticulously tailored to the distinctive needs of each business unit, aligning with the agility and innovative ethos of our fast-growing Company Mergers & Acquisitions Willing to provide complimentary assistance to the Associate General Counsel and General Counsel on the Company’s robust M&A pipeline About you: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school Active license to practice law in Massachusetts, Illinois, or Florida 3-4+ years of experience as corporate/transactional attorney, preferably with commercial contracting experience either in-house or at a top law firm Current license to practice law from the State Bar Association Background in corporate law and possess excellent negotiation, communication, and analytical skills Attention to detail, administrative capabilities, and ability to manage complex legal projects In-depth understanding of legal intricacies within GPO, SaaS, and Foodservice sectors Thorough understanding of the Company’s policies, procedures, systems, and objectives Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proven ability to exercise initiative, judgment, and discretion Ability to partner across the Company within departments and divisions to provide consistency Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software Proficient with knowing how and when to use AI assisted tools Ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, demonstrating initiative and proactive problem-solving skills Ability to initiate and pursue projects independently while exercising sound judgement to know when to escalate issues or seek guidance from senior counsel Proven legal research and drafting skills Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, external clients, and cross-functional teams at all levels of the organization Ability to manage a high-volume workload, prioritize competing deadlines, and deliver under time pressure without sacrificing quality Comfort working in a lean legal team where initiative, flexibility, and a "no task too small" attitude are essential Don’t meet every requirement mentioned here? Studies have shown that women, communities of color and historically underrepresented talent are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Buyers Edge Platform and our subsidiary brands, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this position or others with us! What's In This For You: Great benefits from day one. We offer medical, dental, vision, FSA, company-paid life insurance, and more—plus a 401(k) with company match. Grow with us. Enjoy strong training, development, and competitive pay. Work-life balance. Our flexible PTO policy lets you take time when you need it—no accrual required. We welcome all. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.