Senior Corporate Counsel – Contracting

GCI's Senior Corporate Counsel – Contracting will provide high-level legal support across a broad spectrum of company departments, business units, and subsidiaries. This role is responsible for leading the negotiation and execution of complex commercial agreements, providing legal oversight on strategic corporate transactions, and delivering forward-thinking legal guidance to support enterprise-wide initiatives. The ideal candidate will be a proactive, solutions-oriented legal advisor who demonstrates strong business acumen, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate complex legal and regulatory landscapes while advancing the organization’s goals. This position operates in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment and regularly engages with senior leadership.

Position’s Customer(s): GCI business units, departments, subsidiaries, and internal stakeholders across multiple functional areas.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This leadership position requires the following non-delegable responsibilities:

• Fully own the mission, goals, operations, and results of the team and areas of responsibility. 
• Provide strong leadership to span of control (direct and indirect reports); demonstrate effective leadership in all interactions companywide.    This leadership includes generating enthusiasm and shared commitment; identifying and setting direction; teaching, growing, and empowering; owning outcomes; and leading by example. Specific leadership duties include:
• Establishing the vision and tone for the department, consistent with company culture and mission.
• Establishing clear, measurable, and achievable goals and performance expectations and following up appropriately. 
• Hiring individuals who can accomplish those goals and meet those expectations; providing them the open communication, training, tools, and mentoring needed to be successful and develop professionally; establishing a development path commensurate with capabilities and potential.
• Providing clear and accurate feedback to individuals and teams on a timely and consistent basis. Identifying and addressing performance problems early and effectively before they damage GCI’s interests and demoralize other employees.
• Effectively managing processes including annual performance reviews, compensation adjustments, promotions, demotions, transfers, and disciplinary actions up to and including termination in an unbiased and consistent manner.

• ACCOUNTABILITY- Takes ownership for actions, decisions, and results; openly accepts feedback and demonstrates a willingness to improve. Positive self-starter with ability to take initiative, identify needs, and work independently with minimal direction and supervision.
  • Takes full ownership for actions, decisions, and outcomes; accepts feedback constructively and demonstrates a continuous desire to improve performance.
  • Positive self-starter who takes initiative to identify needs, develop solutions, and follow through with minimal supervision.
  • Demonstrates the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct; adheres to GCI’s Code of Conduct and Basic Principles at all times.
  • Protects confidential information and complies with internal controls, security policies, and all applicable business conduct guidelines.
• BASIC PRINCIPLES - Interacts with people in a way that builds mutual trust, confidence, and respect; adheres to GCI’s Code of Conduct for Employees – the Basic Principles.
• COLLABORATION - Works effectively with others to accomplish common goals and objectives; maintains positive relationships even under difficult circumstances.
  • Builds and maintains positive, collaborative relationships across all levels of the organization, including with internal clients, external counsel, and business partners.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead negotiations on complex legal matters and influence business outcomes at a senior level.
• COMMUNICATION - Conveys thoughts and expresses ideas appropriately and professionally.
  • Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly and persuasively communicate complex legal concepts to both legal and non-legal audiences.
• COMPLIANCE - Follows internal controls; protects confidential information; abides by GCI’s Code of Business Conduct & Ethics.
• CUSTOMER FOCUS - Demonstrates commitment to service excellence; gives high priority to customer satisfaction.
• RELIABILITY - Consistently follows through on assigned tasks as expected; demonstrates timely attendance at meetings, training, and other work obligations.
• RESULTS - Uses a combination of job knowledge, initiative, sound decision making, innovation, adaptability, and problem solving.
  • Effectively manages and prioritizes a diverse workload in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and deadlines.
  • Demonstrates flexibility and resilience, maintaining composure under pressure and managing multiple projects with competing demands.
  • Actively develops relationships and networks across the organization to influence outcomes and drive business initiatives forward.
  • Maintains a collegial, solution-oriented approach, even in high-pressure or complex situations.
• SAFETY & SECURITY - Supports a safe work environment by following all workplace safety rules and guidelines; complying with applicable Enterprise Security Office policies and procedures.
• CHANGE MANAGEMENT - champions and supports department and company change.
  • Supports and champions change management initiatives, helping teams adapt to evolving business priorities and regulatory developments.
• DECISION MAKING - uses sound, logical judgment based on data, research, and experience to choose an appropriate course of action.
  • Demonstrates a strong understanding of business operations, strategic priorities, and financial drivers; applies legal expertise to advance corporate objectives.
  • Uses sound, data-informed judgment and research-based analysis to make decisions that mitigate risk and support business growth.
  • Proactively identifies legal risks and proposes practical solutions that balance legal requirements with business needs.
  • Maintains a customer-centric approach, consistently prioritizing service excellence and business partner satisfaction.
• TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY - Technically proficient in MS Office applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel) and legal document management systems; comfortable navigating databases, intranet portals, and collaboration tools to efficiently complete work assignments.
  • Strong foundation in commercial contract law, corporate transactions, and complex commercial negotiations, with both transactional and litigation perspectives.
  • Extensive experience drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and closing a wide variety of complex agreements, including commercial contracts, technology licenses, SaaS, procurement agreements, and corporate acquisition transactions.
  • Demonstrated ability to resolve complex legal and business issues creatively and effectively.
  • Strong knowledge of, or demonstrated interest in, privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity regulatory frameworks.
  • Skilled in managing multiple transactions and legal matters simultaneously while maintaining strategic oversight and attention to detail.
  • Proficient in legal research and analysis, with strong analytical and organizational skills that support sound legal judgment.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Required: *A combination of relevant work experience and/or education sufficient to perform the duties of the job may substitute to meet the total years required on a year-for-year basis

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Juris Doctorate Degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
• Member in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar; eligible for admission as Corporate Counsel in Alaska.
• Minimum of eight years of progressive legal experience, with a strong emphasis on commercial contracting, corporate transactions, and cross-functional advisory work—preferably in both in-house and law firm environments.*

Preferred: 

• Subject matter expertise in legal issues related to telecommunications, technology, software licensing, cybersecurity, data privacy, procurement, and intellectual property.
• Familiarity with the regulatory environment of the telecom industry.
• Relevant industry certifications or continuing legal education in specialized areas such as privacy law (e.g., CIPP/US), technology law, or contract management.

DRIVING REQUIREMENTS: 

• This position may require access to reliable transportation for occasional travel between retail store locations, offices, worksites, or other locations as needed.

• Work is primarily sedentary, requiring daily routine computer usage.
• Ability to work shifts as assigned, work in standard office/home office setting, and operate standard office equipment.
• Ability to accurately communicate information and ideas to others effectively.
• Physical agility and effort sufficiently to perform job duties safely and effectively.
• Ability to make valid judgments and decisions. 
• Available to work additional time on weekends, holidays, before or after normal work hours when necessary. 
• Must work well in a team environment and be able to work with a diverse group of people and customers.
• Virtual workers must comply with remote work policies and agreements.
• Occasional out-of-town travel for meetings and training/conferences.   
• Occasional extra work required throughout the year.  Heavy extra work required for specific transactions; may involve working during evenings and weekends.  May need to attend periodic evening meetings.
• Employee will be exposed to rigorous debates when developing legal positions and strategies.