Sr. Counsel, Channel & Partners

GAQ128R2

Location: We're looking to hire for this role locally to our offices based in Seattle, Bellevue, San Francisco, Mountain View, or New York. This will be a hybrid role with in-office expectations.

Databricks seeks an experienced attorney with significant experience in international partner and channel programs to join our go-to-market legal team. This role will focus on program development across multiple jurisdictions. The ideal candidate is a proactive legal professional with substantial in-house experience in partner program development. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the development of routes to market for groundbreaking technologies.

You will report to the VP, International General Counsel.

You have over 7 years of relevant legal experience, with a focus on partner and channel programs supporting complex technology transactions. You have meaningful experience negotiating commercial agreements and related knowledge of legal issues related to compliance, data privacy, information security, artificial intelligence, and intellectual property.

The impact you will have:

• Transactions: Draft and negotiate partner agreements while managing legal engagements to align with regulatory and business needs; lead and/or assist in negotiations with strategic partners, balancing the expansive growth of our alliance network with long-term risk.
• Program Management: Participate in the development / launch / evolution of new programs (solution offerings, partnering) by teaming with cross-functional business partners, client groups, and internal legal leads in a hyper-growth environment.
• Channel & Technology: Support business development of channel distribution models and technology partnerships to build scalable processes to meet long-term growth objectives.
• Compliance: Oversee compliance related to channel development and contracting in multiple jurisdictions, engaging closely with the Legal Compliance team.
• Risk Assessment: Conduct compliance risk assessments in relevant jurisdictions and internal policy gap analyses; adjust Databricks’ channel programs as necessary.
• Training & Education: Create and deliver training on ethics and compliance for stakeholders interfacing with channel partners.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with commercial counsel, operations, and other business units to ensure successful channel development to address Company goals for transacting at scale and rapid revenue growth; you will become a subject matter expert to your internal business partners, client groups, and colleagues, helping resolve challenges and seizing opportunities for success.

What we look for:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 8+ years of combined relevant legal experience at a law firm and within a high-growth technology company.
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective partner programs across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to convey complex legal concepts clearly and concisely.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a collaborative approach to working across teams.
• A self-starter who is comfortable navigating ambiguous situations and providing sound legal judgment.
• You have a programmatic mindset, experience managing multi-faceted projects, and an understanding of how to develop and simplify processes.
• Requires deep experience in channel and partner model development, plus strong experience in contract drafting and negotiation in a high-tech industry context. It would be beneficial but not a requirement if you are familiar with ISV partnering, cloud marketplaces, and quote- to- cash principles. Prior experience developing and evolving contract templates would be a plus.
• You are a critical thinker comfortable in speaking up and brainstorming productively, thinking of future needs/issues, while executing on current activities.
• You apply a highly collaborative and positive approach to working with legal colleagues and business partners. You have a hands-on approach in executing, a builder mindset able to work independently but seeking and welcoming supportive input as appropriate.
• You are experienced at making recommendations to senior leaders in a fast-paced environment and applying a practical, balanced mindset to legal problem-solving.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in multiple jurisdictions across EMEA, APJ, and LATAM.
• Knowledge of platform technology and related contract models, including experience in drafting and negotiating high-value agreements, is a bonus.