Procurement Legal Counsel

HCL Technologies Limited Procurement Counsel

HCL Technologies Limited HCLSoftware division

Job Title: Procurement Counsel

Location: India- Noida/ Bangalore/Chennai/Gurgaon

Department: Legal

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Procurement Counsel to join our global legal team, focusing on securing the best interests of HCL Technologies Limited in all procurement and vendor-related matters. In this role, you will provide comprehensive legal guidance to support the acquisition of goods, software, technology, and services essential for the company's operations and product delivery. You will work closely with the procurement, finance, product, and engineering teams to ensure all vendor agreements and procurement processes comply with global legal, regulatory, and commercial requirements while mitigating risk.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contract Drafting & Negotiation: Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of procurement contracts, including master service agreements (MSAs), statements of work (SOWs), software licensing agreements, hardware purchase agreements, professional service agreements, cloud services agreements, and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
• Legal Advisory on Procurement: Provide legal counsel on all aspects of the procurement lifecycle, from vendor selection and due diligence to contract execution and termination. Advise on commercial terms, risk allocation, indemnities, warranties, and service level agreements (SLAs).
• Compliance and Regulatory Oversight: Ensure procurement activities and vendor relationships comply with domestic and international regulations, including data privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), anti-corruption laws, export controls, and supply chain transparency regulations.
• Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Proactively identify and mitigate legal and commercial risks associated with vendor relationships, supply chain disruptions, third-party integrations, and evolving regulatory environments.
• Data Privacy and Security: Collaborate with data privacy and security teams to ensure robust data protection and security clauses are incorporated into all vendor contracts, particularly those involving the processing or storage of sensitive data.
• Policy Development & Training: Develop and implement internal policies and best practices related to procurement, vendor contracting, and third-party risk management. Provide training to procurement and business teams on legal considerations and contract compliance.
• Dispute Resolution: Manage and resolve contractual disputes, commercial disagreements, and performance issues with vendors in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with procurement, finance, and business development teams to streamline the contracting process, understand business needs, and provide scalable legal support.

Qualifications:

• Education: Degree from an accredited law school; admission to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Experience: 8+ years of legal experience, with significant experience focusing on commercial contracts, procurement, and vendor management, preferably within a technology or software company.
• Contract Expertise: In-depth knowledge of legal principles related to commercial contracting, including experience drafting and negotiating complex, multi-jurisdictional agreements for goods and services, especially technology and software.
• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of technology procurement, including different licensing models (e.g., SaaS, perpetual), cloud service agreements, and IT professional services.
• Regulatory Expertise: Experience with relevant legal frameworks, including data privacy (GDPR, CCPA), anti-corruption, and general commercial law.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to navigate complex commercial and legal challenges quickly, providing practical, business-focused solutions.
• Communication Skills: Strong communication, negotiation, and drafting skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
• Attention to Detail: Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage a high volume of contracts and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

The following experience would be an advantage:

• Experience with global procurement, including compliance with regional regulations (e.g., in the EU, Asia-Pacific, or Latin America).
• Familiarity with e-procurement platforms and automated contract management systems.
• A working knowledge of intellectual property rights as they relate to procured software, technology, and services.
• Prior experience in a legal role supporting a centralized or global procurement organization.
• Experience advising on vendor due diligence and third-party risk management.