Assistant General Counsel- Contracts

Sycuan Tribal Government; El Cajon (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Sycuan Tribal Government is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as Assistant General Counsel- Contracts. The role sits at the intersection of tribal government and diverse business enterprises and acts as a trusted advisor on a wide array of commercial and governmental matters.

The attorney will draft, review, negotiate, and manage contracts across sectors, provide practical guidance on risk and compliance, and drive contract lifecycle improvements within an on-site team in El Cajon, CA.

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active California Bar membership in good standing.
• 3+ years of experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts.
• Ability to work with non-legal stakeholders.
• Experience managing contracts from intake through execution.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide variety of contracts.
• Provide practical business-focused legal guidance on contract risk, compliance, dispute resolution, IP, privacy, cybersecurity, and related matters.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to support business objectives while protecting Sycuan's interests, sovereignty, and governmental authority.
• Lead and enhance contract lifecycle management processes, including administration of Ironclad or similar CLM platforms.
• Develop templates, playbooks, workflows, and process improvements that drive efficiency and reduce contract turnaround times.
• Support broader governmental, commercial, and enterprise legal matters as assigned.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Contract management

California Bar admission

Education

J.D. (ABA-accredited)

Job description

Sycuan is seeking an experienced and business-minded attorney to serve as Assistant General Counsel- Contracts. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of Tribal government and diverse business enterprises, serving as a trusted legal advisor on a wide range of commercial and governmental matters.

Compensation

Depending on Experience; salary, plus annual bonus

What You'll Do

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide variety of commercial, governmental, technology, construction, real estate, healthcare, hospitality, gaming, and vendor agreements.
• Provide practical, business-focused legal guidance on contract risk, compliance, dispute resolution, intellectual property, privacy, cybersecurity, and related matters.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to support business objectives while protecting Sycuan's interests, sovereignty, and governmental authority.
• Lead and enhance contract lifecycle management processes, including administration of Ironclad or similar CLM platforms.
• Develop templates, playbooks, workflows, and process improvements that drive efficiency and reduce contract turnaround times.
• Support broader governmental, commercial, and enterprise legal matters as assigned.

What We're Looking For

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active California Bar membership in good standing.
• 3+ years of experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts.
• Strong business judgment, negotiation skills, and ability to work directly with non-legal stakeholders.
• Experience managing contracts independently from intake through execution.
• Ability to work onsite in El Cajon, CA.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of transactional, commercial, or in-house counsel experience.
• Experience with Ironclad or other contract lifecycle management platforms.
• Background in construction, technology, SaaS, procurement, hospitality, gaming, healthcare, real estate, energy, or government-related contracts.
• Familiarity with Tribal governments, Tribal enterprises, federal Indian law, Tribal sovereignty, or sovereign immunity.

Why Join Sycuan?

This is a unique opportunity to join an in-house legal department where your work will have a meaningful impact across both government and business operations. You'll work alongside leadership to help shape the organization's contracting infrastructure, and contribute to initiatives that support Sycuan's continued growth, self-governance, and long-term success.