Director, Data Licensing & Commercial Transactions

Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; Full time

Job description

Overview

This is a hands-on, high-impact role with significant visibility to senior management. The successful candidate will independently manage a broad portfolio of commercial transactions with our largest customers - including data and software licenses, service agreements, market data and financial product licenses, redistribution arrangements, exchange agreements, and data vendor contracts - while partnering closely with business, sales, finance, and product teams to deliver pragmatic, commercially sound legal advice. This role is an individual contributor role with a direct path to managing a team of attorneys. The role is on premise and requires 5 days a week in our Midtown Manhattan office.

Job Purpose

ICE Data Services (IDS) is seeking a Director, Associate General Counsel to join its global legal team. Reporting to the Senior Director and Associate General Counsel, this senior attorney will serve as a trusted business partner across IDS business units, with a primary focus on data governance, commercial data licensing, technology and software licensing, and strategic agreements.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end legal relationship with IDS's largest customers - negotiating deals that span data licenses, market data and financial product licenses, redistribution arrangements, and exchange agreements across global markets
• Advise on complex, strategic commercial transactions across the business
• Shape how IDS's legal team uses AI, from contract review and workflow automation to template development as part of a broader legal innovation initiative
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements for IDS, with an emphasis on U.S.-based customer data license agreements and data sourcing contracts.
• Negotiate and advise on complex, strategic commercial transactions across the business
• Provide timely, business-oriented legal advice to internal stakeholders across sales, product, finance, marketing, and Market Data Governance.
• Identify legal and regulatory risk within proposed business strategies and offer practical, creative solutions.
• Ensure all advice is consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and ICE policies, including global data protection and financial services regulations.
• Assist in the preparation and review of external Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposal (RFPs).
• Collaborate actively with commercial and product teams during client negotiations and issue resolution.
• Drive improvements to legal workflows, templates, and processes - including leveraging AI-based tools and initiatives.
• Contribute to a positive, professional, and collaborative legal department culture; mentor junior team members and support team citizenship.

Knowledge and Experience

• J.D. with active admission to the New York Bar and 8+ years of relevant legal experience.
• Substantial in-house legal experience; prior work at a financial services, financial data, or financial technology company strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in commercial licensing, contract drafting and negotiation, and legal advisory work.
• Hands‑on experience with market data, global exchanges, and financial services/markets, with the ability to operate across diverse product areas.
• Deep familiarity with the global regulatory landscape impacting IDS services, including MiFID II, SEC, CFTC, GDPR, U.S. export control laws, OFAC requirements, IOSCO principles, and BMR (index industry).

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to deliver clear, concise advice to senior management and business heads.
• Proven negotiation skills with a track record of navigating complex, multi‑party commercial arrangements.
• Business minded - able to provide practical solution oriented guidance
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple concurrent matters in a fast‑paced, global environment; flexibility to accommodate international time zones as needed.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: quickly absorbs new business contexts, identifies risk, and proposes workable solutions without requiring extensive direction.
• Process‑oriented approach - continuously seeks to improve templates, workflows, and operational efficiency.
• Proactive, collaborative, and positive “can‑do” attitude; demonstrates strong team citizenship and mentorship.

New York Base SalaryRange

The expected base salary for this role, if located in New York, is between $210,000 - 255,000 USD. The base salary range does not include Intercontinental Exchange’s incentive compensation. While we provide this range as general guidance, at ICE we compensate employees based on the skillset and experience of the individual. Regular full‑time ICE employees are eligible for a suite of competitive employee benefits, including healthcare coverage (medical, dental and vision), a 401(k) plan, life insurance, time off, and paid leave for qualifying circumstances.

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.