Remote Strategic Legal & Contracts Director

i2G Systems; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

i2G Systems in the Chicago, IL area seeks a Director of Legal and Contracts to lead contract review and negotiation across customers, subcontractors, vendors, and manufacturers, while providing practical guidance on commercial, employment, compliance, and risk matters.

This role balances legal protection with business speed, advises senior leadership, and manages outside counsel, policy development, and governance across multiple states. Hybrid work with travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, and ability to meet any in-house counsel registration requirements in the state of residence.
• 8+ years of legal experience, including at least 3 years in-house.
• Substantial experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, ideally construction, technology, or services agreements.
• Working knowledge of U.S. employment law and experience advising HR.
• Experience managing outside counsel and legal budgets.
• Proven ability to operate independently as a hands-on practitioner while advising senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate customer contracts, master service agreements, recurring monitoring and maintenance agreements, and statements of work.
• Review and negotiate construction-related agreements with general contractors and owners, including AIA and ConsensusDocs forms, flow-down provisions, indemnity, limitation of liability, liquidated damages, retainage, payment terms, and change order language.
• Draft and negotiate subcontractor, vendor, manufacturer, dealer, software and SaaS, NDA, teaming, and real estate agreements.
• Develop and maintain standard contract templates, a negotiation playbook with approved fallback positions, and clear approval thresholds so the business can move quickly on routine agreements.
• Establish and manage a contract intake, review, and repository process that tracks key dates, renewals, and obligations.
• Review RFP and bid terms and advise sales and operations on risk before submission.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the Senior Leadership team on business decisions, growth initiatives, and emerging risks.
• Identify, assess, and communicate legal and contractual risk in plain terms, with practical recommendations.
• Partner with Finance on insurance coverage, certificates of insurance, bonding requirements, and claims.
• Manage disputes, collections, mechanics liens, payment claims, and project claims, working toward cost-effective resolution.
• Select, direct, and manage outside counsel, including scope, strategy, and legal spend.
• Support corporate governance, entity maintenance, and due diligence for acquisitions or strategic partnerships as needed.
• Partner with HR on employment law matters across all states where i2G operates, including wage and hour, classification, leave, accommodation, and discrimination and harassment issues.
• Advise on workplace investigations, corrective action, and terminations to reduce legal exposure.
• Partner with HR on employment documentation and compliance needs
• Review employee handbook and policy updates for legal compliance.
• Coordinate responses to agency charges, demand letters, and employment-related litigation with outside counsel.
• Monitor and advise on state and local licensing requirements for low-voltage, alarm, fire, and security contractors.
• Advise on data privacy and security obligations related to video, access control, and biometric data.
• Advise on public sector and government contracting requirements, including prevailing wage and certified payroll obligations.
• Protect company intellectual property, including trademarks and proprietary materials.
• Build legal policies, training, and guidance that help employees understand and meet their legal obligations.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Legal advisory

Risk management

Internal stakeholder communication

Outside counsel management

Multistate employment law

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

i2G Systems in the Chicago, IL area seeks a Director of Legal and Contracts to lead contract review and negotiation across customers, subcontractors, vendors, and manufacturers, while providing practical guidance on commercial, employment, compliance, and risk matters.

This role balances legal protection with business speed, advises senior leadership, and manages outside counsel, policy development, and governance across multiple states. Hybrid work with travel may be required.