VP - Legal

EDENS; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

EDENS seeks a VP - Legal to partner with executive leadership on complex retail real estate transactions and strategic risk management. You will provide senior legal counsel on deal structure, negotiations, and regulatory considerations across regional portfolios.

You will lead a high-performing team, manage outside counsel, and drive efficiency through templates, workflows, and technology. Based in Fort Lauderdale or Dallas, travel will be moderate as needed.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school required.
• Active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; DC preferred or ability to obtain.
• 8–10+ years of progressive legal experience with substantial retail leasing.
• Experience leading in-house or senior attorney roles with independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Provide regional legal support for retail real estate portfolios.
• Lead complex transactions: leases, ground leases, amendments, renewals.
• Advise business on deal economics, risk, and delivery obligations.
• Direct and manage legal teams and outside counsel; set strategy and cost.
• Advance legal operations: templates, workflows, technology adoption.
• Mentor and develop talent within the legal team.
• Represent the Legal function in leadership meetings and cross-functional groups.
• Support enterprise priorities and risk management.

Skills

Executive presence

Negotiation

Strategic judgment

Operational leadership

Talent development

Adaptability

Technology leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Bar admission in U.S. jurisdiction

Tools

Contract lifecycle management tools

Workflow automation software

Knowledge management systems

Job description

Title: VP - Legal

Job Category: 1.2A First/Mid-Lev Officials & Mgrs -SVP & VP

Requisition Number: VPLEG001539

Schedule: Full-Time

Job Details

Description

Key Responsibilities

• Regional legal support. Serve as the primary senior legal partner for regional portfolios, with responsibility for timely, practical, and consistent legal support.
• Lead complex transactions. Structure, negotiate, draft, and close sophisticated retail real estate matters, including grocery, anchor and junior anchor leases, ground leases, amendments, renewals, assignments, estoppels, exclusivity arrangements, reciprocal easement agreements, and related multi-party agreements.
• Advise the business. Counsel Investment Management, Development, Leasing, Tenant Construction, Property Management, Finance, and Transaction Coordination on deal economics, tenant credit, construction and delivery obligations, rent commencement, lease enforcement, operational litigation risk, and other material business issues.
• Support strategic decisions. Provide risk-calibrated advice on major transactions, acquisitions, dispositions, portfolio strategy, tenant relationships, market positioning, and other high-stakes decisions.
• Lead legal resources. Direct and coordinate department attorneys, paralegals, and outside counsel; set matter strategy and quality expectations; allocate work effectively; and manage outside-counsel performance and cost.
• Advance legal operations. Improve templates, playbooks, workflows, technology adoption, knowledge management, and processes to increase quality, consistency, scalability, and turnaround time.
• Develop talent. Mentor legal team members in complex leasing, negotiation, legal strategy, executive communication, and professional development.
• Represent the Legal function. Participate in regional leadership meetings, cross-functional working groups, strategic planning sessions, and relevant industry or legal forums.
• Support enterprise priorities. Provide targeted support for high-priority matters and assume defined subject-matter responsibilities when requested by the General Counsel and consistent with workload priorities.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school
• Active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (CA, TX, FL, DC preferred, or ability to obtain DC admission)
• At least 8-10+ years of progressive legal experience, including substantial retail leasing experience
  • Demonstrated leadership of complex retail leasing, including grocery, anchor, junior anchor, ground lease, development, and redevelopment transactions
  • Experience operating as a senior in-house attorney or in a comparable role requiring independent judgment, business partnership, and strategic impact
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Complex retail leasing, anchor negotiations, and multi-party real estate transactions
  • Legal operations, process optimization, and adoption of contract lifecycle management, workflow, knowledge management, and other legal technology platforms
  • Outside counsel management, cost control, and strategic vendor relationships
• Strong executive presence and ability to partner effectively with senior business leaders on legal and business matters
• Proven track record of driving results, managing complexity, and operating independently with minimal supervision

Preferred

• Leasing experience at a retail REIT, shopping center owner/operator, or similar commercial real estate platform
• Sophisticated knowledge of corporate contracts, development agreements, construction contracts, or financing transactions in real estate
• Subject matter expertise in sustainability (solar, EV charging), environmental, or regulatory compliance in real estate
• Prior informal or formal people management experience (mentoring, coaching, or direct reports)

Core Competencies

• Strategic judgment: Translates complex legal analysis into clear, business-driven, risk-calibrated recommendations.
• Negotiation and execution: Structures creative solutions and drives sophisticated matters to timely completion.
• Executive partnership: Communicates with clarity, earns trust, and influences effectively across functions and levels.
• Operational leadership: Improves quality, consistency, efficiency, and scalability through disciplined processes and resource management.
• Talent development: Builds capability through mentoring, coaching, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Adaptability: Operates independently and effectively in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Technology leadership: Adopts legal technology, including AI-enabled tools, responsibly and effectively to improve quality, consistency, and turnaround time.

Travel & Work Environment

• Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, or Dallas, Texas, with regular on-site presence for leadership meetings, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic planning.
• Travel: Moderate travel, estimated at 20-25% annually, primarily to regional meetings, and relevant industry or legal programs.

About EDENS and Our Culture

EDENS is committed to creating and fostering a workplace that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable. Our goal is to build and develop an organization that brings together talented people whose ideas and perspectives help Enrich Community. We are passionate about our work and seek individuals who are excited to contribute to our company and communities.

Equal Employment Opportunity

EDENS is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.