Cooperative Legal Advisor

BrightWork (https://www.brightwork.com/), whose clients include global companies like Amazon and United States Postal Service, has been a software product development company focusing on project and portfolio management solutions for almost 30 years. BrightWork is an award winning and long-time Microsoft ISV (Independent Software Vendor) Partner with teams in the United States and Ireland.

BrightWork creates software products to help organizations achieve successful collaborative project and portfolio management using a combination of Microsoft 365, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft SharePoint. Using the philosophy of ‘Start-Evolve’, they help their customers to gain immediate visibility into the status of projects and gradually evolve project management maturity in their own time.

BrightWork is proud to operate as a worker-owned cooperative. They are committed to a collaborative and democratic way of working. BrightWork mission is to empower their team with the tools and work environment so that they may look after themselves, customers, and wider community. Two core principles BrightWork strive to live by are: ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you’ and ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world.’

A Unique Opportunity

This is a very unique opportunity at BrightWork where you can work as a full time, permanent In-House Legal Advisor with the option to work as their Cooperative Coordinator. You will play a critical role in providing legal advice and support to the organisation with key areas primarily in contract management, procurement and data protection, and cooperative operations. This role would ideally suit a solicitor or barrister who wants to work in-house, or to progress his/her in-house career. The successful candidate will gain valuable experience in Irish, U.S. and international commercial and regulatory law, as well as cooperative governance and coordination.

In-House legal responsibilities – 80% of role

• Provide strategic advice and support on a range of legal, data privacy, corporate governance, employment, human resources, and compliance matters across Ireland and the U.S.
• Draft, revise, and negotiate a variety of commercial contracts including software license and service agreements (EULA), reseller and deployment partner agreements, proposals and purchase orders, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, and terms and conditions.
• Ensure data privacy compliance across the organisation and maintain, update, and expand upon BrightWork privacy and IT policies and procedures; monitor and advise on evolving privacy legislation globally.
• Support the Sales team with drafting and coordinating responses to customer privacy and security concerns and questionnaires, communicating BrightWork privacy compliance and safeguards, and negotiating data protection terms within customer contracts.
• Maintain and manage company secretarial books, cooperative legal documents (Constitutions, ByLaws, Code), draft minutes and resolutions, and file applicable forms with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) as needed.
• Facilitate our annual reporting requirements and our cooperative governance leadership meetings, i.e., with Directors and Trustees.
• Advise the Finance team regarding insurance, benefits, and vendor terms and conditions.

Cooperative Governance and Coordination responsibilities – 20% of role

• Work with BrightWork Co-Owners to review and evolve their Cooperative Framework provisions, policies, practices, and procedures to ensure alignment with cooperative development and growth, and also to ensure we comply with local employment laws in the US and Ireland.
• Support the implementation and adoption of Cooperative Framework, including our people processes (e.g., recruitment, bonus/salary adjustments, benefits research) and professional development.
• Facilitate BrightWork cooperative communications program, including monthly and annual Co-Owner meetings.

Candidate profile

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister in Ireland with experience in a procurement environment and commercial contracts including drafting and negotiating software and services agreements.
• Knowledge and understanding of data protection legislation both in Ireland, U.S., and internationally and intellectual property (IP) concepts.
• Prior experience with company secretarial matters (preferred but not required).
• Ability to work independently and take initiative; spot legal issues and risks that may arise; and provide advice to the business in relation to the same.
• Excellent verbal and written communication as well as negotiation skills.
• Team player, organised, great attention to detail, and time management.
• Enthusiastic to learn about Cooperatives as a way of working
• Be a proactive person is equally comfortable working well independently as well as with their teams

Location

You will be physically based in or close to Galway City, Ireland. You will be very welcome to work with the team out of our fabulous office in Galway, Ireland. You will also be welcome to work remote. There will be some office days required – not scheduled every week – but as will make the collaborative work easier. They want you to live and work where you can live your best life and do your best work. Note: BrightWork does not provide a relocation package.

Full time/part time options

The combination of Legal Advisor and Cooperative Coordinator makes this a full time role. For candidates who wish to take the Legal Advisor role only and not the Cooperative Coordinator responsibilities, the Legal Advisor role can be part time delivered over five shorter working days.

IMPORTANT! Application

Please apply on Indeed with your curriculum vitae (resume) and be sure to make clear your compensation requirements. BrightWork is an Equal Opportunities Employer. 

If you wish to apply for this role please go to: Cooperative Legal Advisor