Senior Counsel, University Partnerships

Job Description

Coursera is a leading online learning platform for higher education, where 53 million learners from around the world come to learn skills of the future. Nearly 200 of the world’s top universities and industry educators partner with Coursera to offer courses, Specializations, certificates, and degree programs. 2,300 companies trust the company’s enterprise platform Coursera for Business to transform their talent. Coursera for Government equips government employees and citizens with in-demand skills to build a competitive workforce. Coursera for Campus empowers any university to offer high-quality, job-relevant online education to students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Coursera is backed by leading investors that include Kleiner Perkins, New Enterprise Associates, Learn Capital, and SEEK Group. Legal and Compliance is responsible for managing all legal and regulatory matters, including contracts, corporate governance, general compliance, academic compliance, employment law matters, intellectual property, product counseling, government relations, and claims. The team includes dedicated teams that support every aspect of Coursera's platform, including university, enterprise, and industry partnerships. As part of Coursera’s Legal and Compliance team, you will play a key role in increasing global access to a world-class education. The Counsel or Senior Counsel (depending on experience and qualifications) is responsible for negotiating agreements with university partners (including agreements related to MasterTrack and degree programs). The Counsel/Senior Counsel will support a majority of Coursera’s US-based university partners and will also be provided with opportunities to assist with international matters. The role requires the Counsel/Senior Counsel to identify and advise on business and legal issues of proposed transactions, and to respond in a timely, thoughtful manner to partner and internal stakeholder enquiries. The individual that fills the role is expected to be widely respected by the Legal and Compliance team and throughout the company due to their analytical thinking, savvy risk management, communication skills, and ability to get things done. We expect the Counsel/Senior Counsel to form strong working relationships with internal clients and Coursera’s partners, earn the respect of the teams, and lead through productivity and influence. To be successful in this role, we’re looking for someone who is passionate about business growth and education. We want a candidate who is energized by the challenges of working in a startup, and has a strong desire to learn new areas of law and function integrally as part of an interdisciplinary team. This role will engage with all levels of employees and management, so interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) are vital to strong working relationships.

Your responsibilities:

• Draft and negotiate a variety of agreements for courses, degrees and other credentials and educational programs
• Advise on risks and liabilities of proposed transactions and devise creative and practical legal solutions to meet business objectives
• Recognize and communicate themes and opportunities surfaced through partner interactions and lead cross-functional teams in resolving issues and challenges
• Support the Legal and Compliance team’s efforts in the preparation, implementation and refinement of forms, processes and procedures
• Select and manage outside counsel to meet desired timelines and within budget
• Obtain and maintain a strong knowledge of the industry and the company, its mission, strategy and values, product and service offerings, and objectives of supported business units
• Keep abreast of applicable laws, regulations and industry guidance that impact Coursera’s agreements and business practices

Your skills:

• At least 3-10 years of relevant experience, with prior in-house counsel experience in higher education strongly preferred
• Must be admitted, and in active status and good standing with the California State Bar (or able to register for California State Bar’s in-house counsel program)
• Strong and astute negotiation skills, with impeccable judgment, integrity and commitment to ethics
• Possess a practical, business-oriented approach to problem-solving and be able to effectively counsel internal clients by providing them with clear and concise advice and creative solutions on timelines to meet business needs
• Ability to assist and guide internal and external clients through the regulatory environment that affects the educational sector and the complex and changing federal and state education policy processes
• Ability to identify and resolve issues relating to privacy, data-sharing, and student privacy
• Working knowledge of FERPA, GDPR, accreditation, state authorization, Title IV, and accessibility compliance
• Operate autonomously while being a team player who brings a positive, “can do” attitude to the workplace and works collaboratively with other members of the Legal and Compliance team and with internal clients
• Be detail-oriented, organized, efficient and resourceful with strong follow-through skills
• Ability to manage shifting priorities within a fast-paced, rapidly evolving environment

Coursera is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected class. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, please contact us at [email protected]. Please review our CCPA Applicant Notice here. Apply for this job