Original listing text, shown exactly as published by the company.
The Role
As the Senior Counsel for the U.S. Public Sector, you will join Celonis’ global Legal, Ethics & Compliance organization as the primary Legal architect for our government go-to-market (GTM) strategy. You are not just an advisor; you are a strategic business enabler who understands how to bridge the gap between cutting-edge SaaS innovation and the mission-critical requirements of the U.S. Federal, State, and Local governments.
We are looking for a self-starter with a strong sense of ownership who thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and possesses the executive presence to influence senior stakeholders across the company.
The work you’ll do
- Strategic business enabler: Serve as the principal Legal business partner to GTM, Information Security, Engineering, Product and Compliance teams to drive the expansion of Celonis’ U.S. Public Sector business.
- High-Stakes Negotiations: Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of complex software licenses, SaaS agreements, teaming arrangements, and partner/reseller contracts for federal and SLED (State, Local, and Education) customers.
- Scale & Innovation: Shape internal policies and processes, develop contract templates, and deliver training programs to empower stakeholders and reduce friction in the sales cycle.
- Regulatory & Policy Leadership: Interpret and ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, agency-specific supplements, and evolving data protection/privacy regulations (e.g., FedRAMP, NIST SP 800-171).
- Oversight of External Legal Advisors: Collaborate with and manage external legal advisors, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality legal services that align with company objectives and standards.
- Risk Mitigation & Strategic Advisory: Proactively identify and propose mitigation strategies for legal, financial, and regulatory risks while maintaining a solution-oriented, business-first mindset.
- Thought Leadership: Stay current on developments in public sector law and policy, proactively advising the organization on how to navigate the shifting regulatory landscape.
The qualifications you need
- U.S. citizenship required.
- Native or bilingual fluency in English.
- 10+ years of progressively responsible legal experience in government contracting, ideally with a mix of law firm training and in-house experience at a high-growth SaaS or cloud provider. Previous military experience a plus.
- Deep understanding of the public cloud space, including practical experience with FedRAMP authorizations and SaaS-specific licensing models.
- Demonstrated expertise in compliance with key regulatory requirements in the SaaS and public cloud space, including but not limited to procurement, privacy, data protection, export and technology issues.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to clearly explain complex legal issues to non-legal audiences.
- Experience supporting quota-carrying, enterprise-level sales personnel.
- The ability to maintain strong relationships with demanding internal clients and provide creative solutions to the company’s most complex challenges.
- High emotional intelligence and business acumen, enabling effective collaboration and negotiation across diverse teams and external partners.
Visa sponsorship is not offered for this role.
The base salary range below is for the role in the specified location, based on a Full Time Schedule
Total compensation package will include base salary + bonus/commission + equity + benefits (health, dental, life, 401k, and paid time off). Please note that the base salary range is a guideline, and that the actual total compensation offer will be determined based on various factors, including, but not limited to, applicant's qualifications, skills, experiences, and location.
The base salary range below is for the role in Washington, D.C. based on a Full Time Schedule. $194,000—$230,000 USD
What Celonis can offer you
- Pioneer Innovation: Work with the global leader in Process Mining and the Process Intelligence Graph to shape the future of AI-driven business operations.
- Ownership from Day 1: Every full-time "Celonaut" is an owner, receiving Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and merit-based refresh grants.
- Unrivaled Family Support: Benefit from our inclusive parental leave policy—24 weeks of fully paid leave for primary carers and 12 weeks for supporting carers, available from your first day of employment.
- Work-Life Integration: Enjoy Unlimited PTO (in applicable regions) and generous PTO globally, as well as a flexible hybrid work model that balances remote focus with vibrant office collaboration.
- Continuous Growth: Elevate your skills through our 70-20-10 learning framework, mentorship programs, and access to a dedicated learning platform.
- Holistic Well-being: Prioritize your health with subsidized Wellhub memberships, mental health counseling, and dedicated "Wellness Weeks" that prioritize work/life balance.
- Drive Sustainability: Participate in annual Impact Days, where you receive paid time off to volunteer for community and environmental causes with your local office, or virtually.
- Global Inclusion & Belonging: Find community through our Inclusion Think Tank and participate in our annual Inclusion Days, ensuring every voice is heard and valued.
- Value-Driven Impact: Join a mission-led organization where our core values—Live for Customer Value, The Best Team Wins, We Own It, and Earth Is Our Future—drive every decision.
