Senior Corporate Counsel – Licensing & Business Contracts

Sun Belle LLC

. Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, amendment, renewal, and termination of licensing and commercial agreements .

Posted 10/9/2026full-timeBakersfield • California • United StatesSenior💰 $165,000 - $190,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in drafting, negotiating, and managing complex commercial agreements, with a strong focus on licensing and intellectual property. Proven ability to lead legal teams, provide strategic legal advice, and ensure compliance across global operations.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Juris DoctorCommercial ContractingLicensing AgreementsLegal Team LeadershipIntellectual Property Licensing

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Drafting SkillsNegotiation SkillsContract ManagementContract InterpretationCompliance KnowledgeRisk ManagementData ProtectionAntitrust LawCross-Border AgreementsPlant Variety Rights

Soft Skills

LeadershipCoachingPrioritizationCommunicationCollaboration

Tools & Technologies

Contract TemplatesClause LibrariesNegotiation PlaybooksApproval MatricesContract Management Systems

Certifications & Qualifications

Active Bar Membership

Industry Keywords

Agricultural LawLife SciencesBiotechnologyConsumer ProductsIntellectual Property

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, amendment, renewal, and termination of licensing and commercial agreements
Advise on complex and cross-border licensing arrangements involving plant variety rights, patents, trademarks, proprietary plant material, know-how, royalties, territory, exclusivity, quality requirements, production, distribution, and enforcement rights
Translate business objectives into practical and enforceable contractual terms
Support business teams throughout the contract lifecycle
Manage contractual disputes, defaults, and performance issues
Provide commercial transaction and day-to-day business legal advice to senior leaders and business teams
Advise on contract interpretation, authority and approval requirements, competition and antitrust, data protection, and compliance
Participate in strategic projects, new market initiatives, acquisitions, collaborations, and business-model development
Coordinate with local counsel and manage outside counsel
Lead, supervise, and develop lawyers, contract professionals, paralegals, and administrative team members
Set priorities, allocate work, monitor workload and performance, and provide coaching and professional development
Establish service standards, workflows, and escalation protocols and report to the Vice President, Legal & Intellectual Property
Develop and maintain contract templates, clause libraries, negotiation playbooks, approval matrices, policies, and guidance materials
Promote contract management processes and systems
Identify contractual and operational risks and implement process improvements
Support training for business teams on contracting practices, delegated authority, licensing requirements, and intellectual property protection
Maintain records and report on contract activity, obligations, risks, and departmental performance

Requirements

What you’ll need

Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree from an accredited institution
Active membership in good standing with an applicable bar or law society
At least eight years of relevant legal experience, including substantial responsibility for commercial contracting and licensing matters
For candidates with in-house experience, experience working for a global organization is required
Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience leading, supervising, or developing legal and contract professionals
Ability to manage competing priorities across a busy global portfolio
Strong drafting and negotiation skills
Experience handling complex, high-value, and cross-border agreements
Willingness to travel up to 20% of the time
Experience advising a global agricultural, life sciences, food, biotechnology, consumer-products, or intellectual-property-driven business preferred
Experience with intellectual property licensing, particularly plant variety rights, patents, trademarks, proprietary materials, or technology, highly desirable
Professional fluency in written and spoken English required
Professional proficiency in Spanish strongly preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Bonus
Full benefit package including insurance coverages
401(K) with company match
Flexible vacation time
100% remote work within the US, except hybrid schedule for candidates within a commutable distance to Bakersfield, CA