Vice President, Legal Commercial

About the Role

The successful candidate will lead a globally distributed team of 15-20 legal professionals, including managers organized by geography and subject matter expertise. This is a role for a seasoned legal leader who has already built something and knows what great looks like at scale. The ability to shape the commercial legal function for a company operating at the intersection of DevSecOps, AI, and enterprise SaaS will be a key aspect of this position.

Gitlab's high-performance culture is driven by its values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. As a leader in this organization, the Vice President, Legal Commercial, will be expected to embody these values and foster a culture of innovation, efficiency, and impact within their team.

What You Will Do

• Define and execute the long-term strategy for Gitlab's global commercial legal function, aligning legal priorities with company-wide revenue growth, market expansion, and product evolution
• Serve as the primary legal executive partner to the CRO, CFO, and GTM leadership, advising on commercial strategy, enterprise deal structures, pricing and packaging risk, and AI-related contracting at the highest levels of complexity and materiality
• Build, lead, and develop a world-class team of commercial attorneys, contract managers, and legal ops professionals across multiple regions, fostering a high-performance, async-first culture
• Set enterprise-wide standards for commercial contracting, including risk tiering, escalation frameworks, template governance, and playbook strategy that scale consistently across regions and deal types
• Benchmark AI-specific contractual terms across the enterprise SaaS market and develop strategies to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities
• Develop and implement training programs to ensure the legal team is equipped to handle the complexities of commercial legal work in the tech industry
• Manage and oversee the commercial legal budget, ensuring efficient use of resources and alignment with company objectives
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, and product, to ensure alignment and effective support of business objectives
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies to provide strategic advice and guidance to the business

What We Are Looking For

• 10+ years of experience in commercial legal roles, with a focus on technology, software, or SaaS companies
• Proven track record of leading high-performance teams and developing talent
• Strong understanding of commercial contracting, including experience with enterprise deal structures and AI-related contracting
• Excellent advisory and collaboration skills, with the ability to work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex legal and business issues
• Experience with GTM and Adjust, or similar technologies
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities
• Strong business acumen and understanding of the tech industry, including trends, challenges, and opportunities

Nice to Have

• Experience with AI governance and regulatory compliance
• Knowledge of FedRAMP and Public Sector contracting and procurement legal
• Experience with legal operations and technology, including contract management software and automation tools
• Certification in legal or business fields, such as JD, MBA, or CLE
• Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous PTO and holiday policy
• Remote work stipend and equipment budget
• Professional development opportunities, including training and conference attendance
• Access to cutting-edge technology and tools
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment
• Opportunity to work with a talented and diverse team
• Flexible working hours and async-first culture

• Develop a strong understanding of commercial contracting and AI-related legal issues to stand out in this role. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and regulatory changes to provide strategic advice and guidance to the business.
• Highlight your experience with GTM and Adjust, or similar technologies, to demonstrate your ability to navigate complex commercial legal landscapes.
• Showcase your leadership skills by providing examples of high-performance teams you have led and developed in the past.
• Prepare to discuss your approach to AI governance and regulatory compliance, as this will be a key aspect of the role.
• Be ready to provide examples of your experience with legal operations and technology, including contract management software and automation tools.
• Demonstrate your ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities.
• Show a strong understanding of the tech industry, including trends, challenges, and opportunities, to provide strategic advice and guidance to the business.