Vice President, Associate General Counsel

Education - It's in Our DNA

At Barnes & Noble Education (“BNED”) we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education.

As part of this mission, we are seeking a strategic legal leader to join our team. The Vice President, Associate General Counsel plays a critical role in driving key business initiatives by leading commercial contract negotiations, advising on legal risk, and supporting corporate governance and compliance. This highly visible position partners closely with senior leadership to align legal strategy with company goals and ensure operational excellence.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements—including customer and vendor contracts, NDAs, licensing, consulting, employment, marketing, and promotional agreements—while identifying and mitigating legal risks and supporting strategic business objectives.

• Lead the contract review process in partnership with the contracts administration and operations teams; ensure alignment between legal requirements and business goals through close collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.

• Manage litigation matters and provide legal support to the HR team on employment-related issues, including investigations, employee relations, and policy interpretation.

• Develop, implement, and maintain corporate compliance programs, legal policies, and procedures to support risk management and ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations.

• Support corporate governance functions, including board and committee operations, governance policies, and regulatory compliance initiatives.

• Advise on and assist with SEC and state filings, including registration statements, prospectuses, periodic reports, and other public disclosures.

• Provide counsel on employment law matters, including employee agreements, policy development, and regulatory compliance.

• Perform other related duties and projects as assigned to support the legal function and broader business objectives.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the New Jersey Bar required. Admission to the New York Bar is a plus, but not mandatory.
• Minimum 8 years of legal experience, including at least 3 years in-house corporate experience (preferred).

Experience:

• Strong background in contract law, with proven experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements.
• Experience supporting legal matters in sectors such as education, publishing, digital content, or retail—particularly where vendor management, content licensing, or e-commerce are involved—is a plus.

• Working knowledge of employment law and ability to advise on employee relations, internal investigations, and policy matters.

• Experience managing litigation and coordinating with outside counsel.

• Familiarity with public company governance and compliance, including board and committee operations.

• Exposure to Securities Act of 1933 compliance, SEC filings, and state disclosure obligations.

Skills & Competencies:

• Exceptional problem-solving, legal research, and analytical skills, with the ability to address complex legal and business issues.

• Ability to manage a high volume of contracts and shifting priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to collaborate effectively across departments and seniority levels.

• Demonstrated leadership and team-building capabilities.

Note: This is a hybrid role requiring in-office attendance three (3) days per week. Relocation assistance will not be provided for this role.

How We Elevate Our Employees

Benefits: We believe your success is our success, so our benefits package is designed to support you in every aspect of your life. We offer a competitive total rewards package for full-time employees, which includes medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k), life insurance, commuter benefits, paid time off (including paid holidays), and a broad range of other well-being resources.

Compensation: The hiring range for this position is $240,000 – $250,000 per year . This range reflects the base salary only. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as skills, experience, and qualifications.

Bonus and Equity: This position is bonus-eligible , with bonus amounts determined at the company’s discretion based on individual qualifications and applicable program terms. The role is also eligible for equity-based incentives , subject to the terms of the company’s equity program.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

At Barnes & Noble Education we empower everyone. Our mission is to support students, faculty, and schools, serving as a catalyst to meet the evolving needs of the education system and a new generation of students. That starts with fostering an environment for our employees where diversity and individuality is celebrated.

Barnes & Noble Education is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer committed to diversity in the workplace. In the spirit of inclusivity, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, protected veteran status, race, religion or sexual orientation.