
Senior Legal Counsel
Poka Inc., remote, oh, United States
At Poka, we’re transforming how frontline teams operate, learn, and solve problems. Our connected worker platform is purpose-built for manufacturing, empowering frontline workers to share knowledge, collaborate in real-time, and drive continuous improvement. Think of it as the missing digital link, bringing the human interface into the stack of the Smart Factory, generating the right data and insights that drive entirely new scales of process improvements. We’re proud to support global leaders like Nestlé, Bosch, Mars, and Danone in their digital transformation journeys and as part of the IFS family, our reach and impact continue to grow globally.
Help shape the legal backbone of our European growth
We’re looking for a German-speaking Senior Legal Counsel to play a pivotal role in supporting Poka’s expansion across Europe. This is a high-impact position where you’ll partner closely with go-to-market and operational teams to enable smart, scalable growth - while helping establish and support our German legal presence.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead the negotiation, drafting, and review of commercial agreements with customers and partners, including MSAs, Order Forms, SOWs, SLAs, DPAs, and security-related agreements
- Assess legal, contractual, and commercial risks, and provide pragmatic, business-aligned mitigation strategies
- Act as a trusted advisor to Sales, Customer Success, Information Security, Finance, and Revenue Operations on contractual and regulatory matters
- Ensure contracts align with internal policies and applicable laws, with a strong focus on German and EU frameworks (including GDPR and emerging AI regulations)
- Partner with commercial teams to accelerate deal cycles, remove blockers, and support efficient contract execution
- Maintain and evolve contract templates, negotiation playbooks, and legal processes to improve consistency and scalability
- Define and uphold Poka’s risk tolerance, escalating non-standard terms when needed
- Deliver training and guidance to internal stakeholders on contractual best practices and standard positions
- Support broader legal initiatives, including intellectual property protection and governance matters
What you bring
- LL.B, J.D., or equivalent legal qualification with active bar membership
- 5+ years of experience in commercial law, contract negotiation, or a related role
- Proven experience negotiating B2B contracts, ideally within a SaaS or technology environment (in-house or private practice)
- Professional fluency in both German and English (written and spoken)
- Strong knowledge of IT contracts, intellectual property, and data protection laws
- Solid understanding of German and EU regulatory frameworks, including GDPR and the EU AI Act
- Experience with data residency requirements and related contractual considerations
Nice to have
- Experience supporting the setup or operation of a German legal entity
- CIPP certification or equivalent privacy credentials
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, scaling environment while managing multiple priorities
- Strong business judgment and a pragmatic, solutions-oriented mindset
- Confidence working cross-functionally and negotiating with enterprise-level legal teams
Why Poka
- Join a growing, global company at the intersection of manufacturing and technology
- Work alongside collaborative, high-performing teams across North America and Europe
- Play a key role in shaping our legal function as we scale internationally
- Be part of a culture that values ownership, curiosity, and continuous improvement
What we offer
- Dynamic and collaborative work environment.
- Generous vacation policy upon arrival.
- Remote work policy.
- A truly flexible schedule that allows you to adapt your work hours.
- Benefits Plan offered from day one.
- MacBook Pro and €500 allowance for your home office.
- Generous referral bonus.
- The tools, support, and opportunities you need to keep learning and progressing in your career.
Want to learn more about our culture? Click HERE.
Please note: An understanding of English is essential at Poka, as it is the language used during company-wide meetings and many internal communications, ensuring effective collaboration and decision-making. In addition, as Poka operates in an international environment, English is the primary language for communicating with our clients and partners, enabling us to better serve them and represent Poka in a professional manner.
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