Executive Director & Legal Counsel

Your Team Responsibilities

At the forefront of the financial services industry, we offer a fast-paced yet collaborative environment, built on a strong culture of teamwork and close working relationships across all levels of management. This is an excellent opportunity for an exceptional, highly experienced and motivated lawyer to join our Global Technology Procurement Legal team, taking on a senior role as Executive Director. You will provide strategic legal counsel and oversee high-value, complex procurement matters, driving pragmatic legal solutions and calculated risk-taking to support the firm’s objectives.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to the firm’s global procurement, business, and legal leadership teams on high-profile and high-value matters.
• Lead the negotiation of sophisticated technology and data agreements, including software, outsourcing, cloud services, telecom, consulting, and various professional services agreements.
• Focus on providing pragmatic legal solutions that align with business goals while assessing and managing risk effectively.
• Oversee real estate lease agreements and related property matters, ensuring alignment with long-term property strategies.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with stakeholders such as Procurement, Privacy, Information Security, Compliance, and senior business leaders to ensure seamless execution of transactions aligned with the firm’s objectives.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior legal team members, fostering their growth and enhancing overall team capability.
• Represent the firm in high-stakes negotiations and external engagements, serving as a lead advocate in complex and sensitive matters.

Your skills and experience that will help you excel

• 15+ years of legal experience in drafting, negotiating, and advising on complex technology, IP, and data transactions, with a proven track record of leadership.
• Qualification in New York but can be located on the East Coast of the US
• Extensive experience in the financial services or technology industries, with a good understanding of regulatory and operational frameworks.
• Expertise in real estate lease agreements is preferred, with a solid understanding of leasing structures and property law.
• Management experience is preferred, with demonstrated ability to lead and mentor teams in a professional and high-performing environment.
• Superior communication, negotiation, and drafting skills, with the ability to manage stakeholders at all organizational levels and across geographies.
• Proven ability to provide pragmatic, business-focused legal advice using problem-solving skills and to take calculated risks to achieve organizational goals.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple high-priority projects in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion, while promoting a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
• Significant experience in a large law firm preferred.

About MSCI

What we offer you

• Salary range: $215,000 - $250,000 / year plus eligible for annual bonus
• Transparent compensation schemes and comprehensive employee benefits, tailored to your location, ensuring your financial security, health, and overall wellbeing.

• Flexible working arrangements, advanced technology, and collaborative workspaces.

• A culture of high performance and innovation where we experiment with new ideas and take responsibility for achieving results.

• A global network of talented colleagues, who inspire, support, and share their expertise to innovate and deliver for our clients.

• Global Orientation program to kickstart your journey, followed by access to our Learning@MSCI platform, LinkedIn Learning Pro and tailored learning opportunities for ongoing skills development.

• Multi-directional career paths that offer professional growth and development through new challenges, internal mobility and expanded roles.

• We actively nurture an environment that builds a sense of inclusion belonging and connection, including eight Employee Resource Groups. All Abilities, Asian Support Network, Black Leadership Network, Climate Action Network, Hola! MSCI, Pride & Allies, Women in Tech, and Women’s Leadership Forum.

At MSCI we are passionate about what we do, and we are inspired by our purpose – to power better investment decisions. You’ll be part of an industry-leading network of creative, curious, and entrepreneurial pioneers. This is a space where you can challenge yourself, set new standards and perform beyond expectations for yourself, our clients, and our industry.

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data, and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process.

MSCI Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce. It is the policy of the firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy (including unlawful discrimination on the basis of a legally protected parental leave), veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. MSCI is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please email Disability.Assistance@msci.com and indicate the specifics of the assistance needed. Please note, this e-mail is intended only for individuals who are requesting a reasonable workplace accommodation; it is not intended for other inquiries.

To all recruitment agencies

MSCI does not accept unsolicited CVs/Resumes. Please do not forward CVs/Resumes to any MSCI employee, location, or website. MSCI is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs/Resumes.

Note on recruitment scams

We are aware of recruitment scams where fraudsters impersonating MSCI personnel may try and elicit personal information from job seekers. Read our full note on careers.msci.com