Managing Counsel, Commercial & Partnerships

Introduction

TheZebra.com meets customers right where their search for car and home insurance begins: online. We provide easy-to-use tools and services, plus friendly, licensed agents who offer advice and guidance at any point along the way. The Zebra has helped customers compare over 74 million quotes since 2012. At its heart, both insurance and tech industry veterans collaborate together to simplify insurance shopping for customers. In today's digital world, The Zebra's customer-centered approach offers people the choices they want and simplicity they need.

The Zebra was recently named Austin Business Journal's 2026 Best Place to Work. Our motto is "All Stripes Welcome." Building the best product, the best teams, and the best company comes from inviting a diverse array of voices, backgrounds, and perspectives to contribute, making everyone feel welcome. Our Zeebs are passionate about learning, growing, and working together to tackle exciting problems.

We’re looking for a Managing Counsel, Commercial & Partnerships to lead our commercial contracting work as our business grows and evolves. You’ll negotiate a broad range of commercial and technology agreements, advise on evolving AI and data issues, and help teams across The Zebra navigate risk by clearly explaining the tradeoffs so business leaders can make informed decisions. As a hands-on leader, you’ll manage and develop our contracts team and help shape how the team works within a highly collaborative legal department.

Location

Our company headquarters are in Austin, TX, but our employees work remotely across the US. For folks who live around Austin, we offer the option to join us in our office or opt for a hybrid setup. Whether you prefer the structure of an office, the convenience of remote work, or a mix of both, we support what works best for you!

Please note: at this time we are not able to hire in Massachusetts & California.

What You'll Do

Commercial Negotiations

• Draft, review and negotiate complex, bespoke agreements across the business, including carrier contracts, strategic partnerships, SaaS, API and technology licenses, AI vendor and platform agreements, data and vendor contracts.

• Balance risk with business goals and keep deals moving.

• Partner closely with our Commercialization and Partnerships teams, which manage our carrier relationships and strategic partnerships, and support every other team across the company that needs contracts, as a trusted, practical advisor.
  

AI, Data, Technology & Privacy

• Own the AI and data provisions in partner, customer and vendor agreements: training and improvement rights, data use limits, de-identification and aggregation, model and output ownership, accuracy commitments, and allocation of AI-specific risk.

• Draft and maintain standard AI and data contract language and the fallbacks behind it, so the contracts team knows what is standard, what is negotiable and what needs escalation.

• Negotiate data protection terms, data processing agreements and security exhibits, including GLBA, state privacy law and consent provisions in agreements with support from Senior Counsel, Privacy Regulatory & Product as necessary.
  

Contracting Process & Technology

• Build and maintain playbooks, templates, fallback positions, approval thresholds and clause libraries.

• Improve intake, workflow and turnaround in partnership with Legal Operations.

• Calibrate and oversee the team's use of AI tools, agentic workflows and contract management systems, with appropriate quality controls.

• Create and deliver contracts training for the company.
  

Lead, Train & Develop the Contracts Team

• Manage our two contract managers in a player/coach model: be a point of escalation, help align to business priorities and be an accessible, hands-on resource.

• Train, mentor and coach, including on AI, privacy and IP terms.
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Stay current on legal developments affecting AI, technology, data, privacy and IP, and turn them into contract language and practical guidance, not just memos.

• Support related matters as needed, including commercial disputes, litigation and corporate projects, and pitch in wherever the team needs you.
  
  

What We're Looking For

As we evaluate candidates, we look for folks with a strong sense of ownership, excellent communication and collaboration skills, and a dedication to continuous improvement.

• Proven Track Record: 10+ years of commercial and technology transactions experience, ideally a mix of top law firm and in-house roles.

• Legal Foundation: JD from an ABA-accredited U.S. law school and active membership in good standing in at least one state bar.

• Technology Transactions: Substantial experience drafting and negotiating complex technology agreements, such as SaaS, API, cloud, data licensing and strategic partnership agreements, and getting high-value deals done.

• AI & Data Rights: Demonstrated experience negotiating AI and data provisions, such as training rights, data use limits, and model and output ownership.

• Privacy: Working command of U.S. privacy and consumer protection law as it applies to commercial deals, including GLBA, CCPA/CPRA and other state privacy laws.

• Intellectual Property: Substantive IP experience in a software, data or brand context, including licensing and ownership structuring.

• People Leadership: Experience managing, training or mentoring contract managers, paralegals or junior attorneys, and real enthusiasm for helping others grow.

Preferred

• Experience in insurance, insurtech or fintech.

• Experience supporting AI-enabled products.

• Familiarity with emerging AI governance frameworks and how they apply in a regulated industry.

• Hands-on experience with legal AI tools, agentic workflows and contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems.

• Experience building playbooks, templates or contracting processes from scratch.
  

Benefits & Perks

Inclusive and healthy environments are crafted intentionally. All of our employees can join and participate in (or create your own!) Employee Resource Groups. Here are some other wonderful perks of working here:

• Competitive Compensation & Stock Option Offering

• Health, Dental, Vision & Disability Coverages

• HSA offering + employer contribution

• 401k with match

• Unlimited PTO (paid time off) + flexibility to enjoy it

• Paid Parental Leave Program

• Wellness perk ($100/month)

• Pet Adoption Reimbursement ($300/year)

• Learning & Development Opportunities

• Join a team that truly lives their values (outside of the office. Cliche, we know… but we really mean it)
  

About The Zebra

The Zebra is the nation's leading, independent insurance comparison site. With our dynamic, real-time quote comparison tool, consumers can identify insurance companies with the coverage, service level, and pricing to suit their unique needs. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, The Zebra has sought to bring transparency and simplicity to insurance shopping since 2012 -- it's "insurance in black and white."

We've garnered attention and investment of some of the nation's top venture capitalists. Check out all of our awards & recognition!

Our core mantra is "All Stripes Welcome." As part of our dedication to maintaining an inclusive and diverse workforce, we provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform core job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation!