Systems Planning & Analysis · 5 months ago
Chief Legal Officer & Secretary
Alexandria, Virginia
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
15+ years expSystems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is a company focused on addressing complex national security challenges with innovative solutions. They are seeking a Chief Legal Officer (CLO) to lead their legal function, providing strategic legal guidance to the executive team and ensuring compliance in a defense contracting environment.
AnalyticsInformation Technology
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Establish corporate governance best practices to support the transition to public-company readiness
Serve as the company’s chief legal advisor, providing strategic legal guidance to the CEO, executive team, and Board of Directors
Oversee all corporate legal matters, including corporate governance, risk mitigation, mergers & acquisitions and other corporate transactions, intellectual property, employment law, and U.S. and global regulatory compliance
Advise on government relations and policy matters impacting SPA’s business interests, including legislative and regulatory trends
Lead and integrate the Contracts, Procurement, and Quality Assurance teams under a unified legal and compliance structure
Provide executive leadership and oversight for all contractual matters, including prime contracts, protests or other disputes, subcontracts, NDAs, teaming agreements, and procurement activities
Ensure SPA maintains rigorous quality assurance standards aligned with industry best practices and customer expectations
Design and implement a scalable corporate compliance program covering FAR, DFARS, ITAR, FCPA, CFIUS, and other federal and international regulations and internal policies
Oversee and manage all legal risk, including litigation, investigations and disputes
Manage relationships and cost-efficient use of outside legal counsel and consultants
Serve as executive sponsor and support and refine enterprise risk management and ethics programs
Play an integral role in SPA’s corporate strategy, particularly in M&A due diligence, negotiations, execution and post-acquisition integration from a legal and compliance perspective
Evaluate and structure business ventures, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships
Serve as corporate secretary to Board of Directors
Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing legal and compliance team
Foster cross-functional collaboration across business units, corporate functions, and operational teams
Partner closely with Human Resources, Finance, IT, Security, and Program leadership to align legal strategy with SPA’s business objectives
Qualification
Required
Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in Virginia, DC, and/or Maryland
15+ years of legal experience with a minimum of 5 years in a public or privately held company with a strong focus in government contracting, federal acquisition regulations, and corporate law
Demonstrated executive leadership experience as a General Counsel or senior legal executive supporting M&A, public-company readiness, corporate governance, oversight of contracts/procurement or similar operational teams experiencing high growth and organizational change
Track record of successfully managing complex legal issues and providing strategic advice in a corporate or fast-growth environment
Deep understanding of the U.S. defense and national security landscape
Strong executive presence with proven ability to operate as a trusted advisor at the C-suite level and Board of Directors at a large organization (≥$1.5B in revenues)
Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills
Active or eligible for a Top Secret DoD security clearance
Preferred
Experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented government contractor or A&AS/SETA environment
Exposure to CFIUS/FOCI, international compliance, and classified work environments
Strong situational judgment, discretion, and business acumen
Company
Systems Planning & Analysis
Systems Planning & Analysis (SPA) is a leading global provider of data-driven analytical insights for critical national security programs.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknown2021-10-06Acquired
Leadership Team
Rich Sawchak
Chief Executive Officer
Bruce Phillips
Vice President, Emerging Markets Growth
Recent News
Washington Technology
2025-12-13
2025-12-08
Washington Technology
2025-10-10
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