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Valvoline Global Operations · 16 hours ago

Senior Paralegal, Procurement

US-KY-Lexington (HDQ)

Full-time

Hybrid

Mid, Senior Level

$78K/yr - $95K/yr

7+ years exp

Valvoline Global Operations is a pioneer in the automotive and industrial solutions industry, committed to innovation and sustainability. The Senior Paralegal, Procurement, plays a vital role in supporting legal, contractual, and compliance functions for procurement initiatives, managing a range of legal assignments, and ensuring efficient execution of procurement contracts.

Oil and Gas

Responsibilities

Draft and review a wide range of procurement contracts and associated legal documents, including SaaS agreements, service agreements, purchase agreements, statements of work, amendments, and assignments

Participate in negotiation sessions with vendors and internal stakeholders, responding to counterparty redlines and advocating for terms that balance legal protection with business objectives

Develop and review negotiation strategies, incorporating feedback from business teams and precedent agreements to manage legal risk and ensure consistency with corporate standards

Align with Associate Counsel – North America on risk appetite, preferences, and company preferences for various contracts

Collaborate with cross-functional business units—including Procurement, IT, Finance, and Operations—to identify, analyze, and mitigate legal and contractual risks on both routine and complex transactions

Proactively raise legal concerns, offer practical solutions, and ensure stakeholder alignment throughout the contract lifecycle

Work with outside counsel as needed to address disputes, escalate matters, or seek specialized guidance

Assist in maintaining and updating standard contract templates and fallback provisions to reflect changes in law, policy, and business practice

Contribute to departmental initiatives aimed at increasing legal efficiency, streamlining workflows, and reducing contract cycle time

Support ongoing efforts to enhance contract management practices, compliance tracking, and document standardization

Support the Legal and Compliance teams in ensuring adherence to internal policies and applicable legal and regulatory frameworks

Monitor evolving legal standards relevant to procurement and advise on required updates to templates or practices

Help ensure alignment between contractual practices and Valvoline’s internal controls, risk tolerance, and global legal standards

Provide legal research, drafting, and administrative support to associate counsel, senior counsel, and other members of the Legal team

Take initiative in learning Valvoline’s business and legal environment to increase the strategic value of legal advice

Mentor interns or less experienced staff as appropriate, contributing to knowledge sharing and team development

Qualification

Paralegal certificationContract lifecycle managementDraftingNegotiationProcurement knowledgeLegal researchMicrosoft OfficeLearning mindsetInterpersonal skillsAttention to detail

Required

Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or baccalaureate degree, or certification from NALA or NFPA

Experience with corporate legal department and/or in-house attorneys

At least 7-10 years' work experience with responsibilities that cover the tasks of a paralegal

Experience with a contract lifecycle management system is required

Foundational understanding of procurement, commercial, and technology contracting principles

Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills, with attention to detail and ability to adapt templates and terms to specific business needs

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality legal support in a fast-paced environment

Effective communication and interpersonal skills; able to explain legal concepts clearly to non-legal audiences

Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams or internal business partners

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and comfort with contract management or legal workflow tools

A learning mindset and commitment to professional development and legal operations excellence

The position demands a high degree of confidentiality, focus, and attention to detail in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Professionalism, discretion, and a commitment to quality are essential to success in this role

Preferred

Applicant should be qualified in an American Bar Association or respective country-approved curriculum, and, ideally, have a Certified Legal Assistant designation or have passed the Paralegal Advanced Competency Examination