Senior Counsel, International Trade

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Primary Function of Position 

The Senior Counsel, International Trade leverages deep knowledge and expertise of the international trade landscape to help ensure Intuitive’s compliance with global trade laws, rules, and regulations.  The role is responsible for tracking developments in law, providing practical legal guidance, monitoring policies and procedures, providing training and education, conducting internal investigations, and supporting audits in the areas of export, import, and customs compliance, trade sanctions, investment restrictions, and third-party screenings.  The candidate will be a key member of the Corporate and Compliance team within the Legal Department and closely collaborate with Supply Chain, GPA, Regulatory, EMS, Facilities, and Trade stakeholders.

Essential Job Duties

• Serve as lead counsel on U.S. and global trade regimes and issues, including export, import, and customs compliance activities (country of origin, valuation, classification, tariffs, trade remedies, drawbacks, FTZs, and FTAs), and advise on export controls (including with respect to controlled technology and other sensitive goods), import controls related to human rights concerns, U.S., EU, UK, and UN economic and trade sanctions (including regulator engagement), CFIUS and foreign direct investment restrictions, sanctioned country licensing, restricted party screening, antidumping and countervailing duties, and antiboycott reporting.
• Support the internal third-party management program, including supply chain due diligence and compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, UK Bribery Act, and other anti-corruption laws around the world.
• Provide guidance and input on the trade compliance program to ensure adherence to global import and export laws, rules, regulations, and other trade-related requirements.
• Monitor, interpret, and stay current on geopolitical developments, laws, and regulations and translate them into clear, actionable guidance for business teams.
• Coordinate with the New Business Development, Legal, Compliance, and Finance teams during due diligence for equity investment and M&A transactions to assess trade exposure, jurisdictional risk, and market-entry structuring, and manage issues concerning the U.S. outbound investment security program, Foreign Direct Investment regimes, and other cross-border investment restrictions, and support other diligence and integration activities.
• Partner with Supply Chain, GPA, Regulatory, Compliance, EMS, Trade, and regional Legal teams to ensure coordinated responses to regulatory changes and enforcement trends.
• Prepare and advise on trade compliance policies and procedures to ensure all employees, contractors, and agents understand and follow the necessary guidelines for international trade activities.
• Develop and deliver legal and compliance training for employees on global trade compliance requirements.
• Conduct trade-related risk assessments and investigations and support audits to identify any potential risks or violations, develop recommendations, and drive issue mitigation, remediation, and resolution.
• Select and supervise outside counsel on trade-related projects.

Required Skills and Experience 

• Minimum of eight (8) years of legal experience in private practice, government, and/or in-house.  Track record of driving trade initiatives at a multinational company preferred.
• J.D. and active license to practice law in at least one U.S. state.
• Significant experience interpreting and applying U.S. and international regulations related to export controls, import restrictions, economic sanctions, and foreign investment regimes.  Proven ability to predict where the law is headed.
• Exceptional organizational skills, practical problem-solving abilities, and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously within a rapidly changing environment.
• Strong writing, presentation, and oral communication skills and executive presence.
• Ability to contribute to the development and implementation of cross-functional processes.
• Mission-driven, humble, and curious.
• Some travel will be required.

Required Education and Training

• BS/BA and JD degree required.

**Please note this job requires being onsite 3 days per week. in our Peachtree Corners, GA or Sunnyvale, CA location.

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees
who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s
start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.