Promise
Government & Public SectorDirect Ashby career site

Counsel, Government Contracts & Compliance

Location
San Francisco, CA (Remote) · On-site
Job type
Full-time
Level
Senior
Experience
5+ years
Listed
24 days ago

Skills & highlights for this role

  • JD
  • state bar membership
  • government contracts
  • FedRAMP
  • data protection
  • contract negotiation

Also useful

  • StateRAMP
  • CMMC

About the Role

Promise's government and utility business is growing in both volume and complexity, and this role owns the contracting and compliance work that powers it. You'll take government contracting end to end-reviewing, drafting, and negotiating solicitations, bids, and customer agreements-and partner with security on the reviews and certifications (FedRAMP, agency security questionnaires) that public-sector customers require, bringing in senior legal leadership on the most complex or novel matters.

You'll be a key legal partner to our pursuit and deployment teams, turning complex public-sector requirements into terms Promise can sign and deliver against. It's a role with real ownership and room to grow into more senior legal leadership over time.

What You'll Do

  • Own Public Sector and Commercial contracting: Review, draft, and negotiate solicitation terms, contracts, subcontracts, and customer agreements across federal, state, local and other procurements.
  • Lead contract-side security and compliance review: Partner with security and IT on FedRAMP and agency security reviews, data protection terms, and the certifications and questionnaires Promise customers require.
  • Keep bids compliant: Advise on solicitation requirements, certifications and representations, flow-downs, and eligibility so bids are compliant and signable.
  • Strengthen contracting practices: Improve and scale the templates, playbooks, and processes that keep contracting efficient as the company grows.
  • Manage outside counsel: Engage and oversee specialized outside counsel where needed, keeping spend efficient.
  • Stay ahead of regulation: Track changes in public-sector procurement rules, data privacy, and compliance regimes that affect Promise.
  • Advise the business: Serve as a resource on the legal team for business development, deployment, product, and security on deal structure, risk, and regulatory questions.

What Will Help You Succeed

  • Credentials: JD and active membership in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar.
  • Experience: 5+ years practicing, with meaningful government contracts work across federal and/or state and local procurement, in-house or at a firm.
  • Security and compliance fluency: Familiarity with FedRAMP and government security reviews, plus data protection and privacy; experience with StateRAMP, CMMC, or similar is a plus.
  • Negotiation: You negotiate complex agreements with government and enterprise counterparties and land workable terms.
  • Growth trajectory: You want to deepen your government-contracts expertise and grow into more senior legal leadership.
  • Pragmatism: You give clear, business-minded advice and help the company move fast without taking on undue risk.
  • Bonus: Govtech, fintech, or public-benefits/payments experience; familiarity with utilities or other regulated industries.

Who Thrives at Promise

You’ll love it here if

  • You are energized by big, complex challenges and the opportunity to solve them.
  • You want your work to have a real, measurable impact on people’s lives.
  • You take ownership and run toward problems, not away from them.
  • You value clear, candid, and constructive communication.

Promise is not for you if

  • You prefer hierarchy and rigid structures. We operate with freedom and responsibility.
  • You are uncomfortable with change. We move fast, adapt often, and expect agility.
  • You want a typical corporate culture. We are mission-driven, ambitious, and direct.
  • You believe efficiency means “doing less.” We believe efficiency means doing better.

How We Support Our People

At Promise, we invest in our team’s well-being, growth, and sense of ownership.

  • Equity for All: All full-time employees receive stock options to share in our company’s success.
  • 100% Paid Health Coverage: We cover 100% of base medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and their dependents.
  • Hybrid Work: We collaborate in the office at least four days a week to stay connected and aligned as a team.
  • Flexible Time Off: Self-managed FTO and paid holidays - we trust you to manage your time responsibly.

Additional information

Promise engages in US government contracts and restricts hiring to US persons, which includes US citizens and permanent residents (e.g., Green Card holders). Additionally, candidates must reside in the US.

Company Overview

Promise modernizes how government agencies and utilities support people in financial difficulty. We build technology that makes it simple for residents to receive benefits, engage with assistance programs, set up flexible payment plans, and stay on track-while helping agencies increase efficiency, recover revenue, and deliver services with dignity. Our mission is to transform public systems so they work better for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

Our team includes experts from companies like Palantir, Google, Stripe, and esteemed government leaders. We work hard and believe deeply in what we do. We're looking for excellent people to build innovative, resilient technology.

Backed by over $50 million in funding from top investors - such as Reid Hoffman, Howard Schultz, Michael Seibel, Y Combinator, 8VC, The General Partnership, First Round Capital, Kapor Capital, XYZ Ventures, and Bronze Investments - Promise has been recognized as one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies of 2022,” “Forbes Next Billion-Dollar Startups 2024,” and Y Combinator’s #1 GovTech startup.

Read the original posting

From Promise's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 17, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.

How Rolev.ai helps with this application

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Common questions

Where is the Counsel, Government Contracts & Compliance job at Promise located?

Yes, this Counsel, Government Contracts & Compliance opening at Promise is listed as San Francisco, CA (Remote) (On-site). Always check Promise's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.

What qualifications are required for Counsel, Government Contracts & Compliance at Promise?

For the Counsel, Government Contracts & Compliance role, Promise highlights 5+ years of relevant experience; experience with government contracts, FedRAMP, data protection, contract negotiation. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.

How do I apply for the Counsel, Government Contracts & Compliance position at Promise?

This listing links directly to Promise's Ashby application page. You can apply directly on Promise's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Ashby application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.