Can this agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA laws where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.

Is notarization required for enforceability?

In most states notarization is not required for employment contracts; certain states or clauses (e.g., affidavit, acknowledgment) may require notarization for ancillary filings or self-proving affidavits.

Who should sign for the company?

An authorized corporate officer or HR representative with delegated signing authority should sign; record the signer’s title to establish authority in case of later challenge.

How do state laws affect restrictive covenants?

State law governs enforceability: for example, California largely prohibits non-competes, while other states permit reasonable non-competes; tailor clauses and seek counsel when operating across multiple jurisdictions.

How can a signed agreement be revoked?

Revocation depends on contract terms and mutual consent; unilateral withdrawal after acceptance may expose the withdrawing party to breach claims unless a rescission clause or mutual agreement exists.

How long should the executed agreement be retained?

Retain for the employment term plus at least three years and longer where tax, HIPAA, or potential litigation risk requires extended retention.

Electronic Signature
Templates
HR
Employment Director Agreement

Employment Director Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

EMPLOYMENT DIRECTOR AGREEMENT

Parties and Recitals

This Employment Director Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into between Employer Name: and Director Name: .

Effective Date: . Employer desires to employ Director and Director desires employment on the terms and conditions set forth below.

Personal Information

Full Legal Name Address

Phone

Email

Position and Term

Job Title: Department: Reporting Manager:

Start Date

Term: The Director shall serve in the position described above commencing on the Start Date and continuing until terminated in accordance with Section Termination below. This Agreement does not create any vested property right to continued employment except as expressly set forth herein.

Compensation and Benefits

Base Salary (annual) Incentive / Bonus Equity / Stock Awards (if any)

Benefits: Director will be eligible for employee benefit plans made generally available to similarly situated executives, subject to plan terms, employer policies and applicable waiting periods. Vacation and paid time off will accrue in accordance with Employer policy unless otherwise specified in writing.

Duties and Responsibilities

Director shall perform duties customarily associated with the position and such other duties as Employer may reasonably assign. Director shall devote substantially full time, skill and attention to the performance of duties and shall act in the best interests of Employer in all matters relating to the business.

Confidentiality and Inventions

Director shall not disclose any confidential information of Employer except as required in the performance of duties or as authorized in writing. Director agrees to assign to Employer all right, title and interest in inventions and works of authorship related to Employer's business produced during employment, subject to any applicable statutory exceptions.

Restrictive Covenants

Non-Solicitation: During employment and for a period of twelve (12) months following termination, Director shall not solicit employees, independent contractors, or material customers of Employer with whom Director had material contact on behalf of Employer.

Non-Competition: To the extent enforceable by applicable law, Director agrees not to engage in or materially assist a competing business within the geographic areas in which Employer conducts business during employment and for a period of six (6) months following termination. Director acknowledges that the restrictions are reasonable and necessary to protect legitimate business interests.

Termination; Severance

Termination for Cause: Employer may terminate Director for cause for material breach, willful misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, or conviction of a felony. Termination for Cause will be effective upon written notice describing the grounds.

Termination Without Cause: Employer may terminate Director without cause upon written notice. If terminated without cause, Director shall be entitled to the severance benefits, if any, described in the Severance Schedule below.

Severance (if applicable)

Governing Law and Notices

Governing Law: This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Principal State: without regard to conflicts of laws principles.

Notice Address for Employer Notice Address for Director

Background, Employment History, Education and References

Employment History - Employer 1

Company Title

Primary Responsibilities Reason for Leaving

Employment History - Employer 2

Company Title

Primary Responsibilities Reason for Leaving

Education

Highest Degree Institution Graduation Date

Professional References

Reference 1

Reference 2

Reference 3

Legal Disclosures

At-Will Employment: Except as expressly provided otherwise in a signed written amendment, employment under this Agreement is at-will and either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice, subject to any severance obligations expressly set forth herein.

Equal Opportunity: Employer is an equal opportunity employer. Decisions regarding employment are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to protected characteristics under applicable law.

Background Authorization and Certifications

Authorization: Director authorizes Employer and its agents to obtain and review background information, including criminal history, employment verification, education verification, credit checks as permitted by law, and professional references. Director acknowledges that employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of any required background checks.

Consent to Background Check

I consent to background and reference checks as described above.

Applicant Certification

Miscellaneous

Entire Agreement; Amendment: This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by both parties.

Severability: If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect to the extent permitted by law.

Employer Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Director Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Employment Director Agreement Is and Covers

An Employment Director Agreement is a written contract that defines the working relationship between an organization and an individual hired to serve as a corporate director-level employee. It typically sets out duties, reporting lines, base salary, bonus and equity arrangements, benefits, confidentiality and intellectual property assignment, restrictive covenants, termination and severance terms, and governing law. The agreement establishes expectations for performance and protects company assets; when executed properly it creates enforceable rights and obligations between the parties.

Why a Clear, Written Agreement Matters

A precise Employment Director Agreement reduces ambiguity about duties, pay, and exit terms, lowers litigation risk, and preserves intellectual property rights. Properly drafted agreements also document compensation and equity for tax and audit purposes, and support consistent HR administration across leadership roles.

Who Prepares and Signs These Agreements

Several internal and external parties commonly prepare, review, or sign director-level employment agreements.

Human resources and people ops teams managing offer details and benefits enrollment.
General counsel or outside employment counsel drafting terms and reviewing legal risks.
Director-level candidates and company officers who negotiate compensation and sign the contract.

Understanding the typical roles helps assign responsibility and speed up negotiation and execution.

Core Sections to Include in a Professional Agreement

A comprehensive Employment Director Agreement groups core topics into clear sections so both parties can find obligations and remedies quickly.

Duties

Describe role, title, reporting relationships, expected time commitment, and performance metrics to avoid later disputes over scope and authority.

Compensation

State base salary, bonus structure, payment schedule, payroll classification, and any deferred compensation arrangements or performance targets.

Equity

Specify stock option grants, vesting schedule, exercise price, and any acceleration triggers tied to termination or change in control events.

Confidentiality

Include non-disclosure obligations, permitted disclosures, duration, and required return or destruction of confidential materials on termination.

Termination

Set grounds for termination for cause and without cause, notice requirements, severance entitlements, and duties after termination.

IP & Covenants

Cover intellectual property assignment, invention disclosure, and any non-compete or non-solicit clauses, with attention to state enforceability limits.

Stepwise Process to Prepare and Execute the Agreement

Follow these sequential steps to create, review, and finalize an Employment Director Agreement efficiently.

01

Draft: Prepare an initial draft using standard clauses tailored to the role.
02

Review: Legal and HR review for compliance, tax, and policy alignment.
03

Negotiate: Exchange edits with the candidate and resolve material points.
04

Sign and Store: Execute signatures and file the final agreement in the employee record.

Recommended Digital Workflow Settings

Configure your signing workflow to control authentication, routing, and retention when sending an agreement electronically.

Field	Configuration
Authentication Method	Email link plus optional SMS one-time passcode for signer verification.
Signature Order	Sequential signing: company signer signs after candidate signature, or as required.
Reminder Schedule	Send three automated reminders over a 10-day period for unsigned documents.
Template Name	Use a standard 'Employment Director Agreement' template to preserve version control.

Technical Considerations for eSigning and Integration

Choose a platform that supports required integrations, PDF and DOCX formats, and strong authentication for leadership-level documents.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 integration available.
File Formats: Supports PDF and DOCX import and signed PDF export.
Authentication: Email, SMS OTP, and advanced signer verification options.

How Electronic Execution Typically Works

Electronic signing follows a predictable sequence; ensure each step captures attribution and consent for enforceability.

Upload Document: Upload final draft in PDF or DOCX format to the signing platform.
Place Fields: Add signature, date, and initial fields where required.
Invite Signer: Send signing link by email or provide in-person access.
Capture Audit Trail: System records timestamp, IP, and authentication events for evidentiary value.

Typical eSignature Provider Comparison for Executing Agreements

Comparison of basic pricing and feature signals relevant to executing and retaining signed Employment Director Agreements; signNow is listed first as a pricing and feature reference.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Practical Tips for Accurate Agreement Preparation

Follow these best practices to reduce ambiguity, comply with law, and speed execution for leadership-level hires.

Use Clear Role Definitions

Define responsibilities, deliverables, and reporting lines in plain language to limit later disputes about scope and performance standards.

Be Specific on Compensation

Quantify salary, bonus formulas, equity amounts, and payment timing to avoid audit questions and to ensure accurate payroll setup.

Tailor Restrictive Covenants by State

Limit non-competes and non-solicits to reasonable duration and geography; California and other states have enforceability constraints that must be respected.

Document Approval Chain

Record who authorized the offer, corporate approvals, and board actions for compensation or equity grants to support governance and audit trails.

Key Risks if the Agreement Is Incorrect or Missing Items

Unenforceable Covenants: Overbroad terms may be struck down

Misclassification Risk: Incorrect status can trigger tax penalties

Missing Signatures: Unsigned agreements may lack enforceability

Payroll Errors: Incorrect pay terms cause wage claims

I-9 Noncompliance: Leads to fines and sanctions

Tax Reporting: Improper equity disclosure triggers penalties

Examples of Typical Director-Level Agreement Scenarios

Two concise examples show how provisions and execution workflows commonly appear in practice.

Technology Company Hire

A mid-size software firm offered a director role with base pay plus stock options vesting over four years

The company required IP assignment and a 12-month non-solicit
The agreement was reviewed by counsel, signed electronically by both parties, and stored in HR records for audit purposes.

Healthcare System Appointment

A regional health system hired an operations director with performance-based bonus and confidentiality clauses covering PHI

The agreement included a HIPAA business associate addendum and data-handling obligations
The signed copy was retained six years to align with HIPAA recordkeeping requirements.

Common Questions About Executing an Employment Director Agreement

Answers to frequent questions about signatures, enforceability, notarization, and post-execution handling for director agreements.

Need help? Contact support

Can this agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA laws where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met.
Is notarization required for enforceability?
In most states notarization is not required for employment contracts; certain states or clauses (e.g., affidavit, acknowledgment) may require notarization for ancillary filings or self-proving affidavits.
Who should sign for the company?
An authorized corporate officer or HR representative with delegated signing authority should sign; record the signer’s title to establish authority in case of later challenge.
How do state laws affect restrictive covenants?
State law governs enforceability: for example, California largely prohibits non-competes, while other states permit reasonable non-competes; tailor clauses and seek counsel when operating across multiple jurisdictions.
How can a signed agreement be revoked?
Revocation depends on contract terms and mutual consent; unilateral withdrawal after acceptance may expose the withdrawing party to breach claims unless a rescission clause or mutual agreement exists.
How long should the executed agreement be retained?
Retain for the employment term plus at least three years and longer where tax, HIPAA, or potential litigation risk requires extended retention.

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