Legal Counsel

1. General Summary: Will provide legal counsel, support and/or participate in substantive legal matters as directed by the General Counsel. Provide assistance and guidance to business groups to resolve legal issues and concerns. Draft documents, such as agreements and contracts, or review such documents at the request of a business unit or General Counsel. Provide counsel to management, coordinate with outside legal counsel and take on a project leadership role within the legal department.
2. Essential Job Functions:
3. Review complex contracts and perform on-going analysis of contracts that impact Company; handle contract-related legal issues and supervise contract review.
4. Draft, review, negotiate and provide advice regarding commercial agreements with suppliers, customers and business partners.
5. Provide training in OEM customer and supplier terms and conditions, intellectual property, and various types of agreements.
6. Assist in related compliance and corporate governance issues and TBJ Legal required reports.
7. Assist General Counsel in developing the organization's policies on automotive industry legal issues, corporate governance or regulatory affairs.
8. Assist in anticipating and mitigating potential legal problems within the organization and developing strategies to avoid costly litigation and reduce potential areas of risk.
9. Research and analyze law for the preparation of legal memoranda.
10. Monitor legislative, regulatory, and industry developments, focusing on NHTSA and related agencies.
11. Work closely with the business and other internal and external legal counsels on supporting various initiatives.
12. Communicate to Management orally and in writing the results of review and assessment projects along with routine dashboard/status updates.
13. Make recommendations for enhancements to functional processes to better detect and prevent fraudulent, ineffective and inefficient business activities and practices.
14. Advise on contract enforcement, contract disputes, supplier quality matters, contract terminations and transitions, and distressed supplier issues.
15. Identify and advise legal and business risk associated with business opportunities including compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
16. Support in-house compliance and training.
17. Provide training to purchasing and sales teams on a variety of legal topics.
18. Support corporate governance activities.
19. Provide legal advice on quality issues that may have regulatory implications.
20. Follow safety, quality, confidentiality, and information security policies and procedures

• Minimum Qualifications/Requirements:

Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA approved law school.

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of legal experience in relevant areas, including, business transactions, contract review, including OEM customer and supplier terms and conditions, regulatory compliance matters with a mid-to large-size law firm, or combination of practice with such a firm and in-house experience.
• Prior in-house commercial counsel experience with the automotive industry preferred.
• Broad experience in automotive safety issues; including laws and regulations.

Personal/Technical Skills:

• Knowledge and ability to provide prompt, practical counsel on all aspects of commercial agreements.
• Ability to work well both independently and collaboratively with other legal and business colleagues in fast-paced, globally dispersed organization.
• Must possess strong initiative and follow up skills as well as excellent communication, teamwork, delegation and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to communicate and work well with others from other business units, other departments, other countries, and other cultures in a group environment.
• Hands-on, self-starter with a strong work ethic.
• Strong knowledge of risk management and compliance for a global manufacturing company.
• Good problem solving and analytical skills.
• Flexibility in a changing environment.
• Courage to take unpopular stands when necessary to protect the Company and preserve its integrity.
• Extensive skill in planning and project management, strong organizational skills and the capability of managing multiple priorities with competing, tight deadlines.
• Ability to exercise professional skill, ethical standards, integrity and tact in relationships with others, including guarding the security of confidential information and data.

Language Skills:

• Verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Spanish, Portuguese and/or Japanese is a plus.

Computer/Software:

• Excellent skill in using Microsoft office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, etc.) and legal software.

1. Work Environment/Conditions:

Office: Open Office Environment.

Plant: N/A.

Travel: 25-30% overnight travel required.

1. Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is required to talk, see, and hear. The team member must be capable of walking, sitting, and standing and is occasionally required to lift up to 30 pounds.

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to identify the general nature and level of work performed by team members within this classification, as well as certain essential job functions. It is not intended, and should not be interpreted, as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of team members assigned to this job. To qualify for this job, however, a team member must be able to perform its essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Under no circumstances may this job description be construed as altering the at-will nature of the employment relationship between TBA and any team member.

EOE