Deputy General Counsel

Job Description

INTENT AND FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTION

This job description is a general description of the essential job functions and is not an employment contract. Position requirements, skills, and abilities included in this job description have been determined to be the minimal standards recommended for the position. Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. reserves the right to increase, modify, or reduce the position requirements, skills, and abilities included in this job description. The duties, responsibilities, and requirements described should not be interpreted as an all-inclusive or comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are associated with this job. All employees of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. are expected to perform the duties as assigned by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc., supervisory/management personnel, regardless of job title or routine job duties.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. However, no accommodation will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose an undue hardship on Eastern Shipbuilding. The headings in this Job Description are for convenience only.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Deputy/Associate General Counsel (“DGC”) will serve as the deputy associate attorney to the General Counsel / Chief Compliance Officer (“GC/CCO” ) of the Company and directly or indirectly support and directly report to the GC/CCO who is primarily responsible for  providing all legal and compliance advice and counsel to the CEO, other corporate officers, the board of directors, and department heads on all legal and compliance affairs of the Company. 

The DGC will review, draft, interpret, and negotiate contracts and other legal documents, review and interpret statutes, rules, laws, and regulations applicable to the Company and its business activities,  monitor and manage activities of outside legal counsel retained by the Company or its insurers,  oversee compliance with corporate governance requirements, and preserve corporate business records such as minutes of meetings and resolutions all under the supervision of the GC/CCO. To ensure success you need to have sound knowledge and understanding of applicable laws and regulations, and the ability to evaluate and minimize risk, provide prudent legal counsel in areas that are complex and not black and white or well established, make prudent legal decisions, manage shifting priorities, provide timely services, communicate effectively with personnel at all levels of the Company, and protect and exercise utmost discretion with respect to confidential, privileged,  personal, and sensitive information.

The top candidates will be team players with outstanding drafting, advocacy, negotiation, and people skills, the highest level of ethics, integrity, and confidentiality, and the ability to prudently balance business necessity, reality, and risk against idealistic legal protections and standards.  It is contemplated that the DGC may ultimately assume the role of the GC/CCO.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: The essential duties and responsibilities include the following and may be different than described.

• Advise executive and senior management and board on various matters such as legal rights and obligations, and new and existing laws.

• Manage the organization's legal matters and records.
• Examine, create, improve, and negotiate template legal documents, such as vendor agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, policies, procedures, construction contracts, construction subcontracts, master service agreements, IT and licensing agreements, teaming agreements, compliance matrices, and terms and conditions of purchase.
• Maintain knowledge of organization’s operations and legal affairs.
• Conduct legal research and review Company's litigation/discovery strategy pertaining to legal actions.
• Respond to discovery requests.
• Support Company responses to personnel wage garnishment proceedings.
• Handle statutory and regulatory filings, such as licensing and permitting forms, Governmental Registrations, Lobbying Reports, SAM Registration, Export Licenses.
• Engage with outside counsel regarding their assignments.
• Create new entities and establish their structural relationship with the Company.
• Protect intellectual property and proprietary information.
• Engage in continuing legal education to stay abreast of legal and regulatory matters impacting the Company and its business activities.
• Negotiate and draft a very broad range of legal documents.
• Give legal advice, answers to questions, and legal counsel to Company departments.
• Conduct investigations and audits.
• Resolve disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
• Develop creative, practical, and compliant solutions to legal challenges faced by the Company.
• Participate in management meetings and conference calls as requested.
• Develop training programs and procedures related to legal and compliance matters.
• Understand Company organizational chart and the roles and responsibilities of Company departments.
• Understand Company business activities, risks, and objectives.
• Support contract management and administration to ensure compliance.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Assist GC/CCO in supervising employees assigned to the Legal, Visitor Control, Export Compliance, ISO, Physical and Cyber Security, and Construction licensing and permitting departments as well as other departments having significant compliance obligations. As needed, advise, and supervise department heads with dotted lines of report to the General Counsel such as procurement, environmental compliance, and safety.  Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work. Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be required.

REQUIREMENTS

Education/Experience: Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school and member of the Florida Bar or licensed in another state with eligibility to sit for the Florida Bar.  Minimum of four or more years of experience with an established law firm or as in-house corporate counsel or both with proficient experience in the areas identified above. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Knowledge of statutes, rules, and regulations pertaining to businesses.  Proficient understanding of business sensitivities and confidentiality and the ability to protect and preserve attorney client and attorney work product privileges.  Ability to establish and shift priorities as needed.  Ability to exercise utmost discretion and discernment with respect to confidential communications, Company/management information, and other sensitive information disclosed to or accessible by you.

Skills:  At a minimum must have intermediate skill level in, Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and Outlook Express. Ability to read and interpret documents such as rules, general business periodicals, professional documents, insurance plans, Company policies/procedures, contracts, licenses, permits, and governmental regulations. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from senior management, employees, applicants, government officials, and the public. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to understand how all duties and responsibilities are assigned Company-wide and in a detailed level, and ability to explain this structure to all personnel at all levels.   

Behavioral Attributes: Integrity, flexibility/adaptability, initiative, interpersonal skills, attention to detail, multi-tasking, and understanding of and adherence to the “chain of command”.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, fax machines, and smartphones. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate orally and in writing. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the environment is low to moderate, such as in an office environment.