Associate General Counsel

About Harbinger

Harbinger Motors Inc. is a Southern California-based electric vehicle manufacturer on a mission to transform the automotive and transportation industries, bringing to market EVs developed from the ground up to address the needs of the Medium Duty vehicle industry. This broad, and to date poorly addressed, market segment includes class 4 to 7 commercial delivery vehicles, RVs and utility vehicles, among others. Leveraging a foundation of proprietary, in-house developed vehicle technologies, Harbinger's first-of-its-kind EV platform will bring enhancements in vehicle performance, durability and operator comfort. And importantly, Harbinger's vehicles will be priced for zero acquisition premium relative to traditional gas- and diesel-based competitors, removing one of the most tenacious barriers to EV adoption.

Harbinger's team, with operations in Southern California and Michigan, includes industry veterans with expertise in powertrain, battery, chassis and software development, along with leaders in advanced manufacturing, corporate development, operations and finance. Our team members come from leading innovators, both in and out of the automotive industry, including Tesla, Rivian, Canoo, Ford, Anduril, and SpaceX.

Founded in 2021, Harbinger is a venture-backed startup on a rapid growth trajectory, looking for candidates that thrive on tackling complex challenges and who share in our passion to bring clean transportation alternatives to a segment of the market starving for innovation.

Job Overview

We are looking for an eager, dynamic senior attorney to join our legal team! This role will report directly to the General Counsel and Head of Corporate Development, helping to manage and grow the company’s legal, compliance and government affairs functions, providing expert legal advice on a wide range of matters including commercial contracts, sales and go-to-market support, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, intellectual property, litigation, customer and dealer-franchise operations, and public policy engagement.

 What You’ll Do:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of complex contracts, including direct and indirect supply agreements, customer contracts, dealer-franchise agreements, consulting and partnerships agreements, and NDAs, among others. Work closely with cross-functional teams, including sales, supply chain, finance, people, and engineering, to create contract templates tailored to the needs of each department and update these as required to grow with the company.
  
  
• Manage contractual relationships with key suppliers and vendors, overseeing the legal aspects of procurement processes.
  
  
• Lead the continued development of processes for contract management that allow scalability, enhance operational efficiency, and maintain legal compliance as the company expands its operations and product offerings.
  
  
• Act as a strategic advisor to the sales, business development, and marketing teams, guiding them on contractual and regulatory requirements pertinent to their operations, and employing a solution-oriented mindset that advances the company’s growth objectives. Flexibility, creativity, and a focus on relationships are a key part of this role.
  
  
• Take a lead role on any number of important legal and compliance projects, such as financings, M&A, and other complex transactions, product launch/go-to-market advice and support, litigation and risk management, regulatory compliance, government affairs and incentives, intellectual property, privacy and data security, labor and employment, etc.
  
  
• Act as a critical advisor and company decision-maker to identify risks inherent in company business decisions and develop solutions that mitigate risk. Must be proactive, actively researching and deploying best practices to promote successful operations.
  
  
• Manage and oversee litigation matters, working closely with external counsel as needed.
  
  
• Stay abreast of evolving federal and state regulatory requirements relevant to the commercial and specialty vehicle industries and the EV industry. Work closely with the company’s homologation teams to advise on regulations governing vehicle manufacturing, emissions standards, licensing and registration, data privacy laws, and cybersecurity compliance.
  
  
• Work with the company’s General Counsel to support government affairs efforts by monitoring policy developments, drafting position papers, and representing the company’s interests in regulatory matters, including via building relationships with key government stakeholders.
  
  
• Assist with corporate governance matters, including preparing board meeting agendas, drafting minutes, resolutions, and consents. Maintain corporate records, ensuring compliance with all statutory filing requirements and corporate governance policies.

 Who You Are:

• J.D. degree with strong academic credentials from a top-tier law school.
• Membership in good standing of the California State Bar (or Registered in-house counsel – willing to accommodate a relocation).
• 8+ years of relevant experience in a premier law firm or in-house environment, ideally in the automotive or other similar industry and/or a hardware startup. (Litigators must have transactional experience.)
• Independent and proactive thinker, with demonstrated ability to act as a decision-maker and lead teams with limited supervision. 
• Must have intellectual curiosity and a willingness and desire to take on new challenges – identify a need and find and carry out a solution (often one that is not a purely legal solution).
• Understanding of relevant business issues and challenges. 
• Outstanding writing skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational skills. Flexibility to adjust priorities and manage time wisely in a fast-paced environment with multiple stakeholders.
• Positive attitude and a desire to help grow a strong, supportive team and collaborative company culture. Relationship-building is an essential component of the job function.
• Be someone that enjoys wearing many hats and has an “ownership mindset” – Harbinger is a fast growing startup, if you want it, this role will offer you the opportunity to “make your own adventure” and expand beyond your core expertise, while serving as a key contributor in building a new industry-defining automotive manufacturer.