Corporate Counsel

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

This position is responsible for the management of assigned legal activities in support of the Global Supply Chain and Procurement functions of a $23 billion global manufacturing company. This high visibility position will involve the drafting, negotiation, interpretation and management of multimillion dollar supply agreements with key domestic and international suppliers.  The position will involve tasks and responsibilities generally performed by lawyers in law firms and corporate legal departments, including but not limited to the following:

(1) Effective management of assigned legal activities for business units, functions and/or legal practice areas relating to the procurement of key products and services:

• Supports projects and teams - Supports or leads projects providing legal support and solutions to the Company's Global Supply Chain and Procurement business functions.
• Provides legal counsel - Provides focused and practical legal advice respecting business operations as well as the impact of current or anticipated laws, rules and regulations on existing or anticipated supplier relationships.
• Develops and substantiates corporate positioning on matters involving legal and regulatory compliance and significant commercial contract negotiations. 
• Identifies and analyzes existing and emerging legal risks impacting supplier relationships, including contractual obligations.  Develops and implements business-focused strategies to manage risks.
• Compliance - Assists the development and implementation of policies, procedures and control mechanisms to promote compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to global supply functions.
• Proactive guidance - Stays abreast of new regulations and emerging legal risks; provides proactive advice and counsel to business units and corporate functions that may be impacted.

(2) Demonstrates the development of core legal expertise and support for legal affairs of business units or enterprise-wide functions:

• Develops broad understanding of the strategies used by the Global Supply Chain and Procurement functions in carrying out their enterprise-level responsibilities. 
• Supports clients in an efficient and effective manner, responding to real-time developments in the negotiation of multimillion-dollar procurement contracts.
• Manages outside counsel in an efficient and cost-effective manner, as necessary.

(3) Business Unit Support and Guidance:

• Acquires and maintains knowledge of company systems, tools and processes and procedures relevant to procurement, sourcing, and other Company projects and initiatives.
• Drafts, reviews and negotiates commercial agreements, including procurement, sales, consulting, construction and other commercial contracts. 
• Advises on legal issues related to the Company’s procurement, sourcing and manufacturing functions, including supply chain diligence and other commercial issues.
• Leads, collaborates and supports projects and provides general legal support for Company’s commercial operations, including but not limited to procurement, sourcing and supporting the commercial objectives of various business units.
• Monitors new regulations and emerging legal risks and provide proactive advice and counsel to corporate functions and business units.
• Interacts with operations, product development and R&D teams to understand and incorporate evolving requirements for raw material procurement. 

(4) Other Corporate & Administrative Matters:

• Supports projects, negotiate commercial agreements and provide advice on other assigned corporate and administrative matters.
• Manages and directs outside counsel, as necessary. 

(5) Supervisory Responsibility:

• Manages or provides work direction or review the work of individual contributor level support staff (paralegals, admins, fellows, law clerks, etc.).

“Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company’s staff, employees, and business relationships.” 

FORMAL EDUCATION:

Required: 

• Juris Doctor
• License to practice law in Ohio or ability to obtain licensure in Ohio

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

• Required: 3-5 years of experience in a law firm and/or corporate legal department.
• Experience advising on a range of issues relating to commercial contract negotiation, sourcing, raw material procurement and commercial dispute resolution.

Preferred:  

• 5+ years of experience preferred.
• Excellent academic credentials
• Experience in the chemicals industry or a related market.

TECHNICAL/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

Required:

• PC skills; Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); and other applications as required.
• General working knowledge of legal software

Travel 10%