Senior Counsel

Vanderlande is a global market leader in material handling system design, manufacture, installation, and service.  Vanderlande systems employ the latest in robotic, mechanical, and software technology.   Vanderlande’s customers are household names in e-commerce, package delivery, and air transportation. 

The Legal Department is responsible for a broad range of activities including commercial trade and transactions, dispute resolution, compliance, employment, and risk management.  As a small and talented team, we maintain a solution-oriented approach to solving business challenges. We aim to improve Company ​growth and profitability ​by creating opportunities, ​mitigating risk, enhancing reputation, and promoting ​ethical behavior. 

This motivated and energetic Senior Counsel will report to the General Counsel or an Associate General Counsel and engage in a variety of legal and compliance services supporting the business across North America.  Key focus areas will be supporting project sales and subcontracting, project performance, and related compliance programs.

Job Responsibilities:

The Senior Counsel drives certain transaction, claim management, and compliance activities, as well as support senior attorneys in the department.  The Senior Counsel provides legal advice and recommendations for action to management, staff, and legal colleagues regarding matters of some complexity and financial importance. This position combines knowledge of legal specialties with sound business acumen and knowledge of the business strategy and objectives as they relate to the matter at hand. This position operates under general direction from the senior legal team.

• Provide advice and counsel to procurement, supply, and manufacturing organizations.
• Support the drafting, review, and negotiation of a wide variety of commercial contracts, including downstream construction subcontracts, equipment supply, purchase orders, change orders, and other key contract management documentation for compliance with VI contracts, processes, policies, and standards.
• Support project teams in front-line evaluation of downstream claims and disputes. Drive resolution of disputes as quickly, favorably, and at the lowest cost reasonably possible.
• Support the business on commercial and trade issues, including customs, tariffs, and relevant legislation.
• Promote best practices and Company standards in contracting for downstream construction services, equipment supply, and other procurement and manufacturing categories.
• Ensure ethical purchasing principles and that contracting conditions comply with all regulatory, safety, and quality system requirements.
• Support and coordinate legal aspects of the development and implementation of the Company’s contract management system, developing expertise in its operation and performance.
• Oversight and management of downstream contract templates, purchase orders, and contract management forms, including promoting effective use of contract templates, transaction forms and processes, and driving alignment with the Company’s contracting standards and policies as well as normalized industry standards (e.g., AIA, FIDIC, etc.).
• Continually strive for excellence in legal advice, advocacy, and compliance enforcement services, through continuing education, staying current on status of laws and best practices.
• Engage with internal clients to understand the key strategies, challenges, and opportunities within the procurement, supply chain, and manufacturing organizations.  Issue spot for areas where Legal can support in achieving the objectives of these enabling departments.
• Promote quality and consistency in service by the Legal Dept. to the Company as a whole, by proactively seeking collaboration with other Legal team members and ensuring alignment in Legal Department work-flow, guidance as to common issues, templates, training, and other service areas.
• Coordinate certain compliance programs, including development, training, and auditing.
• Research legal issues and developments, prepare updates and memoranda.
• Prepare and conduct training for business departments on legal issues.
• Support discovery, document management, and other tasks related to litigation. 
• Coordinate with outside counsel on various issues as needed.

Requirements

• At least 2 years of experience as a practicing attorney.  Experience in construction, commercial transactions, contract management, equipment supply chain transactions, or claims/litigation are considered to be material.
• Broad knowledge of contractual and legal concepts involved in commercial construction contracts.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and critical reasoning skills.
• Passionate and conscientious approach to compliance.
• Professional, pro-active, self-motivated with ability to work under pressure with strong assertiveness and persuasion skills and ability to think through situations from an abstract conceptual perspective.
• Flexible team player with excellent time management skills, willing to accept new challenges and assignments based on needs of the business.
• Ability to pass background check to the extent required to obtain clearance for TSA-secured areas of US airports.

Travel

This position requires domestic and international travel, typically 5 to 10% of the time.