Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

At Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., a leading designer, marketer and distributor of small household and commercial appliances, our culture is one of hard work, ethical behavior, and teamwork. We roll up our sleeves and work hard to create products that have been pleasing customers for over 100 years. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which includes health, dental, and vision insurances, HSA contributions, Profit Sharing, and a 401(k) plan with vested contributions beginning Day One. We provide paid vacation and holidays, summer hours and a paid charitable day off. To offset the cost of staying fit we offer a quarterly subsidy, and you can purchase our products at a discounted cost. We have a casual dress code, flexible hours, and development opportunities. These are just a few of the advantages of working for this dynamic company.

We are seeking qualified candidates for the Sr. VP General Counsel & Secretary position at our corporate facility located in Glen Allen, VA. The Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary will be a key executive leader and trusted legal advisor responsible for providing timely, coordinated and thoughtful strategic legal advice on a wide variety of legal, compliance, corporate governance, complex commercial and risk-management matters, grounded in applicable laws and tailored to Hamilton Beach’s business needs.  The role requires proven leadership and management skills, along with the agility and flexibility that’s essential to a growing and evolving business. This position reports directly to the CEO, advises the Board of Directors, and manages a high performing team of legal professionals. This position is hybrid, on-site at least 3 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal Strategy

• Serve as the chief legal advisor to the CEO, executive leadership and Board of Directors.
• Enhance cross-functional legal collaboration to drive positive business results and foster close and collaborative working relationships with all corporate stakeholders. 
• With a deep understanding of the Company’s business model, industry dynamics and financial goals, facilitate the achievement of business strategies and outcomes by delivering timely legal advice that demonstrates a strong ability to assess legal and regulatory issues in alignment with the organization’s risk appetite and business objectives.
• Manage varied and complex legal matters related to public company filings and corporate governance, increasingly diversified domestic and international operations, including regulatory compliance, product safety and development, risk management, supplier and customer relationships, intellectual property, and litigation.
• Implement legal strategies for corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.

2. Corporate Secretary and Governance

• Serve as Corporate Secretary, managing Board-related duties (including preparing agendas and materials for Board meetings) and serving as the Board’s primary legal advisor, in alignment with fiduciary and legal responsibilities and corporate governance best practices.
• Act as liaison to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, facilitating communications and ensuring compliance with governance practices.
• Maintain corporate records, including minutes of Board and committee meetings.
• Ensure adherence to securities laws and stock exchange rules for a public company, including timely and accurate regulatory filings and disclosures.

3. Compliance and Risk Management

• Oversee global compliance programs, including anti-corruption, privacy, trade, and regulatory standards.
• Provide legal support and guidance on enterprise-wide regulatory reporting, risk and compliance projects.
• Stay updated on legal and regulatory developments across key jurisdictions, ensuring proactive compliance. 
• Provide legal guidance on developing, organizing and memorializing corporate policies and practices.

4. Team Leadership and Development

• Develop, lead and manage a high performing legal team by building a fit-for-purpose legal function and fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, transparency, inclusion and alignment with organizational objectives so that the legal team is viewed as a trusted, agile and value-added business partner.
• Budget for, select and manage outside counsel and other external advisors.
• Optimize the legal department’s structure and capabilities to support the Company’s global operations effectively.

5. External Representation and Liaison

• Engage with external counsel, regulators and industry stakeholders to represent the Company’s interests.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and admission to at least one U.S. state bar.
• 15 years of legal experience, with multiple years in a leadership role.
• Must have extensive experience working with and advising on Delaware corporate governance and transactional law.
• Proven ability to anticipate and assess legal risks and give prudent advice to achieve business objectives.
• Proven experience supporting public company governance and compliance requirements.

Skills and Competencies

• Must be collaborative and flexible with excellent social skills, an innovative and strategic thinker, and possess high ethical standards.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills to interact with internal stakeholders, external partners and regulatory authorities.
• Exceptional leadership, organization, project management and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage and mentor a high-performing legal team.

Key Relationships

• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
• Direct Reports: Corporate, Commercial and Regulatory Counsel, Sr. Counsel (Intellectual Property), Sr. Counsel (Litigation) and other members of the legal team.
• Liaises with: Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team, external counsel, and global partners.

Location

Richmond, Virginia