General Counsel And Head Of Compliance

General Counsel and Head of Compliance

Overview:

The company seeks a transformational General Counsel and Head of Compliance to build a scalable legal team, establish a robust compliance and contract management framework, and drive operational efficiency across all legal processes. As a key strategic leader, this role will enable business growth through legal transformation, risk management, and deal readiness. As a legal advisor for our organization, the General Counsel and Head of Compliance, will play a crucial role in providing strategic legal guidance and competently managing complex legal issues.

This role will proactively manage and advise on Austin Powder's legal affairs including litigation, corporate governance, compliance, and risk. Strong familiarity with corporate governance, contracts, intellectual property, labor/employment, litigation, environmental and regulatory, antitrust, ERISA, corporate/securities, foreign corruption and compliance, and privacy matters, as well as general corporate management.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manage of a broad array of legal, regulatory, compliance, and environmental matters across the Company.
• Design and implement a comprehensive compliance framework and regulatory strategy
• Build and onboard a core legal team and department focusing on strategy, standardization, compliance and operational excellence
• Implement a centralized contract review and approval process
• Establish a litigation and risk oversight framework
• Build and maintain a privacy compliance program, cyber risk governance and incident response protocols
• Drive legal, IP, IT, and procurement strategy to enable compliant, efficient, and innovation-ready growth
• Close alignment and cooperation with the senior management
• Participate in critical governance and management of Austin Powder entities, including subsidiaries, business units and distribution entities
• Respond to safety-related incidents and/or investigations and implement corrective actions necessary to protect the Company and its employees.
• Draft and negotiate customer contracts across the business in accordance with applicable delegations of authority. Facilitate legal and commercial sign-offs on all major corporate and commercial transactions and projects.
• Support and review progress and management of intellectual property portfolio, developments and strategies.
• Promote Austin Powder SHES management safety system and participate in Company-led safety and compliance activities and initiatives.
• Manage litigation matters, regulatory claims and proceedings, and internal and external investigations, with efficient use of internal resources and external counsel.
• Provide legal support for major contracts and alliances, mergers and acquisitions, special projects and strategic initiatives
• Regularly train and advise key management and other appropriate personnel on critical company policies, governance, compliance, and legal matters.
• Providing strategic guidance on key company projects, business direction, and corporate strategies, while supporting informed commercial decision-making to drive growth and long-term success.

Key Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor's degree and Juris Doctorate from accredited universities.
• Member and of good standing with an appropriate State Bar, preferrably Ohio
• 8 years of law firm and/or in-house experience
• Excellent research, analytical, practical problem-solving skills, and oral and written communication skills
• Superior leadership, communication and negotiation skills
• Proven track record in managing legal, governance, environmental, regulatory, compliance, and employment related matters
• Technological literacy in Microsoft products such as Word and Excel and general familiarity with legal software solutions.
• Ability to provide high-level strategic guidance on corporate projects, business direction, and commercial decision-making is essential.

Key Leadership Attributes:

• Ability to embrace and promote Austin Powder's core values of safety, integrity, respect, customer focus, and innovation
• Self-confidence to communicate problems and ask for help when challenges arise
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment
• Understand corporate governance obligations, and ability to actively participate in the direction of critical business entities
• Highest standards of professional responsibility, ethics, and integrity
• Ability to understand, respond to, and work to advise on commercial and management needs in addition to and in conjunction with legal competencies
• Ability to work in fast paced, dynamic and challenging environment
• Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm and diplomacy both individually and collaboratively as part of a team
• Ability to work in teams to produce quality materials within tight timeframes and simultaneously manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Strong executive presence with demonstrated ability to lead change and drive execution with a balance of honoring and respecting a successful near 200-year legacy

Key Relationships

• AIP
• Austin Powder GLT Members
• Human Resources
• Operational Business Units
• Distributors and Customers
• External Counsel
• Regulatory and Government Agencies
• Industry & Lobbying Organizations
• Sales & Operations Personnel
• Technology / R&D Departments

Location:

• The position will be based in Cleveland, OH, with domestic and international travel required from time to time.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify.

AUSTIN POWDER's Mission

To improve the world, we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives.

AUSTIN POWDER's Vision

We will be the global leader of explosive products, services and technologies as defined by our Customers, our Family and our Communities.

AUSTIN POWDER's Values

Safety is our 1st priority; We are customer focused; we leverage the Power of the Family; We treat everyone with respect.

This is an exciting opportunity for a proven leader to celebrate the company's rich history beginning in 1833. This is a unique opportunity to drive future success of an iconic US industrial company through continued transformation of key manufacturing processes and continue to lead the organization to best in class performance levels and culture.