Associate General Counsel

Job Summary

This position is a part of Phoenix Contact’s North American in-house legal services function, serving Phoenix Contact’s wholly owned United States companies (collectively, the “Company”), as well as to Phoenix Contact’s North American affiliated companies, specifically, Phoenix Contact, Ltd. located in Canada and Phoenix Contact S.A de C. V, located in Mexico (the “Affiliates”). This position also advises, consults, and carries out the legal processes necessary to affect the rights, privileges, and obligations of the organization and has the responsibility to serve as the Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company.

Responsibilities

• Assists the North American General Counsel in providing services to the Company and Affiliates, including developing processes and tracking mechanisms for legal activities
• Assists with providing strategic risk advice to the Company’s and Affiliates’ executive leadership
• Assists with the Company's and the Affiliates’ practical risk management activities
• Assists with the Company’s insurance activities and evaluate insurance coverage needs for the property, vehicles, contracts, events and business operations of the Company
• Examines legal data to determine advisability of defending or prosecuting lawsuits and representing the Company and the Affiliates in matters of litigation
• Provides ongoing oversight of and mentorship to the legal department staff
• Serves as Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company, supporting activities such as:
  • Preparing, managing, and recording all required documentation and meeting materials for board meetings
  • Insuring corporate legal compliance with all regulatory agencies
  • Advising the Board on its roles and responsibilities
  • Advising the Board regarding legal and regulatory matters
  • Maintaining key corporate records
  • Distributing all original consents and notices to shareholders and board members
• Assists with the corporate governance activities for the Company as directed by the Board, including the filing of annual reports and registering the subsidiary companies in the appropriate states where business activity is commenced
• Manages external legal counsel for the Company’s and the Affiliates’ in matters requiring certain specialized areas of legal expertise, as requested
• Serves as liaison with external regulatory agencies pertaining to legal issues of the Company and the Affiliates
• Advises the Company and the Affiliates through legal research and legal interpretation and advice regarding emerging legal and regulatory requirements
• Oversees and provides legal services to the Company and the Affiliates in the areas of contract law, business law, intellectual property law, anti-trust law, data protection law, licensing law, privacy law, supply chain and logistics laws, real estate law, product development law, education, policy and any other area in which a need arises
• Manages the monitoring and evaluation of contract performance to determine the necessity for amendments, extensions of contract and compliance with duties of performance of the contract, as requested by the Company or the Affiliates
• Approves or rejects requests for deviations from the legal services guidelines
• Provides guidance and advice to the German Legal Department attorneys on key    global programs (supplier and/or customer), emerging regulatory issues and the legal interpretation of general legal matters of US law
• Assists various departments of the Company and the Affiliates with drafting internal policies which are compliant with applicable laws and regulations, as requested
• Develops and presents educational materials on various legal topics to the Company's and the Affiliates’ employees, as requested
• Manages the legal department’s contract lifecycle management system (CLM), including:
  • Selecting appropriate features and modules
  • Managing AI playbooks
  • Selecting vendors
  • Negotiating involved contracts and pricing
• Maintains subject-matter expertise in various areas of law, while continuously expanding knowledge in those areas
• Other duties as assigned by one’s Manager

Qualifications

• J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school
• Admission to the Pennsylvania Bar and continued licensure to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Minimum of 8 years' legal practice experience within an in-house legal department of a privately held or publicly traded company
• Ability to communicate and work with others effectively
• Detail oriented with high level of accuracy
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management
• Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality
• Demonstrates a willingness to collaborate with others, build relationships, and involve others in decision making.
• Demonstrates the ability to deliver results by solving or supporting others in solving problems, prioritizing tasks and/or resources, and focusing on outcomes.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and the willingness to learn and grow, accept changes, and effectively adapt to changing work demands.
• Demonstrates the ability to drive customer value through knowledge of the business, putting effort into identifying customer needs, and delivering work to maximize the value for customers.
• Demonstrates a willingness to promote the value of improvement and innovation by staying ahead of trends, creating ideas and opportunities, and generating speed.
• Demonstrates a willingness to take ownership by making decisions, taking responsibility, and driving things forward.

Essential Job Functions

• Must be fluent in English
• Must be able to travel in vehicles (automobiles, trains, & planes) for up to 12 hours
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to travel via automobile for up to six hours
• Must be able to travel internationally and nationally for up to 2 weeks or more as dictated by circumstances
• Must be able to work on a computer for extended periods of time (up to 4 hours at a time)
• Must be able to sit/and or stand for extended periods of time (2-4 hours at a time)
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds
• Regular and on-time attendance

Perks & Benefits

Phoenix Contact offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k matching, and a generous time off package. There are also a wide variety of additional benefits available including 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave & 10 weeks fully paid paternity leave, life insurance, short & long-term disability, on-site gym access, health & wellbeing center, on-site café, walking trails, tuition assistance, and more!

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