Director of Legal, North America

Description The Director of Legal, North America is responsible for providing comprehensive legal support and guidance across the North American region, with primary responsibility for the United States and additional oversight of legal matters involving Mexico and Canada. This position serves as a key legal business partner to the President, Americas and works closely with the Group General Counsel to provide practical, commercially focused legal advice. The Director will manage a broad range of legal matters, with particular emphasis on litigation and commercial contracts, while also supporting corporate governance, employment law, compliance, and mergers and acquisitions. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an experienced legal professional seeking to expand their scope and develop into a broader senior leadership role. The position will have the opportunity to work on regional and global initiatives and will build and develop the North American legal support team over time. Litigation & Dispute Resolution Manage and actively handle litigation and dispute-related matters across North America. Develop and execute litigation strategies in partnership with business leaders and the Group General Counsel. Select, direct, and manage outside counsel as appropriate. Monitor litigation deadlines, discovery requirements, litigation holds, and related legal obligations. Provide practical legal guidance to business leaders regarding potential disputes and risk mitigation. Commercial Contracts Draft, review, negotiate, and manage commercial agreements throughout the contract lifecycle. Provide legal guidance on commercial transactions and business arrangements. Partner with internal stakeholders to identify and mitigate contractual and business risks. Support contract templates and contract lifecycle management processes. Corporate & Entity Management Manage legal entity matters for North American companies. Support corporate governance requirements, including board matters, corporate records, minute books, and statutory filings. Ensure appropriate maintenance of legal entity documentation and related obligations. Employment & Labor Law Provide legal guidance on routine employment and labor matters, primarily supporting U.S. operations. Support matters involving employment law issues in jurisdictions including Tennessee, California, and Colorado. Partner with Human Resources and business leaders on employment-related legal matters. Coordinate with external counsel on complex employment or labor matters when appropriate. Compliance Coordinate and implement the North American compliance program in partnership with the Group Head of Compliance. Provide legal and compliance guidance to regional business leaders. Support the implementation and ongoing administration of compliance initiatives across North America. Mergers & Acquisitions Support mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic transactions as they arise. Work under the leadership of the Group General Counsel on transaction-related legal matters. Coordinate operational legal activities associated with M&A transactions and support appropriate due diligence and execution. Leadership & Team Development Build and develop the North American legal team as the function grows. Initially lead and develop a paralegal with a broad/general and litigation focus. Support the addition and development of a second paralegal with a commercial/corporate focus as business needs warrant. Foster a collaborative, service-oriented legal team that effectively partners with the business. Regional Scope The role primarily supports the United States, which represents approximately 95% of the North American scope, with additional responsibility for: Mexico: Manufacturing operations. Canada: Sales operations. Global: Occasional participation in global legal projects and initiatives. Qualifications Required Qualifications Active admission to a U.S. state Bar; Bar admission is required. Approximately 5–7 years of relevant legal experience. Demonstrated experience with litigation and commercial contracts. Strong legal research, analysis, negotiation, drafting, and problem-solving skills. Ability to independently manage multiple legal matters and priorities. Strong business judgment and ability to provide practical, commercially focused legal advice. Ability to work effectively with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders. Preferred Qualifications In-house legal experience. Experience or exposure to corporate legal matters, compliance, employment/labor law, or mergers and acquisitions. Experience supporting a manufacturing or commercial business environment. Experience working across multiple jurisdictions or regions. Core Competencies Strategic & Business-Minded: Understands business objectives and provides practical legal solutions that appropriately balance risk and business needs. Negotiation: Demonstrates strong negotiation skills and the ability to effectively protect the company’s interests while supporting business objectives. Entrepreneurial Mindset: Takes ownership, demonstrates initiative, and approaches legal challenges with a solutions-oriented perspective. Curiosity & Continuous Learning: Quickly understands new and complex matters and demonstrates a willingness to build knowledge across multiple areas of law. Relationship Building: Develops strong internal relationships and serves as a trusted legal partner to senior leadership and business stakeholders. Leadership: Demonstrates the ability and desire to develop people, build a legal function, and grow into broader leadership responsibilities. Collaboration: Works effectively as a member of a global legal organization and partners successfully with internal and external stakeholders. #J-18808-Ljbffr