SVP, Legal & Compliance (Novi)

A Career at HARMAN

As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.

Introduction: A Career at HARMAN Corporate

We’re a global, multi‑disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. At HARMAN Corporate, you are integral to our company’s award‑winning success.

• Enrich your managerial and organizational talents – from finance, quality, and supply chain to human resources, IT, sales, and strategy
• Augment your comprehensive skillset with expert training across decision‑making, change management, leadership, and business development
• Obtain 360‑degree support throughout your career life cycle, from early‑stage to seasoned leader

About the Role

The SVP Legal & Compliance is a strategic executive responsible for leading HARMAN’s global legal, compliance and governance functions, including Corporate Secretary responsibilities, privacy, and labor & employment (in close partnership with HR). HARMAN is a U.S.‑incorporated global company and a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, and this role requires a U.S.‑qualified attorney with strong command of U.S. legal frameworks alongside international expertise.

In alignment with the company’s evolving operating model this role will report directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), strengthening integration across legal, financial, risk, and compliance domains to drive enterprise value. The SVP serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO, CFO, Board of Directors, and executive leadership team, balancing risk management with commercial enablement. This leader will ensure that legal and compliance strategies are tightly aligned with financial objectives, operational priorities, and long‑term value creation.

Your Team

This role leads an integrated global legal and compliance organization of approximately 125 professionals, reports directly to the CFO and has direct access to the CEO and Board/Committee Chairs as needed.

What You Will Do

Enterprise Legal & Governance Leadership

• Lead global legal strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate, financial, and operational priorities.
• Oversee corporate governance across a complex parent‑subsidy structure, including interactions with Samsung governance bodies, and lead Corporate Secretary responsibilities (e.g., board governance processes, committee support, minutes, and corporate records) as applicable.
• Serve as a key advisor to the Board and its committees, ensuring robust governance frameworks and transparent communication.
• Embed governance as a strategic enabler of enterprise integrity, accountability, and performance.

Integration with Finance & Enterprise Risk

• Partner closely with the CFO to integrate legal, compliance, and financial risk management.
• Align legal strategies with capital allocation, financial planning, and enterprise risk frameworks.
• Drive cost discipline, legal function efficiency, and optimization of external counsel spend.
• Support strategic financial transactions, including M&A, joint ventures, and restructuring activities.

Regulatory, Compliance & Risk Leadership

• Lead global compliance, ethics, and regulatory programs across all jurisdictions.
• Strengthen a “Speak Up” culture with clear reporting channels, non‑retaliation principles, and trusted investigation and escalation processes.
• Ensure adherence to U.S. and international laws, including privacy and data protection, labor & employment (in close partnership with HR), anti‑corruption, trade compliance, and cybersecurity.
• Develop and scale enterprise‑wide compliance and risk programs that proactively protect the company’s reputation and assets.
• CLCO is the primary legal advisor to the Board and retains independence on ethics/compliance matters with direct access to the CEO and Board/Committee chairs as needed.
• Lead crisis management and investigations, ensuring timely and effective resolution.

Strategic Transactions & Commercial Enablement

• Provide legal leadership for complex global transactions, including M&A, partnerships, and commercial agreements.
• Enable business growth by structuring innovative and risk‑balanced deal frameworks.
• Partner with business leaders to support market expansion, new business models, and technology‑driven initiatives.

Litigation & Intellectual Property Management

• Oversee global litigation strategy, balancing risk exposure with business priorities.
• Protect and monetize intellectual property assets to support innovation and competitive advantage.
• Build and manage a high‑performing global legal network, including external counsel.

Transformation & Change Leadership

• Modernize legal operations, including digitalization, process optimization, and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Act as a change agent, driving cultural and operational transformation across the enterprise.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Build, develop, and retain a high‑performing global legal and compliance team (approximately 125), with strong succession planning and leadership depth.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Promote psychological safety and appropriate escalation—ensuring leaders and teams raise issues early and act with integrity under pressure.
• Serve as a role model for ethical leadership and enterprise mindset.

What You Need to Be Successful

Experience

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active membership in good standing with a U.S. state bar.
• 20+ years of progressive legal leadership experience, including service as a General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, or equivalent enterprise legal executive role within a global organization.
• Strong grounding in U.S. corporate law, governance, and regulatory frameworks, with experience operating in multinational environments.
• Proven experience leading enterprise‑wide initiatives and transformations.
• Deep expertise in corporate governance within complex, multinational structures.
• Demonstrated success managing global litigation, regulatory, compliance, and intellectual property matters.
• Significant experience supporting strategic transactions (M&A, joint ventures, complex commercial agreements).

Leadership Capabilities

• Enterprise mindset with ability to operate across functions and geographies.
• Strong collaboration across multiple stakeholders—including Samsung, corporate functions, and business leaders.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to align legal strategy with business and financial outcomes.
• Proven ability to influence at Board and C‑suite levels.
• Exceptional leadership, talent development, and team‑building capabilities.
• Strong change leadership and transformation experience.

Functional Competencies

• Regulatory, compliance, privacy/data protection, cyber, and risk leadership.
• Corporate governance in complex parent‑subsidy environments.
• Corporate Secretary / board governance experience, including board and committee processes and documentation discipline.
• Strategic and commercial transaction expertise.
• Global litigation and intellectual property management.
• Labor & employment law leadership and strong partnership model with HR.
• Cross‑functional and enterprise‑wide impact.

Personal Attributes

• High integrity and sound judgment.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial orientation.
• Effective communicator with executive presence.
• Collaborative leader with strong emotional intelligence.
• Resilient and adaptable in a dynamic, global environment.

What Makes You Eligible

• Be willing to travel up to 25%, domestic only OR domestic and international travel.
• Be willing to work in an office in Stamford CT, Novi MI or Northridge CA in a hybrid model.
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment.

What We Offer

• Access to employee discounts on world‑class products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, and more)
• Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University
• Competitive wellness benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development

Salary Ranges

$ 281,250 - $ 412,500

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affinity Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.