General Counsel
SkyWater has been retained by a fast-growing, long-term client to identify and recruit their next General Counsel. Our client is a private, multi-billion dollar manufacturer that’s headquartered in the upper Midwest, with a sizable executive office in Minneapolis. They have achieved remarkable growth through both organic growth & acquisition over the past decade, and aren’t slowing down anytime soon!
Reporting to the CEO, the General Counsel will lead a Legal team of 12, and serve on the executive leadership team. The General Counsel will be a business leader first, and attorney second. They will set the long-term strategic vision, priorities, and budget for the Legal team, ensure that the company and its employees stay in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, advise and liaise with the Board of Directors and executive team on strategic initiatives, and handle most sensitive and important legal matters.
*** This role is primarily an on-site role at their corporate office in Minneapolis. ***
*** The chosen candidate will receive a strong compensation and benefits package, including a competitive base salary, annual bonus, and long-term incentives. ***
Responsibilities
- Provide legal counsel to the executive team and the Board, including drafting and revising corporate policies, bylaws, minutes, agendas, and resolutions. - Manage, develop, and mentor the legal team. Manage the department’s budget and spending. - Oversee M&A and strategic corporate initiatives. - Advise the HR team on federal, multi-state, and international employment law. - Advise management and staff on legal issues related to programmatic initiatives. - Oversee data privacy and security program, training, and compliance. - Support the development of training materials, guidance documents, and relevant employee and contractor training. - Establish and manage relationships with outside counsel.
Desired Skills and Experience
- JD from an accredited law school. - Bar membership in good standing. - 15 years of prior experience at a top law firm or in-house, including at least 5-years of prior in-house counsel experience. - Ability to think strategically, anticipate potential problems, and design creative, out-of-the-box solutions. - Extremely strong business acumen. - Demonstrated ability to foster high-performing teams and develop and motivate staff with transparency and collaboration. - Delegates skillfully. Inspires and motivates others to take action and meet goals, and holds the team accountable. - Effectively manages a high volume of work through various methods of organization, project and task management, and prioritization as needs evolve. - Experience working with a large organization and familiarity with working cross-culturally and with those of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. - Ability to convey information clearly, accurately, and appropriately to different audiences, including employees, senior leadership, and the public. Able to communicate legal findings and decisions briefly, simply, and persuasively. - Ability to critically evaluate a wide range of issues and provide sound legal advice. - Ability to quickly take complex concepts and make difficult judgments in the best interests of the organization. - Ability to anticipate, de-escalate, and resolve disagreements and complaints in a practical and constructive manner in order to achieve results.
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