POSITION OVERVIEW: Mobis North America seeks an experienced General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer to serve as the senior legal executive providing strategic legal guidance and oversight across our two union production facilities located in Highland Park MI and Toledo OH and our Sales Team and R&D Center both located in Plymouth MI. This role will be responsible for managing all legal matters of the company with a focus on commercial matters contract management and negotiation labor employment intellectual property compliance and will be collaborate closely with the regional corporate headquarters located in Atlanta GA. This lawyer will serve as a trusted business partner to executive leadership and senior managers across the company.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS:
Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Legal Leadership & Corporate Governance
- Serve as principal legal advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team
- Oversee all corporate legal matters including mergers and acquisitions corporate structure governance and regulatory compliance
- Develop and implement enterprise-wide legal strategies aligned with business objectives and headquarters directives
- Manage relationships with outside counsel and legal service providers
- Lead corporate compliance program ensuring adherence to all applicable laws and regulations
- Collaborate with legal team in Seoul South Korea on global initiatives policy alignment and cross-border matters
Contract Management & Commercial Transactions
- Negotiate draft and review complex commercial contracts including supplier agreements customer contracts licensing arrangements and strategic partnerships
- Provide legal oversight for automotive industry-specific agreements and OEM relationships
- Manage intellectual property portfolio including patents trademarks and technology licensing
- Oversee procurement and purchasing agreements across all facilities
- Direct contract administration systems and processes to ensure compliance and risk mitigation
- Coordinate with Seoul headquarters on international contracts and joint venture agreements
Labor & Employee Relations
- Lead all labor relations activities for two unionized production facilities including collective bargaining negotiations and contract administration
- Ensure compliance with National Labor Relations Act and all applicable labor laws
- Partner with HR on employment law matters including discrimination harassment wage and hour and workplace safety
- Manage grievance procedures arbitrations and labor disputes
- Develop proactive labor relations strategies to maintain positive union-management relationships
- Advise management on union avoidance strategies and best practices
Risk Management & Litigation
- Identify assess and mitigate legal and business risks across the organization
- Oversee litigation strategy and management for all legal proceedings
- Coordinate product liability warranty and recall-related legal matters
- Develop and maintain insurance programs in coordination with risk management
- Lead internal investigations and manage regulatory inquiries
Compliance & Ethics
- Design implement and oversee comprehensive compliance program including policies training and monitoring
- Ensure compliance with automotive industry regulations environmental laws and international trade requirements
- Maintain ethics hotline and investigation protocols
- Conduct regular compliance audits and risk assessments
- Serve as liaison with regulatory agencies and government entities
- Align North American compliance initiatives with global compliance standards established by Seoul headquarters
Leadership & Team Development
- Directly supervise and mentor paralegal to ensure efficient legal department operations
- Provide training to business leaders on legal and compliance matters
- Foster culture of integrity ethical behavior and legal compliance throughout the organization
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS:
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from accredited law school
- Active membership in good standing with Michigan state bar
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum 10 years of progressive legal experience with at least 7 years in senior legal leadership role
- Extensive experience negotiating and managing complex corporate contracts in manufacturing or automotive environment
- Proven track record in labor relations including collective bargaining negotiations and union contract administration
- Significant experience managing multi-site legal operations
- In-house counsel experience in manufacturing automotive or related industry strongly preferred
- Experience working with international headquarters and cross-cultural legal teams
Core Competencies
- Deep expertise in corporate law commercial contracts and M&A transactions
- Comprehensive knowledge of labor and employment law particularly NLRA and union relations
- Strong understanding of automotive industry regulations and supply chain legal issues
- Demonstrated ability to balance legal risk with business objectives
- Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills
- Strategic thinking with ability to translate legal concepts for non-legal audiences
- Crisis management and critical decision-making capabilities
- Ability to work effectively across time zones and cultural contexts
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience with Korean-based or international parent companies
- Background in automotive tier-1 supplier environment
- Experience with R&D facilities and intellectual property protection
- Knowledge of OSHA environmental regulations and workplace safety compliance
- International trade and customs law experience
- Prior experience managing legal department budgets and outside counsel relationships
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:
- Uncompromising integrity and ethical standards
- Strong executive presence and communication skills
- Collaborative leadership style with ability to influence at all organizational levels
- Cultural sensitivity and ability to work effectively in international corporate structure
- Pragmatic problem-solver with business acumen
- Calm under pressure with sound judgment
- Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence
- Flexibility to work across global time zones when necessary
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Position requires occasional or frequent moderate physical activity
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Office work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements.
- Stress may occur periodically.
TRAVEL:
- Occasional international travel
- Frequent local travel
OTHER DUTIES:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
CANDIDATE SPONSORSHIP:
Mobis does not provide immigration related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need Mobis immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship entry of Mobis as the immigration employer of record on a government form and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company. (e.g. H-1B OPT STEM OPT CPT TN J-1 etc.)
ADA DISCLAIMER:
Mobis North America is committed to working with and offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to disability for any part of the employment process please contact us at:
EEO STATEMENT:
Mobis North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company will provide equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability or veteran status. Information collected regarding categories provided by law will in no way affect the decision regarding an employment application.
Mobis North America will not discharge or in any manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about discussed or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge (b) in furtherance of an investigation proceeding hearing or action including an investigation conducted by the employer or (c) consistent with Mobis North America legal duty to furnish information.