Associate General Counsel US

Job Posting Title

Associate General Counsel - US

Legal Entity

American Axle & Manufacturing Inc

Job Description Summary

Dauch is looking for an Associate General Counsel to join our team in Detroit MI.

This individual will serve as a strategic business-oriented legal partner to Dauchs Americas operations supporting teams across the United States. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel for the Americas this role will lead and manage a broad range of commercial contracting matters provide practical and actionable legal advice to cross-functional stakeholders actively support HR and employment matters manage litigation and dispute resolution and advise on day-to-day business activities. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound legal judgment strong leadership and a solutions-driven collaborative approach suited to a fast-paced manufacturing and supply chain environment.

Job Description:

• Drafts reviews and negotiates a wide range of commercial agreements including supply procurement tooling services logistics customs and trade confidentiality quality warranty and technology agreements ensuring alignment with company policies applicable laws and risk tolerance.
• Provides timely pragmatic and solution-oriented legal counseling to business stakeholders in sales procurement HR engineering operations quality finance IT and EHS ensuring legal risks are clearly communicated and business objectives are supported.

• Identifies assesses and mitigates legal and commercial risks escalating issues as appropriate and proposing alternative structures or solutions that achieve business objectives while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Supports HR and labor and employment matters including hiring and separations policies investigations accommodations wage-and-hour issues EEOC claims training and employee relations coordinating with external counsel as appropriate and ensuring compliance with federal state and local laws.

• Supports and provides guidance on a broad range of property and real estate matters including commercial leases acquisitions dispositions and property-related disputes.

• Manages and coordinates outside counsel effectively and cost-efficiently including matter scoping budgeting performance monitoring and ensuring alignment with company objectives and cost controls.

• Develops and delivers legal training and playbooks for commercial and employment best practices.

• Manages litigation and assist with dispute management and pre-litigation strategy including claim evaluation correspondence and negotiated resolutions.
• All other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Education

• Juris Doctor Degree.
• Licensed and able to practice law in the State of Michigan and in good standing.
• 7 years of relevant legal experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal department with a strong focus on commercial transactions and employment and labor; manufacturing or automotive experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements with OEMs Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers and service providers.

• Experience advising business clients on day-to-day operational issues with clear pragmatic guidance strong stakeholder management and the ability to translate legal concepts into actionable business advice.

• Demonstrated experience with HR/labor and employment counseling for multi-state U.S. operations.

• Understanding of property/real estate laws and experience supporting property contracts and transactions including commercial leases and purchase and sale agreements.

• Strong contract interpretation issue-spotting and risk assessment skills with the ability to prioritize and manage a diverse and high-volume workload in a dynamic environment.

• Knowledge of export controls sanctions and trade compliance frameworks applicable to the automotive sector.

• Familiarity with warranty and recall concerns or campaigns and supply assurance strategies common in automotive supply chains including risk mitigation and contingency planning.

Core Competencies

• Strong business judgment and solution orientation with the ability to balance legal risk and commercial objectives while supporting business growth.

• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills with clear concise and decisive written and verbal communication and the ability to present complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences.

• Proven ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively across functions cultures and time zones fostering a team-oriented environment.

• Demonstrated ownership accountability and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced high-pressure environment.

• Discretion integrity and sound professional ethics.

• Strategic thinking with a continuous improvement mindset for processes templates training and legal operations.

Travel and Work Arrangement

• Hybrid rolebased in Detroit Michigan with regular onsite collaboration.

• Occasional domestic and international travel required (approximately 10-15%).

About Dauch:

Dauch Corporation is a premier Driveline and Metal Forming supplier serving the global automotive industry with a powertrain-agnostic product portfolio that supports electric hybrid and internal combustion vehicles. The company is headquartered in Detroit MI with operations that span 24 countries and more than 175 locations. Formed through the acquisition of Dowlais Group plc and its subsidiaries - GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy Dauch unites deep engineering roots with global manufacturing capabilities and an entrepreneurial spirit to move mobility forward. Visit to learn more.

Dauch will not discriminate against any Associate or applicant for employment because of age race color gender religion weight height marital status sexual orientation genetic history or information gender identity or expression disability protected veteran status national origin or other characteristic protected by law. Dauch will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and that Associates are treated equally during employment without regard to their age race color gender religion weight height marital status sexual orientation genetic history or information gender identity or expression disability protected veteran status national origin or other characteristic protected by law. For the Disabled Job Seeker: We offer reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled individuals who are applicants for employment. To request assistance or accommodations please e-mail Dauch is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.