Chief Legal Officer

Position Summary

The Chief Legal Officer (CLO) serves as the organization's senior legal executive and trusted advisor to the CEO, executive leadership team, and Board of Directors. The CLO is responsible for overseeing all legal, regulatory, compliance, governance, litigation, risk management, and corporate affairs functions. This role provides strategic guidance to support business objectives while protecting the company from legal and regulatory risks.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team, contributing to corporate strategy and business planning.

• Advise the CEO and Board of Directors on legal, regulatory, governance, and risk management matters.

• Develop and implement legal strategies that support organizational growth and operational objectives.

• Anticipate legal and regulatory developments and proactively advise leadership on potential impacts.

Corporate Governance

• Serve as corporate secretary or oversee corporate governance activities.

• Ensure compliance with corporate governance standards and best practices.

• Support Board and committee meetings, including preparation of resolutions, agendas, and governance documentation.

• Maintain corporate records and oversee entity management activities.

Legal Affairs

• Lead all legal operations, including contract management, commercial transactions, employment matters, litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.

• Draft, review, negotiate, and approve significant commercial agreements and strategic transactions.

• Manage outside counsel relationships and legal budgets.

• Oversee dispute resolution, claims management, and litigation strategy.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Establish and maintain enterprise compliance programs.

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and international laws and regulations.

• Partner with business leaders to identify, assess, and mitigate legal and operational risks.

• Oversee ethics, compliance, privacy, and corporate conduct initiatives.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Transactions

• Provide legal leadership for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships.

• Manage due diligence processes and transaction documentation.

• Advise leadership on transaction structures and associated risks.

Employment & Labor Matters

• Provide guidance on employment law, workplace investigations, labor relations, employee policies, and workforce compliance.

• Partner with Human Resources on organizational initiatives and risk mitigation strategies.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing legal and compliance team.

• Establish department goals, performance standards, and succession planning initiatives.

• Foster a collaborative and business-oriented legal culture.

Qualifications

Education

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.

• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Experience

• 12+ years of progressive legal experience, including a combination of law firm and in-house counsel experience preferred.

• Prior experience serving in a senior legal leadership role, such as General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, or Chief Legal Officer.

• Demonstrated expertise in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, commercial transactions, employment law, and litigation management.

• Experience advising executive leadership teams and Boards of Directors.

Work Complexity:

Compensation to complete – based on JA Level. Remove for XPS roles.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is normally performed in a typical interior office work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential job functions of the position either with or without reasonable accommodation. Applicants as well as employees are encouraged to meet with Human Resources as the organization shall review reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.

Job Responsibilities:

The statements reflect the general duties and responsibilities considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job and should not be considered as an all-inclusive list of all the work requirements of the position. The company may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.