Description:

Role Objective:
The Head of Legal Operations is responsible to drive all global legal activities and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and strategic goals. This position will be located in Washington, Michigan (USA) and report directly to the General Counsel.

Position Responsibilities:

Set the Legal strategy and resource strategy to deliver functional excellence as trusted and valuable business partner and enabler.
Deliver advisory services to support strategic business initiatives.
Ensure proper corporate governance structure within Legal/Governance Function.
Manage the legal risks and exposure for the Company, encompassing relations across all internal and external stakeholders (e.g., customers, suppliers, regulatory authorities, employees).
Support Compliance Organization as Deputy Compliance Officer (or as agreed with Compliance Head) to promote the ethical behaviors mandated for legal compliance and adherence to the ZF Way, Values and Principles, support compliance investigations, and trainings.
Develop an accountable and talented expert organization, passionate to deliver Legal & functional excellence.
Manage All 3 Regions of Legal support, including Regulatory and Litigation matters.
Managing a small team of product safety/litigation support specialists.

Education:
Juris Doctor degree with license to practice law in the State of Michigan required.

Experience and Skill Set:

Proven experience as Senior Legal Counsel with a minimum of 10 years in business/automotive environment required.
Excellent knowledge and understanding of corporate and commercial law and procedures required.
Self-motivated and confident individual, able to manage a large and diverse workload. Expert level leadership capabilities: position has 3 to 5 direct reports and ~10 in reporting line, globally.
Independent, thorough, and commercially minded but always conscious of acting in an ethical manner in the best interests of ZF.
Possess confidence and gravitas, capable of working both autonomously and as part of a cross-disciplinary and global team.
Able to deal with a demanding internal client base, including by handling multiple matters simultaneously and by meeting tight deadlines when required.
Analytical skills and creative problem solving.
Organizational and interpersonal skills respecting our internal values.
High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
Strong negotiation and presentation skills.
Business and solution-oriented mindset.
Proactive, organized, and accuracy with attention to detail.
Safety conscious and flexible.
Be able to work in a high dynamic organization and to work under pressure.
English fluency required. Outstanding communication skills required.
Travel: 0%-30% No regular travel expected but could be necessary domestically/internationally at times.