Director of Legal, Corporate Counsel

Overview

This role is open to applicants residing in one of the following states: Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status.

Summary

The Director of Legal, Corporate Counsel provides leadership to the Legal department under the direction of the Senior Vice President of Risk, General Counsel. This position supports the Senior Vice President of Risk, General Counsel in providing expert legal advice and counsel to management across all aspects of the organization’s operations, including regulatory, contract, privacy, litigation, transactional, and governance matters.

Responsibilities (Essential Functions, in Priority Order)

• Provide legal advice, leadership, and counsel to all operating units to support the organization’s objectives, strategies, policies, and programs. This includes:
  • Assessing the merits of legal matters impacting the organization and advising management on options and strategies
  • Staying current with legislative developments and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of law relevant to the organization
  • Partnering with business unit leaders to address complex regulatory, compliance, and legal risks
  • Advising on policy and procedure development
  • Advising on product and service development
  • Conducting thorough legal research
  • Engaging outside counsel for subject matter expertise and overseeing outside counsel work
  • Time: 40%
• Provide legal advice and support to business units by drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and otherwise assisting with contract management throughout the lifecycle of all credit union contracts, including vendor agreements and agreements for real estate-related transactions.
  • Time: 30%
• Manage legal review of trust, power of attorney, levy, garnishment, guardianship, conservatorship, subpoena, and similar documentation, as well as disclosures, letters, notices, agreements, and drafting complex member-facing written complaint responses and other communications.
  • Time: 15%
• Manage legal department operations and support continuing professional development of direct reports.
  • Time: 10%
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  • Time: 5%

Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Must hold a current license to practice law.
• Active member of the State Bar of Michigan in good standing is preferred.
• A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a business-related field is preferred.

Experience

• Five to ten years of legal experience required.
• A strong focus on banking, bankruptcy, collections, contract, corporate, or privacy law preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to interface with a wide variety of contacts including members, vendors, outside attorneys, senior management, and other organizational employees.
• Agility to address diverse legal issues on a day-to-day basis.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, negotiating, consulting, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to provide actionable information clearly and effectively, including listening and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple, high-priority projects with keen attention to detail.
• Strong work ethic and ability to multi-task, prioritize, and follow through on numerous projects.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, understand business plans and goals, and relate them to legal strategies.
• Ability to provide a high degree of member-focused service to support operating units.

Required competencies:

• Demonstrates Courage
• Drive for Results
• Customer Focus
• Integrity and Trust
• Business Acumen
• Developing Direct Reports and Others
• Organizational Agility
• Building Effective Teams
• Problem Solving
• Managing Complexity

Mental requirements:

• High level of decision making in an ambiguous environment.
• Ability to listen and respond with empathy.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate information.
• Goal-oriented, innovative problem solver.
• Creative thinking in developing business process solutions.
• Ability to interpret laws and court decisions.
• Ability to use good judgment and make sound decisions quickly.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to negotiate settlements and solve problems.
• Ability to understand strategic objectives.
• Ability to concentrate in a multi-task environment.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and professional image.
• Ability to train and evaluate results.

Tools and equipment used:

• All available general office equipment as needed.
• All available computer software and hardware as needed.

Working Relationships / Contacts

• Daily, personal/written/phone contact with Senior Management Team members.
• Daily, personal/written/phone contact with other department managers.
• Daily, personal/written/phone contact with credit union staff.
• Weekly, personal/written/phone contact with credit union members.
• Weekly/monthly, personal/written/phone contact with strategic partners.

Physical Demands

Work involves standing and walking for brief periods of time, but most work is done from a seated position. There is potential for eyestrain from reading detailed reports and computer screens. Deadlines, workloads, and pressure to achieve goals may cause increased stress levels.

Working Conditions

• Internal: Work is normally performed in a climate-controlled office environment with very limited exposure to extreme heat/cold, poor ventilation, fumes, and gases. Noise level is moderate and includes sounds of normal office equipment (computers, telephones, etc.). No known environmental hazards are encountered in normal performance of duties. Length of day is unpredictable; long hours may be required to accommodate deadlines or special meetings.
• External: Some travel may be required; however, information on environmental conditions is not available.

Compensation & Benefits

Not specified.

Location

Applicant must reside in: Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, or Pennsylvania.

EOE / Veterans / Disability

EOE/Vets/Disability