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Position Summary Provides legal counsel and advice to the organization in support of business activities and transactions, reporting to the company’s VP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Directs and administers the organization's contract management and risk-management functions. Researches and interprets laws and regulations and recent or anticipated changes to laws to guide informed decisions and reduce corporate risk. Prepares and reviews contracts of varying complexity, including vendor agreements, commercial leases, license agreements, NDA’s and other legal documents. Advises leadership and management on matters requiring knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Collaborates with outside counsel to address issues requiring specialized legal input.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides guidance and legal advice to management at all levels of the organization and works to protect the company from organizational risk while maintaining its operations within the scope established by law.
• Identifies and analyzes legal issues, drafts key documents, presents clear recommendations to senior management, and assures legal compliance. Assists or represents the organization in business negotiations.
• Serve as legal consultant to management throughout the organization on matters pertaining to its contracts, policies, plans, and objectives.
• Provides contractual guidance and advice in accordance with company policies and procedures, and interfaces with both internal and external customers to ensure proper contract execution.
• Oversees the preparation of proposals, negotiations, and the administration of contracts in accordance with established company policies and legal requirements.
• Has knowledge and understanding of the contract life cycle, types of contracts, and applicable government regulations.
• Supports or participates in contract negotiations with suppliers, partners, or customers. May be asked to lead negotiations for complex or high-value contracts.
• Provides guidance preparation bids and proposals that meet specifications and comply with all policies and regulations.
• Reviews contract terms to identify potential risk or compliance issues. Examines supporting materials and agreement documents related to bids or contracts and provides guidance.
• Ensures timely and compliant deliverables for all contracts assigned.
• Works with outside counsel and sales and marketing to manage the company’s intellectual property, including trademark submissions and renewals.
• Responsibilities may include regulatory compliance for various government agencies including but not limited to the FAA, NTSB, OSHA, etc.
• Direct involvement in various aspects of the company’s risk management and risk mitigation programs.
• Functions as an expert in the field within the organization and must demonstrate the skill and ability to perform complex tasks, work independently and as a member/leader of a team when required.
• Promotes organization-wide understanding of risks and risk management strategies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or required of the position.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and Experience

• Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
• Minimum of three to five years of legal practice with a medium to large size law firm or as in-house counsel, with experience negotiating and drafting agreements.
• Comprehensive knowledge of law and practices applicable to contracts, intellectual property, and contracts administration
• Bachelor’s degree in technical area, (Business, Quality, Engineering or Manufacturing, Aeronautical or Aerospace) desired.
• Must be able to work effectively with the management of other areas (program management, manufacturing, business management, supply chain management, etc.) and representatives of Government agencies.
• Ability to work independently and make independent decisions, ensuring high levels of collaboration with stakeholders and subject matter experts.
• Basic understanding of import/export and trade compliance regulations including ITAR, EAR/EAR99, etc. a plus but not required.
• Experience with various contract types such as supplier agreements, aerospace manufacturing, IP/IT agreements, and others.
• Working knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regulations and requirements is a plus.
• The position requires capable & effective oral and written communication skills, experience with negotiations, and effective proposal development skills.
• Must possess excellent decision-making skills that support business analysis and resolution of complex business and legal issues while minimizing overall risk to the organization.
• Experience in U.S. Government contract administration & management preferred.
• Knowledge of manufacturing process and quality systems is preferred but not required.
• Working knowledge of Windows based computer programs such as Word, Excel, and Outlook