Head of Legal - North America

Sonaca North America is driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to excellence. As part of Sonaca Group, an international aerospace group with locations in United States, Canada, Belgium, Spain, Romania and Brazil. Sonaca North America is a leading provider of aerospace and defense solutions, dedicated to making air and space travel safe and sustainable. With 10 locations across United States and Canada. Sonaca North America combines a strong local presence with a worldwide network of engineering talent, shared know-how and long-standing partnerships with leading aircraft manufacturers, which allows us to serve our customers with agility and confidence.

Our customers include some of the most renowned names in aviation, such as Boeing in the United States, Airbus in Europe, Embraer in Brazil and Bombardier in Canada, among others. Working alongside these leading aircraft manufacturers, Sonaca Group brings its expertise to major programs on three continents, and we are proud to contribute to them.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Head of Legal – North America, as a member of Sonaca Group legal team, will provide legal advice and guidance to management and Sonaca Group stakeholders in all aspects of the law affecting the business of the corporation and its affiliates, in North America and within the international environment of Sonaca Group, in close coordination with the Group Chief Legal Officer and in alignment with Group policies and standards. While performing all duties and responsibilities, the Head of Legal will at all times, model Company values and principles and act in a manner consistent with Sonaca Group Code of Ethics.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, such as customer and supplier contracts, equipment and real estate leases, services agreements, nondisclosure agreements and intellectual property agreements, in line with Group policies, templates and contracting guidelines. Coordinating with the Group Chief Legal Officer on cross-border or multi-entity matters;
• Providing practical legal guidance to senior management on disputes and pre-litigation inquiries, protecting attorney-client privilege and escalating significant matters to the Group Chief Legal Officer in accordance with Group reporting process;
• Managing and overseeing outside counsel in litigation matters, including scope and staffing, fee arrangements and budgets, and monitoring spending against approved budgets, in coordination with the Group Chief Legal Officer;
• Preparing, managing and monitoring the North American legal budget, including outside counsel fees, litigation and transaction costs, legal technology, subscriptions and memberships, in line with the Group budgeting and reporting process;
• Forecasting legal spending, reporting budget variances to senior management and to the Group Chief Legal Officer, and identifying cost-efficiency opportunities, such as preferred-provider arrangements, alternative fee structures and standardized templates;
• Supporting M&A activity, including drafting, reviewing and negotiating confidentiality agreements, letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements and financing agreements, and coordinating due diligence efforts, in close coordination with the Group Chief Legal Officer and Group stakeholders;
• Educating management and staff on legal issues, including Group policies and applicable US legal requirements;
• Drafting, reviewing and revising company policies and forms, ensuring alignment with Group policies and compliance with US federal and states law;
• Assisting the Group Chief Legal Officer with corporate governance matters, including governance and corporate records of the North American entities;
• Researching legal issues and special projects as needed or designated by the Group Chief Legal Officer, including cross-border and multi-jurisdictional topics;
• Supporting compliance-related activities, including internal investigations, export controls and trade compliance, anti-corruption and the Sonaca Group Code of Ethics, as needed;
• Serving as the primary legal liaison between Sonaca North America and the Group Legal team, sharing best practices and promoting a consistent legal approach across the Group;
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Must be a member of the bar, in good standing, in at least one state or the District of Columbia.
• Five (5) to eight (8) years of experience in law firm or in-house practice.
• Experience in: drafting, negotiating and advising clients on commercial contracts, employment matters; and mergers and acquisitions required.
• Experience in working with aerospace and/or manufacturing industries highly desired.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Knowledge of general corporate law and corporate governance, including in a multi-entity group context;
• Strong commercial law skills, including contract drafting and negotiation, and a thorough understanding of their application to business practices;
• Ability to analyze advanced and complex transactions, including M&A and financing, and propose creative and workable solutions;
• Ability to manage disputes and pre-litigation matters and to oversee outside counsel effectively, including scope, fees and budgets;
• Working knowledge of intellectual property, export controls and trade compliance, and anti-corruption requirements, ideally in an aerospace and defense context;
• Ability to manage a departmental budget, including forecasting, cost control and variance reporting, in line with Group processes;
• Ability to handle multiple competing priorities, provide practical legal advice, and adapt to a changing organizational environment;
• Ability to work effectively in an international, matrixed group environment, collaborating with the Group Legal team and cross-border stakeholders, and understanding multi-jurisdictional issues;
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with multiple priorities and shifting time requirements;
• Must be able to promote a participative, team-oriented environment, working with customers (both internal and external), all employees, vendors and others in a professional and respectful manner;
• Must model desired employee and leadership behaviors and act in a manner consistent with the Sonaca Group Code of Ethics;
• Ability to give and receive feedback well, including demonstrated coaching and consulting skills, and to educate management and staff on legal issues;
• Must possess proven ability to successfully facilitate change and drive matters to conclusion where needed;
• Must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior management and Group stakeholders.  Must be proficient in MS Office applications.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Ability to compile and present data in a format that facilitates information sharing and decision making;
• Understanding of employment law principles and requirements.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to sit for extended periods of time at a desk working and/or attending meetings with periodic breaks.  Must be able to move throughout the office and/or manufacturing area and talk, hear or otherwise communicate with employees, management, customers, suppliers and others. May occasionally lift and /or move up to 10 pounds. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Normal work environment is a typical office setting.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. Required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when on the shop floor.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

The ability to work extended hours, including possible weekends, as required.  Travel should be expected, up to 10%, to customers, other Sonaca sites, or special training programs.undefined

WHY CHOOSE SONACA NORTH AMERICA?

We take care of our people.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with a percentage company-match contribution
• Competitive wages
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and accident insurance
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Employee assistance plan — for access to counseling, consulting, and other community resources
• Subject to eligibility, terms, and conditions 

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The responsibilities, tasks, and duties may differ from those outlined in the job description and other duties, as assigned, may be required. This document does not create an employment contract. Employees of the Company are employed on an “at will” basis and may be terminated at any time.

Sonaca North America is an equal employment opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, Sonaca North America provides access and opportunities to those with disabilities. This includes providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans who seek to access the company’s online application system. If an applicant is unable to fully access the online application system, Sonaca North America will provide a reasonable accommodation. Applicants with disabilities may contact us at 636-916-2400 for assistance accessing the on-line application system. Callers should have a detailed description of the requested accommodation, their name and preferred method of contact ready for Sonaca North America‘s Human Resources Department. Sonaca North America will make every effort to respond within two (2) business days. This phone number is not for the general submission of application materials.

Sonaca North America is an E-Verify Employer.

Sonaca North America is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Disability/Veterans Employer

NOTICE ON FRAUDULENT JOB OFFERS

It has been brought to our attention that there have been instances of fraudulent job offers, purporting to be from Sonaca North America and/or its affiliates (“LMI Aerospace”).

This type of fraud is normally carried out through online services such as false websites, or through fake e-mails or call from people claiming to be from the company. These persons offer fraudulent employment opportunities to applicants and often ask for sensitive personal and financial information.  The fraudsters may also request recipients to provide personal information and/or to make payments as part of their fake recruiting process. 

Sonaca North America does not ask for any financial commitments from candidates as a pre-employment requirement and will always require candidates to formally apply for positions via the Careers Page or job postings.

Sonaca North America has no responsibility for fraudulent offers and if you believe you have been a victim of a fraudulent job offer concerning Sonaca North America, please email [email protected].