Sr. Corporate Counsel - Outside Sales and Service

With a career at The Home Depot, you can be yourself and also be part of something bigger.

Position Purpose:

Represents the Company in complex legal matters which may include legal claims, lawsuits, regulatory issues, contract negotiations, and/or litigation and minimizes the legal exposure of the Company in legal matters. Advises and consults with business partners on legal issues, educates internal clients on proactive measures and approaches to reducing all potential legal exposure.  More specifically, this position manages and handles legal matters within the Services Installation business, HD Rental (including vehicles, tools, and large equipment), and Enterprise Pro business. This position is strongly focused on contract drafting, negotiating, and managing key vendor and customer agreements.

Key Responsibilities:

• 30% Legal Matter Management: Handles complex legal matters within area of responsibility. Retains, monitors, and evaluates the performance of Outside Counsel relationships and budgeting within area.  Supervises and conducts appropriate legal research for all pending legal work.

• 30% Risk Assessment and Business Guidance: Accurately identifies and assesses risks and determines and effectuates appropriate course for specific business areas and others with department-wide consequences. Identifies, assesses, approves, and recommends changes to business partners.

• 25% Negotiations: Independently conducts and directs complex negotiations for a broad spectrum of matters for specific business areas with general supervisory review.

• 5% Budget management:  Compiles, prepares, and presents budget recommendations for area of responsibility and manages budget for same.

• 10% Team supervision and development: Supervises Associate Corporate Counsel, Corporate Counsel, Legal Specialists, and/or Legal Coordinators; including directing work, selection, termination, performance appraisal and coaching/professional development.

Direct Manager/Direct Reports:

• This Position typically reports to the Associate General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel

• Accountable for direct supervision of the work activities of others. Planning, monitoring and reviewing work of subordinates is required. This may include direct supervision of a shift or the coordination of multiple work groups. Makes recommendations concerning selection, termination, performance appraisal and professional development

Travel Requirements:

• Typically requires overnight travel less than 5% of the time.

Physical Requirements:

•  Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions, there may be a need to move or lift light articles.

Working Conditions:

•  Located in a comfortable indoor area. Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Must be legally permitted to work in the United States
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience as in-house counsel.

• Five (5) years of practice area experience.

• Contract drafting and negotiation

• Project Management

• Vendor Management

Minimum Education:

• The completion of a Juris Doctor or equivalent and required certifications for practicing law.

Preferred Education:

• No additional education.

Minimum Years of Work Experience:

• 7
   

Preferred Years of Work Experience:

• 5
   

Minimum Leadership Experience:

• None
   

Preferred Leadership Experience:

• None
   

Certifications:

• None
   

Competencies:

• Manages Ambiguity

• Optimizes Work Processes

• Plans and Aligns

• Communicates Effectively

• Manages Conflict

• Proven drafting and negotiation skills. Ability to make significant contributions to communication for complex matters at a department level. Ability to prepare and assist in preparation of reports and presentations to officers and executives as appropriate.

• The ability to work independently on numerous activities and prioritize them properly while meeting deadlines.

• The ability to confront conflict and difficult issues in a professional, assertive and proactive manner. The ability to effectively manage the performance and careers of direct reports.

• The self-starting ability to aggressively tackle new responsibilities and initiative without receiving sufficient training or completely clear direction.

• The ability to develop, organize, implement and manage standard procedures on a department wide level and train outside counsel and paralegal in the procedures.

• High degree of oral and written communication and analytical skills.