Associate General Counsel

Who We Are: Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations.

Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success!

Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered!

Who We Want:

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Associate General Counsel to join our legal team. This individual will play a critical role in managing and overseeing litigation matters, ensuring that the company's legal interests are protected and advanced effectively through contract drafting, negotiation and management and providing ongoing legal counsel to management. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in handling commercial litigation, particularly within the automotive supply chain.

What You’ll Do:

• Oversee and manage all aspects of litigation involving the company, including employment litigation, developing case strategies, coordinating with external counsel, and ensuring effective case management.  Ideally, the candidate will be capable of handling less complex litigation in-house or in cooperative arrangements with outside firms allowing the AGC to do substantial substantive work on the cases
• Provide legal advice and guidance to senior management and business units on a variety of issues, including risk assessment, contract disputes, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property matters.
• Develop and implement legal strategies to mitigate risks and resolve disputes efficiently. Collaborate with other departments to ensure alignment with the company’s objectives and legal requirements.
• Monitor and analyze legal trends and developments that may impact the company. Develop and implement compliance programs and risk management strategies.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts and agreements to protect the company’s interests. Ensure that contracts comply with applicable laws and regulations.
• Provide input and support on Learning and Development programs to ensure the company as adequate support on legal issues, including litigation and compliance matters.
• Building and following through on department goals and budgets
• Keep team informed on all relevant information; responsible for managing all HR aspects of their team including their professional development and annual performance reviews and participation in recruitment
• Collaborate with executive leadership to define the organization’s long-term mission and goals; identify ways to support this mission through talent management

When and Where:

This position is located at our Corporate Office in Walker, MI. 

What You Need to Have:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice law in Michigan, with a clean disciplinary record.
• Minimum of 5  years of experience in litigation, preferably within the automotive industry or a related sector. Proven track record of managing commercial litigation cases.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Ability to develop strategic solutions and manage high-stakes situations effectively.
• In-depth understanding of legal principles, including those related to automotive manufacturing, product liability, contract law, and regulatory compliance.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance legal risks and business objectives.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented and proactive in identifying and addressing potential legal issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills facilitating close cooperation with both management, engineering, automation and manufacturing teams
• Experience working with automotive regulatory bodies and industry standards preferred.
• Previous experience in an in-house legal role or with a Tier 1 automotive supplier preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication with the ability to communicate efficiently with all levels of management, co-workers, and subordinates
• Strong conflict resolution skills
• Strong sense of/treatment of confidentiality and Ethical Practices
• Is thorough, accurate, and reliable when performing and completing job tasks; demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of work
• Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers