Assistant General Counsel

Austin Powder; Beachwood (OH); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Powder, a global leader in explosives and blasting solutions, is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to join the Legal & Compliance team in Beachwood, Ohio, with remote opportunities also considered.

The role involves providing practical, commercially focused legal advice across commercial contracting, corporate/M&A, real estate, labor and employment, environmental, and regulatory matters, partnering with senior leaders and various functions to enable business growth.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• At least 5 years of broad commercial legal experience, in-house or law firm.
• Strong ethics, judgment, integrity, and accountability.
• Commercial mindset balancing risk with business objectives; practical advice.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to take ownership, work independently, and drive projects.
• Collaborative and able to build relationships with senior leadership.
• Clear written and verbal communication; ability to explain complex legal issues simply.
• Ability to deliver effective legal and compliance training.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills; handle varied workload and deadlines.
• Willingness to travel as business needs require.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support commercial legal matters across sales, procurement, and contracts; draft and negotiate agreements and T&Cs.
• Provide legal support on environmental, real estate, labor and employment, and litigation matters.
• Advise on commercial arrangements involving contract and toll manufacturing, supply, logistics, and distribution.
• Support corporate governance and entity management, including secretarial matters.
• Advise on regulatory compliance, risk management, and internal controls with cross-functional partners.
• Support compliance initiatives and training (Code of Conduct, antitrust, anti-bribery, etc.).
• Provide legal support for growth initiatives, acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, and financing.
• Support M&A due diligence, documentation, and integration activities.
• Translate legal/regulatory requirements into practical guidance for business teams.
• Support the General Counsel on strategic initiatives and projects.

Skills

Ethical judgment

Commercial mindset

Drafting

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Ownership

Independent work

Collaboration

Communication skills

Training delivery

Organization

Prioritization

Adaptability

Travel willingness

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Join the Family - Come work for an exciting company offering great benefits, challenging opportunities, and colleagues who feel more like family.

Job Summary

The Assistant General Counsel is a member of the Legal & Compliance team and will provide practical, commercially focused, and solutions-oriented legal advice. The role supports a broad range of matters affecting a global leader in explosives and blasting solutions serving the mining industry, including commercial contracting, corporate and M&A, real estate, labor and employment, environmental, regulatory, compliance, and litigation matters.
This position is a highly motivated, business-minded attorney who is comfortable working independently, partnering closely with business leaders, and finding practical solutions to complex legal and commercial issues. This is a unique opportunity to develop a broad in-house legal skill set, work directly with senior leadership, and gain exposure to nearly every aspect of a global business.
The position is based in Beachwood, Ohio, with remote opportunities also considered

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead and support commercial legal matters across sales and procurement, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements, terms and conditions, and other commercial documents, and advising on contractual issues and disputes.
• Provide legal support on environmental, real estate, labor and employment, and litigation matters.
• Advise on commercial arrangements involving contract and toll manufacturing, supply, logistics, transportation, and distribution.
• Support corporate governance and entity management, including corporate secretarial matters and coordination of local corporate support.
• Advise on legal and regulatory compliance, risk management, and internal controls while partnering with functions including SHES, ESG, Finance, Tax, HR, Operations, Growth, Manufacturing Processes, Supply Chain, and Innovation.
• Support compliance initiatives and training, including the Code of Conduct, competition/antitrust, anti-bribery and corruption, and other compliance matters.
• Provide legal and transactional support for business growth initiatives, acquisitions and divestitures, internal reorganizations, restructurings, expansions, and financing transactions.
• Support M&A transactions, including due diligence, transaction documentation, and integration activities.
• Translate legal and regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance for business teams.
• Support the General Counsel on strategic legal initiatives, projects, and other matters as needed.

What You'll Need to Be Successful

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• At least 5 years of broad commercial legal experience, whether at a law firm, in-house, or a combination of both.
• Strong professional ethics, judgment, integrity, and accountability.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and provide practical, actionable advice.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to take ownership of matters, exercise initiative, and drive projects through completion.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision while recognizing when escalation or additional support is appropriate.
• Collaborative approach and ability to build trusted relationships across functions and with senior leadership.
• Clear and confident written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues in accessible business terms.
• Ability to develop and deliver effective legal and compliance training.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage a varied workload and multiple deadlines.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, hands-on environment across a broad range of legal matters.
• Commitment to Austin Powder's Core Values.
• Willingness to travel as business needs require.

Qualifications That Can Set You Apart

• Combination of law firm and in-house legal experience.
• International and cross-border legal experience.
• Experience supporting mining, chemicals, manufacturing, construction, or another highly regulated industrial business.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Affiliated Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify.

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.