Assistant General Counsel

AUSTIN POWDER COMPANY; United States; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Powder is seeking an experienced in-house Counsel to support a broad range of legal matters for a global leader in explosives and blasting solutions. You will work closely with senior leadership to provide practical, business-minded legal advice across commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance.

The role offers opportunities to influence strategy, participate in M&A activity, and partner with multiple functions to mitigate risk while enabling growth.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited US law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one US jurisdiction.
• At least 5 years of broad commercial legal experience.
• Strong ethics, judgment, and accountability.
• Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support commercial legal matters across sales and procurement, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements and providing on contractual issues.
• 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.
• Advise on legal and regulatory compliance, risk management, and internal controls.

Skills

Commercial contracting

Negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Drafting and reviewing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (US)

Active license in at least one US jurisdiction

Tools

Corporate governance tooling

Job description

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

SINCE 1833, IMPROVING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.

Austin Powder has been making explosives for over 190 years and we take great pride in improving the world we live in. In 1833, the Austin family created the company to produce black powder that would help break the rock, mine the minerals and build the canals and railroads to develop the frontier. Initially along the banks of the Cuyahoga River near Akron, Ohio, we grew as the country grew. Today, Austin Powder is a world leader in the industrial explosives industry with a passionate commitment towards safety, a relentless customer focus, a family culture work environment, and a demonstration of respect of towards all. As in our early years, our mission continues to be to improve our world we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives. Our success has been based on our core values and this has proven to be universally true worldwide as the company has expanded to become one of the leading providers of industrial explosives and blasting services in the world.