General Counsel – North America

JCB North America; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

JCB North America is seeking a General Counsel to establish and lead the North American legal function, aligning legal strategy with business goals across construction and agricultural equipment. You will oversee governance, compliance, risk management, and a broad portfolio of commercial matters.

Reporting to the President and collaborating with the UK Group General Counsel, you will manage transactions, regulatory affairs, litigation, investigations, and external counsel, while driving legal

Responsibilities

• Establish, lead, and continuously enhance the North America legal function, ensuring alignment with business objectives, corporate governance standards, and global legal strategy.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the President, Executive Leadership Team, and business stakeholders, providing strategic, risk-based, and commercially focused legal counsel.
• Partner closely with the UK Group General Counsel to align legal strategy, governance, compliance, and risk management initiatives across the organization.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including dealer, distributor, supplier, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, financing, leasing, technology, software, and customer contracts.
• Provide legal oversight and strategic guidance for dealer and distributor networks, including appointments, performance management, territory rights, sponsored dealer arrangements, equity transfers, and termination matters.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and international laws and regulations, including product liability, product safety, warranty, import/export, trade compliance, anti-corruption, environmental, and commercial regulations.
• Advise the business on regulatory matters involving agencies and programs including EPA, CARB, ECCC, and other relevant governmental authorities.
• Support the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team on governance matters, including corporate policies, governance frameworks, board resolutions, and corporate records management.
• Lead the management of litigation, claims, investigations, disputes, and regulatory matters, including the selection and oversight of external counsel and management of legal budgets.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks through the development of effective controls, policies, and risk management practices.
• Provide legal counsel on real estate, property, leasing, land holdings, and dealer facility matters across North America.
• Oversee legal and compliance requirements associated with government and defense contracting, including DFARS compliance, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), DIBCAC audit readiness, and contractual obligations.
• Advise and support Human Resources on employment law matters, executive employment agreements, restrictive covenants, workplace investigations, labor relations, employee disputes, and employment litigation.
• Partner with the UK Group General Counsel on intellectual property matters, supporting brand protection, trademark enforcement, and intellectual property risk management.
• Lead legal support for mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, business integrations, and other corporate transactions.
• Provide legal oversight and support for JCB Finance operations and related commercial financing activities throughout North America.
• Direct enterprise ethics, compliance, and internal investigation programs, promoting a culture of integrity, accountability, and regulatory adherence.
• Lead the Company’s response to product recalls, regulatory investigations, government inquiries, compliance incidents, and other crisis or reputational risk events.
• Drive legal operations excellence through the implementation of legal technology, contract lifecycle management systems, process improvements, knowledge management, and outside counsel governance to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Monitor changes in legal and regulatory requirements, proactively

Job description

Company Profile

With over 80 years of innovation, JCB is the world's largest privately owned manufacturer of construction and agricultural equipment. Operating 23 manufacturing facilities across four continents- including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Brazil- JCB produces a diverse portfolio of more than 300 products. These include telescopic handlers, backhoe loaders, excavators, wheel loaders, compact excavators, skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, access aerial work platforms, rough terrain forklifts, and tractors.

At the heart of JCB’s success are its people. As a family-owned business, we are accountable to our customers—not shareholders—which gives us the flexibility to focus on long-term innovation and delivering real value. This independence allows us to continuously develop advanced technologies and integrate them into equipment designed to perform in the toughest environments while maximizing customer productivity.

At JCB, we stand behind our products—and our name—with pride and commitment to quality.

Position Purpose

The General Counsel serves as the Company's chief legal advisor and strategic business partner, providing practical, commercially focused counsel that supports growth while protecting the organization from legal, regulatory, and operational risk. This role will establish and lead the legal function, oversee corporate governance and compliance, support complex commercial matters, and guide the Company's response to recalls, investigations, regulatory actions, litigation, and reputational risk events. The General Counsel will also drive legal operations excellence through the implementation of scalable processes, legal technology, and contract lifecycle management solutions that enable business growth and operational efficiency.

Position Type

Full Time, Exempt

Location

Onsite: 13210 Palo Alto Road, San Antonio, TX 78224

Benefits And Other Compensation

JCB offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401 (k) retirement plan; paid time off and paid holidays.

Application Process

Applications will be accepted through Careers | JCB Careers | JCB Jobs | JCB or via LinkedIn. The anticipated application window will close on October 16, 2026.

Major Tasks, Responsibilities & Key Accountabilities

• Establish, lead, and continuously enhance the North America legal function, ensuring alignment with business objectives, corporate governance standards, and global legal strategy.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the President, Executive Leadership Team, and business stakeholders, providing strategic, risk-based, and commercially focused legal counsel.
• Partner closely with the UK Group General Counsel to align legal strategy, governance, compliance, and risk management initiatives across the organization.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including dealer, distributor, supplier, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, financing, leasing, technology, software, and customer contracts.
• Provide legal oversight and strategic guidance for dealer and distributor networks, including appointments, performance management, territory rights, sponsored dealer arrangements, equity transfers, and termination matters.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and international laws and regulations, including product liability, product safety, warranty, import/export, trade compliance, anti-corruption, environmental, and commercial regulations.
• Advise the business on regulatory matters involving agencies and programs including EPA, CARB, ECCC, and other relevant governmental authorities.
• Support the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team on governance matters, including corporate policies, governance frameworks, board resolutions, and corporate records management.
• Lead the management of litigation, claims, investigations, disputes, and regulatory matters, including the selection and oversight of external counsel and management of legal budgets.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks through the development of effective controls, policies, and risk management practices.
• Provide legal counsel on real estate, property, leasing, land holdings, and dealer facility matters across North America.
• Oversee legal and compliance requirements associated with government and defense contracting, including DFARS compliance, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), DIBCAC audit readiness, and contractual obligations.
• Advise and support Human Resources on employment law matters, executive employment agreements, restrictive covenants, workplace investigations, labor relations, employee disputes, and employment litigation.
• Partner with the UK Group General Counsel on intellectual property matters, supporting brand protection, trademark enforcement, and intellectual property risk management.
• Lead legal support for mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, business integrations, and other corporate transactions.
• Provide legal oversight and support for JCB Finance operations and related commercial financing activities throughout North America.
• Direct enterprise ethics, compliance, and internal investigation programs, promoting a culture of integrity, accountability, and regulatory adherence.
• Lead the Company’s response to product recalls, regulatory investigations, government inquiries, compliance incidents, and other crisis or reputational risk events.
• Drive legal operations excellence through the implementation of legal technology, contract lifecycle management systems, process improvements, knowledge management, and outside counsel governance to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Monitor changes in legal and regulatory requirements, proactively