General Counsel - NSK North American Operations

NSK; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

NSK Americas seeks an experienced General Counsel to lead the legal and compliance function for North American operations, supervising a small team in the US and Mexico. You will advise the executive team on governance, risk management and regulatory matters, and interact with internal stakeholders to align legal strategy with business objectives.

A Juris Doctor is required with 6–8 years of position-related experience (8–10 preferred), ideally in manufacturing or automotive sectors.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and people management abilities.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Clear written and oral communication across functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the legal and compliance team across US and Mexico.
• Advise the executive team on governance, risk management and regulatory matters.
• Oversee contracts, litigation management, and coordination with outside counsel.
• Develop policies and procedures for corporate compliance and governance.
• Coordinate with external partners and manage legal operations.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Regulatory compliance

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Lead and direct the legal and compliance function for NSK Americas’ North American operations, including management of a small team of professionals in the US and Mexico. This position will engage with the executive team on resolution of legal issues, corporate compliance, governance and risk mitigation. NSK Americas is a subsidiary of NSK Limited (Japan). NSK serves both the automotive and industrial machinery markets and has manufacturing operations located within North America. The ideal candidate would have 7 to 10 years of experience, with expertise working in related industries.

Activities and Responsibilities

• Performs and/or manages hands‑on legal work in a range of areas including corporate compliance, commercial transactions, credit, insurance, financing, collections, patent, intellectual property and copyrights matters, litigation management, employment, labor relations and other regulatory matters.
• Oversee corporate governance and compliance (including development of policies and procedure)
• External compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations
• Relations with government agencies
• Execution of commercial contracts, including interaction with business units in the preparation of contracts and advising on acceptable terms and conditions.
• Coordination with outside counsel
• Maintains legal systems and infrastructure, including file management, engagement of outside counsel, negotiating and management of outside attorney billing
• Training and special projects.

Qualifications

This job requires a minimum of a Juris Doctor (JD) Degree and 6 to 8 years of position-related experience; preferably 8 to 10 years of position-related experience.

• Admitted to practice law with a clean disciplinary record
• Minimum of 5 years of experience preferably within the manufacturing or automotive industry or a related sector.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• In‑depth understanding of legal principles, including those related to automotive manufacturing, product liability, contract law, and regulatory compliance
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders
• Detail‑oriented and proactive in identifying and addressing potential legal issues
• 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
• 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