Senior Associate General Counsel, Automotive & Manufacturing

AAM - American Axle & Manufacturing; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

American Axle & Manufacturing Inc in Detroit, MI, is seeking an Associate General Counsel to join our legal team. The role serves as a strategic legal partner to the Americas, handling a broad range of commercial contracting matters and providing practical advice to cross-functional teams.

The successful candidate will manage HR and employment issues, guide real estate and IP matters, supervise outside counsel, and help shape incident response, compliance, and governance in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree.
• Licensed and able to practice law in Michigan and in good standing.
• 7+ years of relevant legal experience focusing on commercial transactions and employment.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements with OEMs and suppliers.
• Experience advising business clients on day-to-day operational issues with clear, pragmatic guidance.
• HR/labor counseling for multi-state U.S. operations.
• Knowledge of property/real estate laws and leases.
• Understanding export controls, sanctions, and trade compliance.
• Familiarity with warranty and recall concerns in automotive supply chains.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including supply, procurement, tooling, services, logistics, and confidentiality.
• Provide pragmatic legal counseling to business stakeholders across sales, procurement, HR, engineering, operations, finance, IT, and EHS.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and commercial risks; propose alternative structures to meet business objectives while ensuring compliance.
• Support HR and labor/employment matters including hiring, separations, investigations, wage issues, and statutory compliance.
• Advise on property and real estate matters including leases and property transactions.
• Manage outside counsel, including budgeting, scoping, and performance monitoring.
• Develop and deliver legal training and playbooks for commercial and employment practices.
• Manage litigation and assist with dispute management and pre-litigation strategy.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Skills

Negotiation

Contract drafting

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Risk assessment

Education

Juris Doctor Degree

Licensed to practice law in Michigan

Job description

American Axle & Manufacturing Inc in Detroit, MI, is seeking an Associate General Counsel to join our legal team. The role serves as a strategic legal partner to the Americas, handling a broad range of commercial contracting matters and providing practical advice to cross-functional teams.

The successful candidate will manage HR and employment issues, guide real estate and IP matters, supervise outside counsel, and help shape incident response, compliance, and governance in a fast-paced