Senior Corporate Counsel - Iowa

Ruan Transportation Management Systems; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Ruan Transportation Management Systems, a Des Moines-based logistics leader, seeks a Senior Corporate Counsel to lead nationwide litigation and employment matters from the on-site campus in downtown Des Moines.

You will provide strategic legal guidance to HR and business leaders, manage outside counsel, and oversee regulatory matters with EEOC, NLRB, and other agencies; ensure policy adherence and risk mitigation across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Experience handling auto liability, workers' compensation, employment and labor disputes.
• Proven ability to manage outside counsel and report on risk and trends.
• Skilled in advising HR and business leaders on legal matters and policy interpretation.
• Experience coordinating with EEOC, NLRB and other regulatory agencies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement litigation strategy for auto liability, catastrophic injury, workers' compensation, employment, labor, and commercial disputes nationwide.
• Direct case management from inception through resolution and report on risk, exposure, trends, and reserve adequacy.
• Provide day-to-day legal counsel to HR and business leaders on employment, labor, discipline, accommodation, leave, wage/hour, and policy interpretation; conduct investigations and respond to agency charges.
• Select, retain, and oversee outside counsel; evaluate liability exposure; conduct negotiations; represent the Company at mediations, arbitrations, hearings, and trials; manage legal spend.
• Partner with Claims, Operations, Safety, and HR to manage transportation-related claims, reserve evaluations, and risk-mitigation strategies.
• Support labor-management initiatives including union matters, collective bargaining support, grievance administration, and NLRB proceedings.
• Review and maintain company policies; oversee legal hold, records retention, and document management; support compliance and internal investigations.
• Conduct legal research, draft opinions, and advise senior leadership; monitor legislative and regulatory developments and provide business-focused guidance.
• Perform other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Litigation management

Employment law

Outside counsel management

Regulatory compliance

HR advisory

Job description

This Senior Corporate Counsel position works on site at the Ruan Campus located downtown Des Moines

Lead the Company's management of litigation and employment-related legal matters across a nationwide transportation and logistics operation. Responsible for overseeing auto liability, workers' compensation, employment, labor, and commercial litigation; managing outside counsel; providing strategic legal advice to Human Resources and business leaders; and handling agency matters involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and other regulatory agencies.

Responsibilities:

Carrying out the Company's organizational values and operating in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and Company policies are required functions. Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop and implement litigation strategy for complex auto liability, catastrophic injury, workers' compensation, employment, labor, and commercial disputes throughout the United States. Direct case management from inception through resolution and provide regular reporting on risk, exposure, litigation trends, and reserve adequacy.
• Provide day-to-day legal counsel to Human Resources and business leaders regarding employment, labor, employee relations, discipline, termination, accommodation, leave management, wage and hour, policy interpretation, and other workplace matters. Conduct workplace investigations and manage responses to EEOC, NLRB, and similar agency charges, including drafting position statements and coordinating agency responses.
• Select, retain, and oversee outside counsel. Evaluate liability exposure, establish litigation and settlement strategies, conduct negotiations, and serve as the Company's representative at mediations, arbitrations, administrative hearings, and trials. Manage legal spend and ensure effective and efficient representation of the Company's interests.
• Partner with Claims, Operations, Safety, and Human Resources to manage transportation-related claims, including commercial auto liability, workers' compensation, accident investigations, reserve evaluations, and claims resolution strategies. Assist in identifying legal trends and implementing proactive risk-mitigation initiatives.
• Support labor-management initiatives, including union-related matters, collective bargaining support, grievance administration, unfair labor practice charges, and related NLRB proceedings, as needed.
• Review, develop, and maintain company policies and procedures, including oversight of legal hold, records retention, and document management programs. Support compliance initiatives and internal investigations as needed.
• Conduct legal research, draft legal opinions, and advise senior leadership regarding legal, regulatory, operational, and employment-related issues. Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and provide practical business-focused guidance regarding their impact on Company operations.
• Perform other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.