Associate General Counsel - US

AAM • Detroit, MI

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Dauch is seeking an Associate General Counsel to serve as a strategic, business-oriented legal partner to its Americas operations, supporting teams across the United States. Based in Detroit, Michigan, this role reports to the Deputy General Counsel for the Americas and provides legal support in a fast-paced manufacturing and supply chain environment. The position leads and manages commercial contracting matters, provides practical legal advice to cross-functional stakeholders, supports HR and employment matters, manages litigation and disputes, and advises on day-to-day business activities.

The role drafts, reviews, and negotiates a broad range of commercial agreements, including supply, procurement, tooling, services, logistics, customs and trade, confidentiality, quality, warranty, and technology agreements. It counsels stakeholders across sales, procurement, HR, engineering, operations, quality, finance, IT, and EHS; assesses and mitigates legal and commercial risks; and supports compliance with applicable laws and company policies. Additional areas include labor and employment counseling, property and real estate matters, outside counsel management, legal training and playbooks, litigation, and pre-litigation strategy.

This is a hybrid role based in Detroit, Michigan, with regular onsite collaboration. Occasional domestic and international travel is required, approximately 10–15%. Dauch is a global automotive Driveline and Metal Forming supplier headquartered in Detroit, with operations spanning 24 countries and more than 175 locations.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree.
• Licensed and able to practice law in Michigan and in good standing.
• At least 7 years of relevant legal experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal department, with a strong focus on commercial transactions and employment and labor.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements with OEMs, Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers, and service providers.
• Experience advising business clients on day-to-day operational issues with clear, pragmatic guidance, strong stakeholder management, and the ability to translate legal concepts into actionable business advice.
• Demonstrated experience with HR, labor, and employment counseling for multi-state U.S. operations.
• Understanding of property and real estate laws and experience supporting property contracts and transactions, including commercial leases and purchase and sale agreements.
• Strong contract interpretation, issue-spotting, and risk assessment skills, including the ability to prioritize and manage a diverse, high-volume workload in a dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of export controls, sanctions, and trade compliance frameworks applicable to the automotive sector.
• Strong business judgment and solution orientation, balancing legal risk and commercial objectives while supporting business growth.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, written communication, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate across functions, cultures, and time zones.
• Ownership, accountability, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Discretion, integrity, and sound professional ethics.
• Strategic thinking and a continuous improvement mindset for processes, templates, training, and legal operations.

Nice To Haves

• Manufacturing or automotive experience is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with warranty and recall concerns or campaigns, and supply assurance strategies common in automotive supply chains, including risk mitigation and contingency planning.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including supply, procurement, tooling, services, logistics, customs and trade, confidentiality, quality, warranty, and technology agreements.
• Provide timely, pragmatic legal counseling to stakeholders in sales, procurement, HR, engineering, operations, quality, finance, IT, and EHS.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and commercial risks; escalate issues and propose alternative structures or solutions that support business objectives and compliance.
• Support HR and labor and employment matters, including hiring and separations, policies, investigations, accommodations, wage-and-hour issues, EEOC claims, training, and employee relations.
• Provide guidance on property and real estate matters, including commercial leases, acquisitions, dispositions, and property-related disputes.
• Manage and coordinate outside counsel, including matter scoping, budgeting, performance monitoring, and alignment with company objectives and cost controls.
• Develop and deliver legal training and playbooks for commercial and employment best practices.
• Manage litigation and support dispute management and pre-litigation strategy, including claim evaluation, correspondence, and negotiated resolutions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree