Director of Product Liability, Compliance, and Intellectual Property

Great Dane LLC • Savannah, GA

13d

About The Position

At Great Dane, we rely on makers and we’re calling on them to join our expanding team, the time has never been better to Embrace Your Great and work in an environment with the highest safety standards in the industry.
The Position: The Director of Product Liability, Compliance, and Intellectual Property will be responsible for the administration of products liability lawsuits and claims brought against Great Dane, oversight of National Coordinating Counsel. as well as local counsel, monitor and implement new and revised governmental/industry regulations and standards, and perform engineering project work including managing the Patent and IP programs.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Engineering required.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in Engineering field preferred.
• Skills: Good organizational skills along with the ability to shift priorities without losing track of goals and/or deadlines are required.
• Proficiency in investigation and analysis of detail along with an ability to formulate strategy is required.
• Experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.) is required.
• Must be able to straddle the black and white world of Engineering/Science and the nuanced, gray shaded legal world of litigation and compliance, at the same time.
• Travel: As needed.
• Office and plant environment.
• Keyboarding, lifting, standing, bending, walking.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in Automotive or commercial vehicle industry preferred.
• Experience within industry groups such as TTMA, TMC, SAE, etc. and knowledge of industry standards is preferred.
• Experience (or desire to learn) legal terms, procedures, and litigation practices are preferred.
• Experience in patent processing is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Upon service of products liability lawsuit (Summons and Complaint), create file and make sure that all parties are notified of new lawsuit (counsel, Great Dane management, and CCI).
• Select and retain local counsel for each lawsuit in coordination with general counsel.
• Examine the subject trailer in each lawsuit to identify the cause of the incident/accident and develop a defense strategy.
• Coordinate with general counsel to hire outside consultants as needed. Act as the designated company representative (30(b)(6) witness) and/or fact witness as required. Prepare for and provide deposition and trial testimony for all cases up to the consulting engineer level. Execute affidavits and certifications on behalf of the company.
• Draft responses to interrogatories, requests for production of documents, etc. as is required in lawsuits.
• Research sales, engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance documentation for the subject trailer(s) in each lawsuit.
• Maintain computer and paper case files. Ensure that all parties are kept up to date and that deadlines are met in each lawsuit.
• Participate in out of court settlement negotiations with Direct Supervisor, General Counsel, applicable CCI personnel, and insurance personnel.
• Provide support and education to company Service Managers to develop proper strategies and methods to maintain potential evidence/information in instances where trailers are brought into Service Centers for repairs because of obvious crashes, especially when accidents may have resulted in injury or death (e.g. under-ride, etc.).
• Update and distribute periodic lawsuit summary documents.
• Assist Customer Service department to comply with TREAD Act requirements.
• Monitor changes and keep up to date with TREAD Act and ensure that Great Dane remains in compliance.
• Obtain and maintain historical copies of Operator’s and Maintenance Manuals. Review and aid in the revision of these manuals as necessary.
• Monitor new and revised government regulations and industry standards, through attendance of TTMA products liability group meetings, review of written materials provided by TTMA, TMC, and SAE, as well as interactions with other members of the Engineering Management team.
• Manage companywide Patent/IP program and all patent activities including product design, process, and Manufacturing tooling.
• Oversee patent application process by designated outside counsel and firm.
• Maintain and update consolidated company patent record and history.
• Design and arrange patent training and assist engineers to produce patentable ideas.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Benefits, including but not limited to dental, vision, and medical with employer contributions
• Retirement programs, including a Pension Plan and 401(k) Plan with employer match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid holidays and vacation
• And more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director