Executive General Counsel

Challenge Manufacturing•Walker, MI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Challenge Manufacturing’s mission is to manufacture with operational excellence by empowering our employee-owners. As a leading tier 1 supplier of complex metal assemblies for the global automotive industry, we drive innovative solutions for future mobility. We believe the best ideas come from individual unique perspectives. These ideas combined with the teamwork of industry leaders allow us to accomplish any challenge. Our team members take pride in the work we do and embody our core values of safety, ownership, and teamwork every day; they are the true driving force in our operations. Challenge is proud to be one of the largest employee-owned automotive companies in North America. One of the many benefits of joining the Challenge team is the ESOP program. This program allows Challenge to give shares of the Company to all employee-owners annually. These shares are an additional retirement benefit that will continue to grow during your time at Challenge. Being part of an ESOP means our employee-owners share in Challenge’s success! Challenge is #QualityDriven and #PeoplePowered! We are seeking a highly accomplished Executive General Counsel to serve as the senior legal leader and strategic partner to executive leadership within a complex OEM/Tier-1 automotive manufacturing environment. This role will own the company’s legal strategy, governance framework, litigation portfolio, and risk management approach across all operations, ensuring strong protection of the company’s commercial, regulatory, and reputational interests. The Executive General Counsel will provide enterprise-wide legal leadership spanning litigation, commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, employment matters, and strategic initiatives across the automotive supply chain. The ideal candidate brings deep experience supporting OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers, with a strong background in commercial and employment litigation, contract negotiations, and proactive risk mitigation in high-volume manufacturing environments.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an ABA-accredited law school with a strong academic record demonstrating excellence in legal research, writing, and analysis (required).
Licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan (or ability to obtain Michigan licensure promptly) with a strong professional standing and clean disciplinary record (required).
15+ years of progressive legal experience, including executive-level responsibility for litigation management, commercial contracting, labor and employment matters, and regulatory compliance within complex business environments (required).
Demonstrated hands-on experience managing commercial and employment litigation, including workers’ compensation matters and labor disputes (required).
Proven experience supporting unionized workforces, including interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), grievance processes, arbitrations, and labor relations strategy (UAW or similar unions) (required).
Strong working knowledge of contract law, labor and employment law, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management principles (required).
Demonstrated ability to serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership while balancing legal risk, operational realities, and business objectives (required).
Executive-level communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills across diverse internal and external audiences (required).
Proven leadership experience managing legal teams, external counsel, departmental budgets, and performance objectives (required).
High standards of integrity, confidentiality, and ethical leadership (required).

Nice To Haves

Advanced legal education or credentials beyond the JD, such as a Master of Laws (LLM) in Corporate Law, Labor & Employment Law, Compliance, or a related discipline (preferred).
Executive legal leadership or governance programs (e.g., executive education in corporate governance, risk management, or compliance) (preferred).
Legal training or early career experience with a nationally recognized law firm or complex commercial litigation practice (preferred).
Legal leadership experience within OEM, Tier-1, or Tier-2 automotive manufacturing environments, particularly in high-volume, unionized operations (preferred).
Prior in-house counsel experiences supporting complex manufacturing organizations or automotive supply chain operations (preferred).
Deep familiarity with automotive regulatory requirements, OEM customer compliance standards, supplier codes of conduct, and industry governance frameworks (preferred).
Experience handling complex supply chain disputes, customer claims, warranty litigation, and high-value commercial matters (preferred).
Demonstrated experience developing enterprise compliance programs, governance frameworks, and enterprise risk management (ERM) strategies (preferred).
Proven success building, scaling, or modernizing a legal department in a growing or transforming organization (preferred).

Responsibilities

Serve as the company’s senior legal executive, leading all legal functions and acting as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team on legal risk, governance, and strategic business decisions.
Own and oversee the full litigation portfolio, including commercial disputes, employment litigation, workers’ compensation, regulatory matters, and customer/supplier claims within the OEM/Tier-1 supply chain. Develop enterprise litigation strategy, manage external counsel, drive cost-effective resolution, and where appropriate handle select matters in-house.
Provide strategic legal counsel across all business functions, including manufacturing, engineering, automation, supply chain, sales, HR, and corporate leadership.
Lead the development and execution of company-wide risk management and compliance programs aligned with automotive regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and industry standards.
Draft, review, negotiate, and oversee all major commercial agreements including OEM customer contracts, supplier agreements, tooling agreements, confidentiality agreements, and service contracts.
Monitor evolving legal and regulatory developments impacting automotive manufacturing, supply chain operations, labor and employment, and commercial relationships, ensuring proactive compliance and governance.
Establish departmental strategy, operating plans, budgets, and performance metrics aligned with enterprise objectives.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing legal team, including talent acquisition, professional development, performance management, and succession planning.
Partner with executive leadership to support long-term corporate strategy through legal governance, enterprise risk management, and organizational capability development.
Collaborate with Learning & Development teams to enhance company-wide awareness of legal compliance, litigation readiness, and risk mitigation best practices.