Lead Corporate Paralegal

James Hardie•Chicago, IL

10h•$94,000 - $117,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Lead Corporate Paralegal serves as a highly trusted partner within the Global Legal and Compliance Department, operating with a high degree of independence and judgment across corporate secretarial, corporate securities and governance matters. This role supports critical corporate compliance and governance functions for a publicly‑traded, global organization, exercising discretion in prioritization, execution, and problem‑solving with minimal day‑to‑day oversight. Acting as a subject‑matter expert in corporate governance, subsidiary management, and U.S. securities compliance, the Lead Corporate Paralegal independently manages enterprise‑wide processes, advises internal stakeholders on legal and compliance issues, and influences outcomes across Legal, Finance, Tax, HR, and global operations. The role proactively identifies gaps, inefficiencies, and emerging risks, translating regulatory and governance requirements into practical, business‑aligned solutions. This position is accountable for the integrity of corporate records, the accuracy and timeliness of regulatory filings, and the operational effectiveness of entity management and governance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions. In addition to supporting Board and committee‑level activities, the Lead Corporate Paralegal plays a role in shaping legal operations workflows, mentoring less‑experienced team members, and supporting other cross‑functional initiatives that directly support the Department and Company’s objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in business or legal studies or related discipline required.
Minimum of 10 years of experience as a Corporate Securities and Corporate Secretarial paralegal
Ability to develop, improve, document and provide high quality deliverables
Detail oriented with strong organizational and project management skills.
Ability to analyze information, identify risks, and make practical recommendations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Proactive, resourceful, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
High degree of professionalism, confidentiality, and integrity.
Ability to travel an average of 10%.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting publicly traded company governance activities strongly preferred.
Paralegal Certificate preferred

Responsibilities

Conduct research and compile information, summaries, and reports for attorney review.
Assist with drafting, reviewing, and preparing required U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings including 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, registration statements, proxy statements relating to annual shareholder meetings and Section 16 filings.
Manage entity management system, relationships with registered agents, update officer/director slates and maintain organizational charts.
Provide compliance and transactional assistance including monitoring business transactions for compliance with corporate and securities laws, supporting audit processes and financial reporting obligations, managing equity transfers and liaising with transfer agents, assisting with due diligence and document preparation for corporate transactions.
Support corporate governance activities, including preparation of board and committee materials, resolutions, consents, and meeting logistics.
Manage and maintain domestic and international subsidiary records, minute books, officer/director listings, and annual compliance filings.
Coordinate preparation and submission of regulatory, corporate, and compliance filings across multiple jurisdictions.
Support legal operations processes and workflow improvements, coordinate with Tax, Finance, HR, and global operations on entity and compliance matters
Partner with cross‑functional teams (Finance, HR, Operations) to ensure timely completion of legal deliverables.
Organize, track, and maintain legal templates, playbooks, and shared documentation repositories.
Support special legal projects as assigned.