Legal & Risk Program Manager

Ariens • Chicago, IL

30d • Onsite

About The Position

AriensCo is seeking a dynamic Legal & Risk Program Manager to elevate the effectiveness of our Legal and Risk function. In this high-impact, non-attorney role, you'll report directly to our Chief Legal and Risk Officer (CLRO) and play a key part in driving enterprise-wide legal, compliance, and risk initiatives. From contract management and legal operations to strategic project execution, you'll help ensure AriensCo operates with integrity, accountability, and alignment to governance standards and our long-term ownership vision. While we welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of location, preference may be given to those who currently reside in Wisconsin or are willing to relocate prior to starting employment. This is due to the need for regular on-site presence at our Brillion, Wisconsin location, which is essential for effective job performance and team collaboration.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; paralegal certificate, MBA, or legal studies background preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in contract management, legal operations, or corporate legal support, preferably in an in-house or cross-functional business environment
• Strong understanding of commercial transactions, contract law, and legal workflow management
• Familiarity with enterprise risk management, insurance programs, and compliance frameworks
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Excel, and document/contract management systems
• Demonstrated ability to work across functions, manage multiple priorities, and contribute to strategic initiatives
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail and organizational capabilities
• Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with high expectations for quality and accountability
• Maintains professionalism and discretion when handling confidential information and operates with integrity across all responsibilities
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements, including but not limited to customer, partner, supplier, financing, and real estate contracts
• Maintain and enhance contract templates, clause libraries, and negotiation playbooks to ensure consistency and alignment with enterprise risk standards
• Manage contract workflows across departments, ensuring timely execution and alignment with strategic and operational goals
• Track contract lifecycle milestones and support post-execution obligations, compliance monitoring, and risk mitigation
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure contract terms are understood, implemented, and monitored effectively
• Serve as a central liaison between business units and the CLRO, embedding legal and risk perspectives into core business processes
• Manage intake, prioritization, and tracking of legal support requests, including contract reviews, compliance inquiries, and risk assessments
• Support implementation of legal technology tools and drive continuous improvement in legal operations and documentation practices
• Assist with internal investigations, document retention, regulatory filings, and other legal operations activities
• Help maintain legal policies, playbooks, and governance documentation to ensure consistency and accessibility
• Support the maintenance of the enterprise risk register in collaboration with business units and the CLRO
• Assist in identifying and documenting key operational, regulatory, and financial risks across the organization
• Coordinate claims handling and Certificates of Insurance (COIs) with brokers and internal stakeholders
• Contribute to business continuity planning (BCP), disaster recovery planning, and scenario testing
• Monitor key risk indicators and assist in preparing risk updates for executive and board-level reporting
• Lead or support cross-functional projects that advance legal, compliance, and enterprise risk initiatives
• Develop and maintain executive and board-level reporting, including contract summaries, risk dashboards, and compliance updates
• Coordinate enterprise risk workshops, mitigation tracking, and governance documentation processes
• Support integration of legal and risk frameworks into strategic planning, operational execution, and enterprise-wide initiatives
• Contribute to long-term strategic initiatives aligned with ownership vision, including sustainability, governance, and enterprise resilience

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance effective first day of employment
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) plan
• 401(k) match and profit-sharing plans
• Life Insurance
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Short Term Disability
• Parental Leave
• Onsite Marketplace Care Partners at all locations
• Paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement and Apprenticeship Programs
• Safety shoes and safety prescription glasses reimbursement
• Employee Product Purchase Program
• 50% Daycare discount Brillion Early Learning Center
• Onsite health clinic with Bellin Health Brillion Campus Only
• Nearsite & Urgent Care Clinic Options Brillion Campus Only

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Machinery Manufacturing
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees