Reports to: CEO
Position Summary
The Vice President of Legal / General Counsel serves as the Company's chief legal advisor and a trusted strategic business partner to the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors. This executive provides practical legal counsel that enables business growth, supports informed decision-making, and protects the Company's long-term interests through proactive risk management, sound governance, and regulatory compliance.
Beyond providing legal expertise, this leader builds trusted relationships across the enterprise, influences executive decision-making, develops organizational legal capability, and leads a high-performing legal function that supports the Company's evolving business needs. The successful executive will balance legal excellence with commercial acumen, partnering across the organization to enable growth while safeguarding the Company's reputation, values, and long-term interests.
Compensation & Benefits
- Employee Ownership (ESOP): Company-funded retirement contribution of approximately 18% of pay, plus 401(k)
- Competitive base salary with performance-based bonus opportunity
- Comprehensive benefits package: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, FSA, and Pet Insurance
- Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and parental leave
- Fitness and tuition reimbursement programs
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Legal Strategy & Leadership
- Serve as the Company's chief legal advisor and trusted strategic business partner to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors.
- Develop and execute an enterprise legal strategy aligned with organizational priorities, long-term growth, and shareholder interests.
- Advise executive leadership on the legal implications of strategic initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, governance, enterprise risk, and organizational transformation.
- Provide practical, business-oriented counsel that enables informed decisions while balancing legal risk and commercial opportunity.
- Compliance & Enterprise Risk Management
- Establish and oversee an enterprise-wide legal and compliance framework that promotes ethical business practices and regulatory compliance.
- Identify emerging legal and regulatory risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies that protect the organization while enabling business objectives.
- Partner with executive leadership to integrate risk management into strategic and operational decision-making.
- Corporate Governance
- Serve as legal advisor to the Board of Directors, ensuring sound governance practices, fiduciary compliance, and adherence to legal and ethical standards.
- Oversee governance processes, Board materials, corporate records, and legal policies that promote transparency, accountability, and effective governance.
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- Develop litigation strategies that protect organizational interests while minimizing financial, operational, and reputational risk.
- Select, manage, and oversee outside counsel, insurance underwriters, investigations, regulatory matters, and legal disputes.
- Commercial Contracts & Transactions
- Lead the legal review, drafting, negotiation, and execution of significant commercial agreements with customers, vendors, partners, and strategic stakeholders.
- Develop practical contract solutions that support business growth while protecting the Company's interests.
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Transactions
- Provide legal leadership for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions, including due diligence, structuring, negotiations, documentation, and integration support.
- Intellectual Property
- Oversee the protection, enforcement, and strategic management of the Company's intellectual property portfolio, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and licensing.
- Executive Partnership
- Build trusted relationships across the enterprise by serving as a strategic advisor to executive leaders and cross-functional partners.
- Translate complex legal matters into practical business recommendations that support enterprise decision-making.
- Leadership & Organizational Capability
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing legal organization capable of supporting the Company's evolving business needs.
- Evaluate organizational capability, succession planning, and long-term legal talent requirements.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and ethical leadership.
- Ethics & Corporate Responsibility
- Champion a culture of integrity, compliance, and ethical decision-making across the organization.
- External Relations
- Represent the Company with regulatory agencies, government officials, industry organizations, external legal counsel, and strategic partners.
- Serve as an ambassador for PBI Gordon Companies, strengthening the Company's reputation through professionalism, integrity, and sound judgment.
- Safety Responsibilities
- Follow all company safety policies and procedures.
- Participate in required safety training.
- Report unsafe conditions, near misses, and incidents promptly.
Required Qualifications
- Education
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active admission to the applicable state bar.
- Experience
- 15+ years of progressive legal leadership experience within a corporate or business environment.
- Skills & Abilities
- Demonstrated success advising CEOs, Executive Leadership Teams, and Boards of Directors.
- Expertise in corporate law, commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, employment law, litigation, governance, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property.
- Exceptional business acumen with the ability to balance legal risk with commercial priorities.
- Executive presence with outstanding communication, negotiation, influence, and relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing legal teams in a growth-oriented environment.
- Ability to navigate complex business issues while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professional judgment.
Work Environment & Culture
PBI-Gordon Companies offers a collaborative, employee-owned environment where accountability, partnership, and continuous improvement are valued. Team members are encouraged to contribute ideas, develop professionally, and grow their careers alongside the business.
Equal Opportunity Employer
PBI-Gordon Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Ready to Apply?
If you’re passionate about legal strategy and executive leadership, corporate governance and regulatory compliance, and balancing legal risk with commercial opportunity, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today to join an employee-owned organization where accountability, partnership, and continuous improvement are valued.
