Legal Director LATAM

Company Description

John Crane is a global leader in rotating equipment solutions, supplying engineered technologies and services to process industries. The company designs and manufactures avariety of products, including mechanical seals and systems, couplings, filtration systems and digital diagnostics technologies. John Crane customer service is accessedthrough a global network of more than 200 sales and service facilities in over 50 countries. Global reported revenue for fiscal year 2021 was in excess of $1 billion USD. JohnCrane is part of Smiths Group, a global leader in applying advanced technologies for markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications,and engineered components.

Job Description

The role of Legal Director - LATAM is a broad in-house role comprising legal/commercial/compliance responsibilities within the John Crane division and will involve advising and supporting the John Crane businesses across Latin America.  The role will be located in Mexico City and the successful candidate will be expected to work from our office at least 4 x days per week.

The role encompasses two key areas: (i) the day-to-day proactive management of legal and quasi legal matters (with a priority on customer contracts) across the risk spectrum in the region and (ii) delivering advice/support for the Legal Team’s clearly defined strategic initiatives.

Key to the role is getting to understand the John Crane business and developing close working relationships with employees across each layer of the organization including senior management and the business teams in order to shape and drive strategy and improve the identification, assessment and management of legal risk.

Responsibilities

• Being the day-to-day contact for all regional legal matters within LATAM – with a primary focus on commercial contracting and HR matters. The commercial contracting work involves analysis and negotiation of large customer contracts, which require a robust understanding of the Company’s preferred terms and close coordination with internal stakeholders such as the sales, engineering, compliance, and health & safety teams.
• Responsibility for routine legal reporting to senior management – including Senior Director, Sales (LATAM), senior executives responsible for the LATAM businesses and General Counsel, John Crane.
• Support for LATAM real estate work (including lease renewal negotiation and new lease negotiation), supporting JC Global Property Manager.
• Supporting local HSE team with responses to Government agencies as it relates to HSE compliance.
• Management of the Latin America legal budget to feed into overall John Crane Legal budget.
• Delivering training for John Crane colleagues across our Latin American businesses.
• Attendance and representation of John Crane Legal function at regional management and strategic meetings.
• Supporting the John Crane business on delivering its clearly defined strategic initiatives. Shaping future strategic direction.
• Working closely with the business units to support their material day-to-day needs across the risk spectrum – e.g., business development, commercial, corporate, contract (including with government and government prime/sub-prime contractors; and the ongoing compliance of such contracts), IP, dispute resolution, compliance, international trade, etc. – utilizing Smiths Group Legal resource or external counsel as appropriate. 
• Delivering advice to a high standard, within timeframes required by the business and in a manner that meets commercial needs.
• Developing strong collaborative working relationships with senior management and the business teams and other relevant stakeholders. 
• Travelling to John Crane sites as appropriate.
• Identifying/anticipating risks and opportunities across the John Crane business and helping to drive/foster pro-active behaviours and practices.
• Coordinating/supporting other members of the John Crane (and Smiths Group Legal) function as appropriate.
• Supporting the ethics, compliance, and governance processes; fostering and exemplifying a culture of integrity, credibility and best business practices.
• Developing a strong internal and external network.
• Supporting John Crane General Counsel with the day to day management of the John Crane global legal function within LATAM.
• You should note that your title and job description are not exhaustive and the Company may require you from time to time to undertake other reasonable tasks within your capacity.

Qualifications

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Education Requirements: Law degree from an accredited university or equivalent. 
• Licensed to practice law in Mexico, Brazil or other country within Latin Amercia.
• Experience require: Tier 1 Law firm and/or in-house experience
• At least 8+ years PQE. Having both Tier 1law firm and in-house experience is a plus.
• Complex commercial contract drafting and negotiation experience
• Licensed to practice law in Mexico, Brazil or other country within Latin Amercia.
• At least 8+ years PQE. Having both Tier 1law firm and in-house experience is a plus.
• Complex commercial contract drafting and negotiation experience

Language Skills

• You will be required to converse with members of the Legal team and John Crane colleagues outside of Latin America and therefore full fluency (spoken and written) in both Spanish and English is essential for this role.
• Strong Portuguese language skills also desirable.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Advisory and commercial experience.
• Exposure to (high tech) industrial/manufacturing operations.
• Experience of managing risk across the risk spectrum.
• Worked for an international business and experience of obtaining and interpreting local law advice in jurisdictions outside of home country where qualified.
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills to mobilise colleagues at all levels outside and inside of the legal function in support of strategic objectives and priorities.
• Continuous improvement mindset in relation to delivery of legal service.
• Ability to coordinate and manage a series of workstreams using    cross-divisional and cross-functional resources.

Additional Information

Diversity & Inclusion

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardlessof race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud tobe an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

Additional Information

According our mission, vision and Global Policies: Under no circumstances shall Staff be charged any fee or other costs in relation to their recruitment to work at Smiths, whether directly or indirectly. Any recruitment fees shall be paid by Smiths.

Smiths will not employ anyone below the age of 18. Smiths will take reasonable steps to satisfy itself of the member of Staff’s age before that person starts work at Smiths. When persons under the age of 18 are employed, they must not do work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous or harmful or interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school.