Address
Form of workAbout the Company:
IPS Corporation is a global, market-leading provider of solvent cements, adhesives and specialized plumbing products. Founded in 1954, IPS, with its three operating companies, has nine manufacturing plants and nine distribution centers across the globe supporting sales to a diverse set of end markets in 85 countries. IPS Corporation is a portfolio company that is part of the private equity company, Centerbridge Partners.
About the Role:
As a Senior Paralegal, with appropriate attorney oversight, you will provide legal support and advice on a wide variety of legal issues, including corporate governance and entity management; compliance; drafting of contracts, employment matters, mergers and acquisitions, legal research, litigation matters and management of real estate. Based in Chicago, Illinois, this role will operate in a remote capacity for the first 3 months then hybrid from there after.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
About the Role:
As a Senior Paralegal, with appropriate attorney oversight, you will provide legal support and advice on a wide variety of legal issues, including corporate governance and entity management; compliance; drafting of contracts, employment matters, mergers and acquisitions, legal research, litigation matters and management of real estate. Based in Chicago, Illinois, this role will operate in a remote capacity for the first 3 months then hybrid from there after.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Corporate Governance
- Handle entity management for all domestic and international subsidiaries.
- Maintain a system for safekeeping of corporate documents and the indexing of their content.
- Coordinate foreign filings and maintain records with respect to foreign subsidiaries.
- Prepare and maintain Board/committee minute books and resolutions and provide other corporate secretary services.
- Ordering good standing certificates, certified charters, apostilles, etc., as necessary.
HR and Compliance
- Manage, implement, and administer compliance support for a variety of legal and HR policies, procedures and practices; provide leadership in driving ongoing improvements in regulatory compliance.
- Manage compliance training program for various areas such as ethics and code of conduct, conflicts of interest, anti-corruption, anti-trust, sexual harassment and discrimination.
- Trusted advisor to the HR team and is a critical role in review of all employee relations matters.
- Review current and emerging compliance, legal and HR risks and create action plans where necessary to mitigate risks.
- Review policies and programs for compliance and recommend revisions as needed. Initial focus areas to include:
- Wage & Hour
- Harassment
- Terminations and employee discipline policies & procedures
- Workplace violence
- Background checks
- Drug testing
- Hiring policies & procedures
- Recordkeeping
- Health & Safety policies working in close collaboration with EH&S team.
- Monitor and provide legal updates on compliance requirements for the company’s locations.
- Manage the company’s ethics hotline.
- Respond to alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures and standards of conduct by evaluating or recommending the initiation of investigative procedures.
- Deliver periodic reports to the General Counsel and CHRO on emerging legislation, noteworthy lawsuits and trends related to Legal and HR risk and compliance, as well as recommendations for best practices related to same.
- Provide support on various labor and employment issues, including reductions in force, non-competes, union relations, discrimination complaints and immigration matters.
- In the U.S., this position will also work closely with HR responsible associates for standard HR risk and compliance areas such as FMLA, ADA, workers comp, criminal background screens, OSHA, and government reporting such as AAP, Vets 4212, EEO etc.
- Identify compliance priorities in areas such as EEO, OFCCP, wage and hour, employment law training requirements hiring practices, disability accommodation, drug testing, hiring practices, leaves and workers’ compensation leave, workforce data related privacy, ethics, and employee policies; support projects to address those priorities and train HR staff periodically on these programs.
- Partnering with HR team to ensure that there is an effective compliance training and education across all levels in the organization.
Contracts
- Under the supervision of the General Counsel, review, draft and negotiate day-to-day agreements such as NDAs and standard commercial agreements.
- Develop and maintain a material contract database.
Other
- Provide support on various legal matters, including:
- Assisting with M&A transactions, including legal diligence, closing logistics, drafting ancillary documents and managing signature pages
- Litigation support, real estate transactions, record retention
- Assist General Counsel, outside counsel or consultants supporting legal matters, as needed
- Other duties as assigned.
- Travel up to 15% of the time.
Critical Competencies
The successful candidate will be energetic, insightful, collaborative, self-motivated, and positive with interest in finding opportunities to businesses to over drive performance targets. Other highly valued skills include:
- In-depth knowledge of regulatory compliance and skilled in understanding and interpreting complex laws and regulations.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to effectively plan and lead multiple projects.
- Ability to analyze data, drawing conclusions and providing viable recommendations for ambiguous situations.
- Strong business acumen.
- Previous experience reviewing contracts
- Hard worker with results orientation and sense of urgency
- Able to set and meet deadlines
- Strong team player with organizational and interpersonal attention to detail; excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as good judgment is imperative.
- Superior ability to handle the multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced, innovative, and highly-collaborative team environment.
Education and Experience Requirements
- Bachelor's in pre-law, political science, or other related degree
- Paralegal certification preferred
- 10+ years’ experience in a corporate law department (preferred) or law firm, including extensive experience in areas noted above.
- Ability to apply comprehensive knowledge in a variety of areas of expertise to the completion of complex assignments. Ability to function independently.
Our Offer:
We're a rapidly growing midsized company with a customer-centric mentality operating fast and lean. We think big, embrace problem solving, and believe our proven business system gives us a competitive edge in the markets we play. Through experience in this role, mentoring and via formal instruction, we will grow your career and develop you based off your strengths and interests. A career with IPS Corporation will push you and challenge you, providing growth opportunities and the prospects to advance your career. If you are a driven performer, you will work with committed, like-minded people, giving you the support to reach your full potential.
- Competitive Compensation Package
- Insurance Benefits - Medical (Aetna), Dental (Delta Dental), Vision (Aetna Vision)
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Voluntary Benefits - Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident
- Basic Life insurance with dependent coverage optional
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Vacation and Sick Leave
- Short term & Long Term disability
- Tuition assistance program
- Employee assistance program
- Professional Development Opportunities
