Director, Risk Management and Compliance

General Summary

Primarily responsible for providing strategic direction, overseeing, managing, providing in-house legal advice and services relating to risk management and compliance issues involving corporate regulatory concerns, labor and employment-related matters, corporate governance, and cybersecurity and privacy issues. Responsible for supervising attorneys and paralegals in providing in-house legal services involving risk management and compliance issues. This role is also responsible for coordinating with legal department management, business stakeholders, outside legal counsel, Kia America’s parent company, and other affiliated companies to manage the foregoing matters.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Priority One – 30%

• • • Manage, oversee and provide strategic legal advice and legal services relating to regulatory compliance and legislative affairs, including, without limitation, import/export regulations, anti-corruption programs, antitrust, tax matters, guidance on mobility issues, general corporate environmental regulations, and supply chain regulations. 

Priority Two – 30%

• • • Manage, oversee and provide strategic legal advice and legal services relating to a wide variety of employment-related matters, including recruiting, accommodations, leaves of absence, team member relations, compensation and benefits, HR policies and procedures, and immigration; advising Human Resources team and executives on policy decisions, emerging risk areas, risk mitigation strategies; drafting and negotiating employment-related agreements; responses to demand letters, agency matters, and other regulatory inquiries; and handing of employment related disputes, including overseeing and managing relationships and costs with outside counsel handling employment litigation.

Priority Three – 30%

• • • Manage, oversee and provide strategic legal advice and legal services relating to cybersecurity and privacy obligations with the goal of complying with applicable laws and regulations and mitigating risks associated with a cybersecurity breach or breach of company privacy commitments. Oversee and provide legal counsel and advice and drafting of documents relating to cybersecurity and privacy issues and privacy policies as they relate to sales, marketing, connected vehicle products, and other areas of the Company. Oversee and respond directly to or assist business units with responding to requests from Auto-ISAC, regulators, or the media relating to the Company’s management of consumer data, cyber risks or cyber intrusions.

Priority Four –10%

• • • Manage, oversee, and provide strategic legal advice and legal services relating to corporate governance issues, including preparing and revising relevant documents, such as bylaws, resolutions, meeting minutes, and advising the Company’s board of directors.
    • Provide reporting to the legal department and executives

Personally Performed Duties

• Lead and manage a team of risk management and compliance attorneys and other staff members in managing their respective matters.
• Monitor and assess legal risks and provide proactive solutions.
• Offer strategic legal advice to senior management on matters within area of responsibility.
• Manage efficient case management and cost control in litigation and advice matters related to areas of responsibility.
• Review, implement and oversee in-house risk management policies and procedures.
• Provide advice on Legal Department Approval Requests.
• Represent the Company in negotiations and legal proceedings.

Qualifications/Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree from an ABA-accredited law school
• California State Bar Admission

Job Requirement

• 10-15 years top tier law firm and/or in-house experience
• Prior management experience preferred
• Regulatory experience in the automobile industry helpful
• Certified Information Privacy Professional certification preferred

Specialized Skills and Knowledge Required

• Requires prior demonstrated managerial, organizational, and interpersonal communications (verbal and written) skills.
• In depth knowledge of relevant laws and regulations.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively with senior management.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects/priorities simultaneously and with composure.
• Ability to create timely and insightful executive reports and analysis.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing legal and regulatory environments and willingness to stay updated on legal trends and developments.
• Mastery of standard office software suites (Microsoft Office) and ability to learn other company software systems.
• Ability to act independently to make decisions that maximize client’s legal benefits and minimize legal exposures.
• Ability to provide reasoned and consistent legal advice and implement innovative strategies to protect the Company’s legal interests.
• Ability to provide strategic legal advice aligned with business objectives.
• Proactive approach to identifying and mitigating legal risks.
• Capacity to participate in high-level decision-making processes.

Leadership

• Proven ability to inspire, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
• Ability to mentor and develop junior legal staff.

Planning & Organizing

• Adequately applies and effectively distributes ideas and material resources by clarifying the priorities, activity sequences, and planning of projects/tasks.

Customer Focus

• Clearly recognizes both internal and external customers and the impact that task performance could have on them

Communication

• Clearly understands fellow team members and efficiently conveys one’s thoughts using adequate communication channels and methods

Networking

• Develop internal and external relationships, effectively promote teamwork and interactions within the organization

Service Organization

• Adequately applies and effectively distributes ideas and material resources by clarifying the priorities, activity sequences, and planning of projects/tasks.