With a strategy centered on people and sustainability, Braskem is engaged in contributing to the value chain to strengthen the Circular Economy. Braskem’s 9,000 team members dedicate themselves every day to improving people's lives through sustainable solutions in chemicals and plastics. With its corporate DNA rooted in innovation, Braskem offers a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for diverse industries, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, health and hygiene, and more. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and Germany, Braskem exports its products to clients in over 70 countries.
Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading producer of polypropylene in the United States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, an Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, and a New Renewable Innovation Center in Boston focused on leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and advanced materials. For more information, visit www.braskem.com/usa.
Department:
Legal & Governance US
Location:
Philadelphia
Travel Involved:
Job Type:
Hybrid
Description:
The US Legal Manager position will report to the General Counsel – Business Global (US, Europe & Asia and South America). This person will be responsible for managing all legal matters regarding the Commercial, Feedstock, Procurement, Antitrust, Industrial, and Circular Economy departments (all legal entities in the US + intercompany relationship with Braskem affiliates).Regarding the growth of the Braskem group, the legal area also supports Braskem’s focus on sustainability, new raw materials (bio and circular feedstock), chemical and mechanical recycling, and the circular economy.This person will be responsible for managing litigation cases, claims discussions, and a small team of US-based lawyers.
In addition, this person will be responsible for supporting all support areas such as Compliance, Finance, and P&O (labor and HES matters).The US Legal Manager is responsible for enabling and structuring the US Legal support:
- Focusing on providing freedom to operate, identifying, assessing, balancing, and managing risks, and maintaining the reputation of businesses.
- Using the synergistic benefits of developing and exploiting different activities, resources, and business models within each legal entity
- Identifying opportunities, creating strategies, and designing proposals to meet the needs of the business
- Making tactical decisions according to the business strategy and the risk analyses
The US Legal Manager will understand the needs of the organization from the strategic point of view, be aware of the societal transformation, ensure that the company operates within the law, and - based on sophisticated advice (internal and/or external legal expertise) - manage the impact of internal and external factors that can expose the Braskem Group to risks resulting in a limited license to operate:
- Predicting these risks and—above all—taking actions to reduce them is a key task of the Legal Manager (using legal skills and stakeholder integration capabilities).
- Anticipating the reputational consequences of a crisis situation (reputation management) – strategic analyses of reputational risks and consequences
- Understanding the stakeholders involved (expectations and perceptions) and preserving the security of the information of the company (both communications verbally and in writing)
- Combine the legal analyses with reputation risk assessment in order to advise the US CEO and their direct reports to stop eventual damage as soon as possible (acting as fast as possible)
- Support the leaders to act calm and courageous and stay positive in crisis situations or under pressure
- Take measures to reduce or avoid the impact of a crisis in the short and long term
Key Responsibilities:
- Ensure legal compliance and applicable legislation for the following departments:
- Feedstock
- Commercial
- Procurement
- People & Operations
- Finance, Tax & Legal Management
- Compliance
- Growth
- Health & Environmental Safety
- Management of the legal support for all commercial contracts and terms & conditions templates
- Identify legal risks and suggest improvements
- Establish an efficient and compliant legal organization and define uniform legal review for early identification of potential risks
- Improve process flow, provide training on legal topics, support cases of claims
- Manage the board meetings agenda and ethics committee meetings and issue any governance support needed for Braskem.
- Manage the integration with the Legal Managers in the other Business regions (South America and Europe & Asia) as well as Global Legal Product Stewardship and Global Legal Intellectual Properties
- Implement the best practices of managing the legal department of global organizations
- Manage and maintain a budget for internal and external service providers and any specialized legal reviews or advice that might be required
Requirements:
- Juris Doctor degree, with admission to the Bar of Pennsylvania.
- 10+ years of work experience working in a major international law firm or an international corporation
- Knowledge to provide strategic and up-to-date legal advice (opinions, contracts analysis, and business modalities)
- Experience working with or within international countries
- Experience leading legal support with partnership negotiations and strategic and complex projects.
- Mergers & Acquisitions background, international M&A background a plus
- Finance operations are a plus.
- Experience in the Manufacturing, Industrial, or Oil & Gas industries.
- Pro-active self-starter who can work well independently and in a team with a willingness to learn.
- Experience as a Legal Manager.
- Communication strategies: ensure open dialogue within the organization and support organizing stakeholder conversations.
- Direction of Thinking: influence the Business model and the way of thinking and doing Business
- Risk management: anticipate the solutions to the problems before they arise
- Scenario analyses: offer solutions and check the financial consequences under different perspectives (corporate law, civil, labor, regulatory, environmental, competition, criminal, and reputation)
- Management of Labor impacts include legal consequences, notice periods, protection, retirement, negotiation supporting the P&O leader, balance of interests agreements, and litigation in the Court of Law.
- Speaking: Fluency in English (required), Spanish and/or Portuguese (preferred)
- Writing/Reading: Fluency in English (required), Spanish and/or Portuguese (preferred)
What we offer
At Braskem we offer more than just a competitive base pay package. Out total rewards package includes a wide range of benefits that you need for every stage of your life. Out benefits include:
- Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits
- Retirement Benefits
- Maternity and Paternity Leave
- Life Insurance
- Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Teladoc
- A wide range of voluntary benefits like Pet Insurance, Legal and ID Theft Insurance
- Flexible work schedules like 9/80 schedules for eligible team members
Candidates must be currently eligible to work in the United States without the need for any type of sponsorship now or in the future. Braskem is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process please contact the Talent Acquisition team.
