Senior Legal Counsel
Location: Miamisburg, OH (HQ)
Department: Legal
Reports To: Group General Counsel; Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Level: SLT
Travel: Approximately 10% domestic and 10% international
Summary
The Senior Legal Counsel serves as the lead in-house attorney for Covation Global / United Wheels Inc. and its operations in the Americas and internationally. This role provides strategic legal counsel across the business, personally handles major transactional and litigation matters, and serves as Corporate Secretary for the company and its subsidiaries.
Why This Role Matters
As Covation Global grows across brands, borders, and business lines, sound legal counsel is what keeps that growth protected — in every transaction, across intellectual property, through litigation and risk, and in the governance that holds the enterprise together. This role is the hands-on legal partner to the business and executive leadership: handling the company’s most significant transactional and litigation matters, safeguarding its IP, and serving as Corporate Secretary for the company and its subsidiaries. Strong work here directly protects the company’s interests, reputation, and ability to operate and expand.
What Success Looks Like (3 Core Outcomes):
- Sound, Strategic Legal Counsel: The business and executive leadership receive timely, strategic, and trusted legal counsel across corporate, commercial, regulatory, employment, IP, and litigation matters.
- Protected Interests, IP & Managed Risk: Major transactions are executed soundly, the company’s intellectual property portfolio is protected and defended, litigation and product-liability matters are managed cost-effectively, and legal and regulatory risk is proactively identified and mitigated.
- Strong Governance & Compliance: Corporate governance and Corporate Secretary functions are well-run — accurate board and entity records, compliant subsidiaries, and effective policies, training, and a culture of ethics and compliance across the organization.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Other duties may be assigned.
Legal Strategy & Counsel
- Provide expert and strategic legal advice to Covation Global’s ownership and senior management on a wide range of legal matters, including corporate governance, commercial transactions, regulatory compliance, employment law, litigation, and intellectual property.
- Work with the Group General Counsel, the CEO, and executive leadership to develop and implement legal strategies that align with Covation Global’s business objectives, while protecting the company’s interests and reputation.
- Personally handle all major transactional legal matters (in conjunction with outside counsel, as necessary), including acquisitions and dispositions; banking agreements; dealer and distribution agreements; in-bound and outbound licensing agreements; inter-company agreements; commercial leases; nondisclosure agreements; employment agreements; insurance-related agreements; consulting agreements; and the like.
- Advise on legal aspects of financing arrangements with lenders, including assessing and advising on current and future loan agreements, business structures, and legal entities.
- Provide insight into domestic and foreign tax law and regulations (including transfer pricing), as well as securities and antitrust laws; assist in the implementation of any IPO of the parent or affiliated group company, debt and equity offerings, and mergers and acquisitions.
- Work closely with sales, marketing, and product development teams to acquire, protect, and defend company intellectual property assets, including through the use of patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. Oversee the management of Covation Global’s intellectual property portfolio, working with external IP counsel and IP agents.
- Supervise and/or manage outside litigation (excluding non-material product liability); select and direct outside counsel when required to provide the best possible legal service, using a cost-benefit evaluation to resolve litigation.
- Keep senior leadership informed of legal and regulatory developments that may impact the company’s operations, and advise on appropriate responses.
- Work closely with the Product Safety and Compliance teams on all material product liability matters, including litigation or potential litigation, regulatory reporting, and assisting as necessary on all corrective actions. Proactively address product liability, compliance, and environmental legal matters, as well as any other disputes.
- Serve as a member of the United Wheels Benefits Advisory Committee. Review, as needed, benefit/welfare plans for compliance with law and investment manager contracts, and advise the committee or its designee.
- Prepare and manage the budgets for Covation Global’s and its affiliates’ legal department. Review and approve billing from outside counsel and implement measures to cost-effectively manage Legal Department costs.
- Provide advice and develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including the Immigration Act, Workers’ Compensation laws, FLSA, ADA, COBRA, ERISA, and other legislative or administrative requirements. Oversee regular training to management and employees on EEOC, FCPA, antitrust, and other relevant laws and regulations.
- Work with senior leadership to promote and encourage a culture of ethical behavior throughout the organization through appropriate policies and training.
- Other duties compatible with the position that may be assigned by the Group General Counsel or the CEO.
Corporate Governance & Corporate Secretary
- Serve as Corporate Secretary for Covation Global and its subsidiaries, supporting the Board of Directors and its committees, including preparing agendas, notices, board and committee materials, and accurate minutes.
- Maintain corporate records, resolutions, bylaws, and entity documentation, and manage corporate governance calendars, filings, and statutory requirements.
- Supervise the legal corporate housekeeping of all subsidiaries; assure compliance with the requirements of applicable state and foreign laws; and, where requested, serve as an officer of some or all entities.
- Support corporate governance best practices and advise the Board and leadership on governance matters and fiduciary duties.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Directs and manages outside counsel and IP agents; may oversee legal support staff. Serves as an officer of subsidiary entities where requested.
Education and/or Experience
- U.S. Juris Doctorate required; degree with honors and/or law review experience preferred. Continuing Legal Education in selected areas.
- Minimum of 10 years of combined experience in corporate law departments and regional/national law firms providing service directly to corporate clients. International experience a plus.
- This position is ideally based in Miamisburg, OH, near Dayton. It requires approximately 10% domestic and 10% international travel; must be able to obtain a valid passport.
- A passion for cycling and the outdoors!
Competencies
Covation Global’s competencies are grounded in our Core Values (Integrity, Simplicity, Priority, Agility) and Strategic Pillars (Rider Centricity, Collaborative Innovation, Operational Excellence).
- Integrity: We do what we say. Operates with honesty, transparency, and accountability at every step; honors commitments to partners, riders, and colleagues, and builds trust through consistent, responsible decisions.
- Simplicity: Complexity is a tax. Delivers clarity, ease, and purposeful design in everything; streamlines processes, removes unnecessary steps, and focuses on what matters most.
- Priority: Focus on what matters most. Ruthlessly prioritizes the critical few over the trivial many, concentrating energy and resources where they drive the greatest value and outcome.
- Agility: Speed is precision in motion. Moves with purpose, speed, and adaptability; embraces change, thinks creatively, acts decisively, and responds quickly to shifting needs and market conditions.
- Rider Centricity: Keeps the rider at the center of decisions. Anticipates needs and works to deliver best-in-class experience, better quality, and better value across every brand and function.
- Collaborative Innovation: Develops game-changing solutions inspired by the rider, supported by collective research and shared expertise, and validated by business results; challenges the status quo to drive improvement.
- Operational Excellence: Delivers results with lean, efficient execution. Drives continuous improvement across products, processes, operations, costs, and service, while maximizing value for the organization.
- ESG & Responsible Growth: Supports sustainable innovation, ethical operations, and positive community impact, ensuring growth is achieved responsibly and with integrity to people and the planet.
Language Skills
- Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and draft the most complex documents. Ability to exercise discretion and respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write well and persuasively, and to craft presentations on sensitive and complex topics for top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Mathematical Skills
- Ability to review and analyze financial, budgetary, and commercial terms relevant to transactions, settlements, and legal department budgets.
Reasoning Ability
- Ability to analyze complex legal, regulatory, and business issues across multiple jurisdictions and to develop sound, practical, and defensible solutions.
Computer Skills
- Microsoft Office required.
Certificates, Licenses & Registrations
- Juris Doctorate with active license to practice law.
Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
Compensation Transparency
United Wheels is committed to transparency in how we pay. The base salary range for this position is $160,000 – $190,000 annually. The minimum of this range reflects approximately 10 years of relevant post-bar legal experience, which is the baseline qualification for this role.
This range reflects base salary only. It does not include the additional elements of our total rewards package, which may include annual incentive eligibility, medical, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, and other benefits. Where an individual offer falls within this range is determined by factors including depth and relevance of experience, specialized expertise, education and certifications, internal equity, and geographic considerations.
Covation Global / United Wheels Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Research shows strong candidates often hold back if they don't meet every requirement — if you believe your experience is a good match for this role, we encourage you to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available during the hiring process; just let us know.
