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Senior Legal Counsel
role at
RS
1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants
About RS Group Across the industrial design, manufacturing and maintenance worlds, we’re the digital destination for product and service solutions to help our customers with the maintenance, repair and operation of their businesses. We provide global access to an unrivalled range of over 750,000 stocked industrial products. Each day our team of experts deliver solutions to resolve our customer’s challenges across design, procurement, inventory and maintenance. We consistently strive to deliver the best possible service to all of our customers and challenge ourselves to provide a seamless procurement experience.
About The Role The Legal & Compliance team sits within the Corporate Services function. The function’s purpose is to accelerate the delivery of our RS strategy, vision and values by being the trusted partner in our areas of expertise. Through our partnership we enable operational excellence, cost effectiveness, risk mitigation and wider value creation for our stakeholders.
Providing legal expertise, partnering with the business.
Creating and identifying value added services and opportunities.
Keeping our people and our business safe.
Putting effective and efficient governance and systems in place.
Always looking ahead.
Responsibilities Strategic Legal Advice
Provide legal counsel and strategic guidance on a wide range of matters including corporate, commercial, regulatory, employment, and compliance issues across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, including Mexico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago.
Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including supplier (both direct and indirect procurement), customer/sales, logistics, warehousing, and distribution contracts.
Oversee regional litigation, disputes, investigations, working closely with external counsel as needed.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to mitigate legal risks and provide proactive solutions aligned with business objectives.
Support corporate restructuring and other strategic initiatives in the region.
Monitor future legal and regulatory developments affecting the industrial distribution industry in the Americas and support the business in adapting to them.
Governance & Compliance
Collaborate with Global Legal & Compliance team to implement policies, training, and risk mitigation strategies, including the development of regional‑specific contracting policies and procedures.
Lead the development and ongoing maintenance of Americas contract templates to ensure consistency and legal compliance.
Support the Group’s anti‑corruption, privacy and compliance agenda.
Provide legal support to internal SME teams by advising on regulatory compliance related to import/export controls, trade compliance, product liability, and environmental health and safety (EHS) regulations.
Assist in the preparation of regular reports on legal and compliance risks for senior leadership and Global Legal & Compliance team.
Legal Department Operations
Assist with the management of legal budgets, including tracking spend, preparing reports, and monitoring cost efficiency.
Coordinate and maintain relationships with outside counsel, including engagement letters, billing review, and performance tracking.
Help organize and maintain legal department records, including contracts, compliance documentation, and governance materials.
How I Make a Difference In This Role
Play a critical role in supporting our industrial distribution business in the Americas region, ensuring legal compliance, managing risk, and enabling strategic growth across diverse markets.
Build strong relationships with senior regional and functional leaders (ExCo‑2) to provide practical, business‑focused legal advice that supports operational and strategic objectives.
Deliver first‑line legal advice for significant parts of the business with minimal oversight.
Lead on medium‑value, moderate‑complexity deals and litigation, taking ownership of risk mitigation and enabling value creation for the business.
Execute initiatives to improve legal processes and enhance delivery of the legal team’s strategy, including developing templates, training materials, and process efficiencies.
Maintain strong governance by managing legal budgets, outside counsel relationships, and departmental records, ensuring transparency and cost efficiency.
Collaborate with the Senior Director – Legal and Global Legal & Compliance team to implement policies and compliance programs that uphold the Group’s ethical and regulatory standards.
Candidate Requirements Essential Qualifications, Skills & Experience
Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, including significant in‑house counsel experience supporting Latin American operations as well as US domestic.
Fluency in English and Spanish required.
Demonstrated experience in the industrial distribution, manufacturing, or logistics sectors.
Strong knowledge of commercial law, trade compliance, and regulatory frameworks in the US and Latin America.
Proven ability to work cross‑functionally and across cultures in a fast‑paced, matrixed multi‑national organization while managing and prioritizing workload.
Exceptional analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts to non‑legal staff of all levels in plain and engaging ways.
Excellent negotiation, communication, project management, and leadership skills.
Strong relationship‑building / interpersonal skills – ability to build trusted adviser relationships to provide pragmatic solutions to legal issues.
Willingness to travel within the region as needed.
Desirable Skills & Experience
Experience with ERP systems, digital commerce platforms, or supply chain technologies.
Able and willing to advise on compliance, ethics and corporate governance.
Essential Qualifications (Must Be Evidenced At Offer Stage)
Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree from a recognized institution; admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (Texas preferred).
Equal Employment Opportunity RS Americas is an equal opportunity employer and maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent and prohibit unlawful discrimination against any qualified employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other unlawful classification to the extent protected by law. This policy of non‑discrimination applies to all employment practices, including hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, training and termination. Employees who engage in unlawful discrimination will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Seniority Level Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Legal
Industries Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Legal Counsel
role at
RS
1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants
About RS Group Across the industrial design, manufacturing and maintenance worlds, we’re the digital destination for product and service solutions to help our customers with the maintenance, repair and operation of their businesses. We provide global access to an unrivalled range of over 750,000 stocked industrial products. Each day our team of experts deliver solutions to resolve our customer’s challenges across design, procurement, inventory and maintenance. We consistently strive to deliver the best possible service to all of our customers and challenge ourselves to provide a seamless procurement experience.
About The Role The Legal & Compliance team sits within the Corporate Services function. The function’s purpose is to accelerate the delivery of our RS strategy, vision and values by being the trusted partner in our areas of expertise. Through our partnership we enable operational excellence, cost effectiveness, risk mitigation and wider value creation for our stakeholders.
Providing legal expertise, partnering with the business.
Creating and identifying value added services and opportunities.
Keeping our people and our business safe.
Putting effective and efficient governance and systems in place.
Always looking ahead.
Responsibilities Strategic Legal Advice
Provide legal counsel and strategic guidance on a wide range of matters including corporate, commercial, regulatory, employment, and compliance issues across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, including Mexico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago.
Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including supplier (both direct and indirect procurement), customer/sales, logistics, warehousing, and distribution contracts.
Oversee regional litigation, disputes, investigations, working closely with external counsel as needed.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to mitigate legal risks and provide proactive solutions aligned with business objectives.
Support corporate restructuring and other strategic initiatives in the region.
Monitor future legal and regulatory developments affecting the industrial distribution industry in the Americas and support the business in adapting to them.
Governance & Compliance
Collaborate with Global Legal & Compliance team to implement policies, training, and risk mitigation strategies, including the development of regional‑specific contracting policies and procedures.
Lead the development and ongoing maintenance of Americas contract templates to ensure consistency and legal compliance.
Support the Group’s anti‑corruption, privacy and compliance agenda.
Provide legal support to internal SME teams by advising on regulatory compliance related to import/export controls, trade compliance, product liability, and environmental health and safety (EHS) regulations.
Assist in the preparation of regular reports on legal and compliance risks for senior leadership and Global Legal & Compliance team.
Legal Department Operations
Assist with the management of legal budgets, including tracking spend, preparing reports, and monitoring cost efficiency.
Coordinate and maintain relationships with outside counsel, including engagement letters, billing review, and performance tracking.
Help organize and maintain legal department records, including contracts, compliance documentation, and governance materials.
How I Make a Difference In This Role
Play a critical role in supporting our industrial distribution business in the Americas region, ensuring legal compliance, managing risk, and enabling strategic growth across diverse markets.
Build strong relationships with senior regional and functional leaders (ExCo‑2) to provide practical, business‑focused legal advice that supports operational and strategic objectives.
Deliver first‑line legal advice for significant parts of the business with minimal oversight.
Lead on medium‑value, moderate‑complexity deals and litigation, taking ownership of risk mitigation and enabling value creation for the business.
Execute initiatives to improve legal processes and enhance delivery of the legal team’s strategy, including developing templates, training materials, and process efficiencies.
Maintain strong governance by managing legal budgets, outside counsel relationships, and departmental records, ensuring transparency and cost efficiency.
Collaborate with the Senior Director – Legal and Global Legal & Compliance team to implement policies and compliance programs that uphold the Group’s ethical and regulatory standards.
Candidate Requirements Essential Qualifications, Skills & Experience
Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, including significant in‑house counsel experience supporting Latin American operations as well as US domestic.
Fluency in English and Spanish required.
Demonstrated experience in the industrial distribution, manufacturing, or logistics sectors.
Strong knowledge of commercial law, trade compliance, and regulatory frameworks in the US and Latin America.
Proven ability to work cross‑functionally and across cultures in a fast‑paced, matrixed multi‑national organization while managing and prioritizing workload.
Exceptional analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts to non‑legal staff of all levels in plain and engaging ways.
Excellent negotiation, communication, project management, and leadership skills.
Strong relationship‑building / interpersonal skills – ability to build trusted adviser relationships to provide pragmatic solutions to legal issues.
Willingness to travel within the region as needed.
Desirable Skills & Experience
Experience with ERP systems, digital commerce platforms, or supply chain technologies.
Able and willing to advise on compliance, ethics and corporate governance.
Essential Qualifications (Must Be Evidenced At Offer Stage)
Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree from a recognized institution; admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (Texas preferred).
Equal Employment Opportunity RS Americas is an equal opportunity employer and maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent and prohibit unlawful discrimination against any qualified employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other unlawful classification to the extent protected by law. This policy of non‑discrimination applies to all employment practices, including hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, training and termination. Employees who engage in unlawful discrimination will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Seniority Level Mid‑Senior level
Employment Type Full‑time
Job Function Legal
Industries Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
#J-18808-Ljbffr