Vice President & Chief Counsel, Americas

The Company

It takes great people to achieve greatness. People with a sense of purpose and integrity. People with a relentless pursuit of excellence. People who care about making things better For Those Who Make The World™.  Join our top-notch team of more than 43,500 high-performing professionals globally who are making their mark on some of the world’s most beloved brands, including DEWALT®, STANLEY, CRAFTSMAN, BLACK+DECKER, and other strong brands.

The Role

Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) is is seeking an accomplished legal executive to serve as Vice President & Chief Counsel, Americas, providing strategic legal leadership across the Americas region. Reporting to the SVP, Chief Legal Officer, this role serves as the senior legal partner to regional business leadership, balancing legal risk with commercial objectives while enabling business growth.

The Vice President & Chief Counsel, Americas leads the regional legal organization, oversees legal support across the Americas, and serves as a member of the Global Legal Leadership Team. This role is responsible for delivering practical, business-focused legal counsel while building organizational capability and driving consistency across the region.

This position will be based in Towson, Maryland, Charlotte, North Carolina, or New Britain, Connecticut, though remote locations will also be considered.  Accessibility to our East Coast hub locations is required.

Primary Accountabilities

Regional Legal Team Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and execute the legal strategy for the Americas aligned to enterprise priorities across both Tools & Outdoor and Stanley Engineered Fastening business units.
• Partner with executive leadership to proactively identify legal risks and business opportunities.
• Balance legal, commercial and operational considerations in strategic decision-making.
• Drive consistency in legal support across countries and business units.
• Lead, develop and coach a high-performing regional legal team, allocate resources to support evolving business priorities, and foster collaboration across legal, compliance and enterprise functions.
• Drive talent, succession planning and organizational capability for the region. 

Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as the senior legal advisor to regional executive leadership.
• Support commercial growth, strategic initiatives, acquisitions and business transformations.
• Advise on complex legal, regulatory and corporate governance matters, including marketing claims, advertising and pricing.
• Provide practical, business-focused legal counsel that enables growth while appropriately managing risk.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Oversee significant litigation, investigations and material legal matters.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Compliance, Privacy, Trade Compliance and Corporate Affairs on enterprise initiatives.
• Escalate significant legal risks appropriately.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Promote efficient, scalable legal service delivery.
• Champion continuous improvement and process simplification.
• Partner with Legal Operations to improve technology adoption and operational effectiveness.
• Establish operating rhythms and performance expectations across the region.

Global Legal Leadership

• Serve as an active member of the Global Legal Leadership Team.
• Collaborate with Regional Counsel leaders to drive consistency across the global legal function.
• Support enterprise initiatives, organizational design and legal transformation.
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives as assigned by the General Counsel.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have demonstrated “world-class” skills and leadership in a commercial legal leadership role supporting diverse business units.  Stanley Black & Decker seeks a hands-on leader with excellent communications skills and executive presence, who thrives in a dynamic, global environment. 

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school; active license to practice law.
• Minimum 10 years of legal experience, with significant exposure to commercial business law in a consumer-oriented environment.  Consumer packaged goods or durables experience is preferred.
• Proven track record in a senior legal counsel or executive role within a multinational commercial organization with a manufacturing footprint is desired.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed legal teams.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skill