Associate General Counsel

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

To (a) provide business advice and legal counsel to the Company concerning litigation and proceedings in which the Company is or may be involved, including product liability litigation, and manage and administer relationships with outside counsel, databases and processes related thereto; (b) provide legal oversight to the Company’s Product Safety and Compliance function and deliver practical, business-oriented legal advice and counsel, including appropriate risk assessment, regarding the Company’s products to select functions throughout the organization; (c) provide input to certain aspects of legal services budgets and manage activities against those budgets; and (d) directly or indirectly manage certain other compliance, litigation or regulatory professionals employed by the Company.

What You Will Do at Graco

Claims and Litigation (60%)

• Serve as principal in-house counsel responsible for providing legal advice with a practical, business orientation on litigation matters, including product liability litigation and claims
• Understand the product technologies, designs and marketing strategies of the Company
• Manage all product warranty and liability claims and litigation, including the activities and performance of outside counsel, and resolve them consistent with the Company’s philosophy
• Develop strategies for and support management of other claims and litigation as matters arise from time to time; assist with intellectual property-related claims and litigation
• Participate in accident site visits, accident investigations, witness preparation, depositions, trials, settlement conferences and other litigation-related activities
• Supervise the Company’s Senior Litigation Paralegal

Product Safety and Compliance Duties (30%)

• Establish and maintain frameworks and policies, and identify and manage legal aspects of projects, for the Company’s product safety and compliance functions
• Provide product safety and compliance/regulatory legal advice with a practical, business orientation to the Company’s businesses
• Provide product warranty advice to the Company’s businesses
• Review product brochures, manuals, catalogs, videos and other marketing and training materials to address product safety, trademarks, and truth in advertising
• Selectively participate in divisional and manufacturing operations reviews, annual sales meetings, and other divisional product-oriented activities as appropriate
• Support legal oversight of the Company’s Product Safety and Compliance function

Other (10%)

• Work on special projects as assigned by the Executive Vice President and General Counsel from time to time
• Participate in M&A project diligence meetings, and assist in assigned legal diligence efforts related to the Company’s M&A transactions
• Prepare and manage budgets for areas of responsibility
• Effectively utilize internal and external resources and cost drivers, and continuously improve administrative processes

What You Bring to Graco

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school required
• Membership in the bar of at least one state
• 7+ years of prior civil litigation experience, including product liability work
• Substantive trial experience
• Experience working with global manufacturing clients
• Experience in analyzing and drafting product warnings and safety manuals
• Experience managing other legal professionals and external resources
• Comfortable acquiring knowledge and understanding of mechanical or electrical systems and assemblies
• Knowledge of general finance and accounting principles
• Understanding of contract drafting principles and associated best practices
• Strong working knowledge of federal/national and local laws and regulations affecting U.S. manufacturers
• Deep familiarity with litigation procedures and practices
• Excellent business judgment and strong negotiation skills
• Possess strong analytical skills with a keen attention to detail, demonstrating a results-oriented mindset and initiative
• Maintain high ethical standards and handles sensitive information with utmost confidentiality
• Exhibit a proactive attitude and a willingness to embrac