Job Description
The Lead Counsel’s principal responsibility is to establish, maintain, and oversee an effective ethics and compliance program for the Company to include statutory, regulatory and ethical requirements associated with anti-bribery, anti-corruption, trade controls and other ethics-related issues. The lead counsel is to focus attention on consulting, investigations, training and auditing functions. The lead counsel will also be expected to support the Legal team with respect to general corporate and litigation matters based on workflow requirements. This role also leads and supports data privacy initiatives, ensuring the organization’s handling of personal data aligns with global privacy laws and best practices.
Responsibilities
Ethics and Compliance
- Directly and substantially assist in promoting a corporate culture that makes compliance a top priority and establishes strong relationships and collaboration throughout Signature Aviation
- Work with senior management to establish a "tone from the top" that reflects the Company's commitment to ethical business conduct and compliance with the letter and spirit of the law in all aspects of the Company's operations
- Conduct periodic risk assessments and take appropriate measures to proactively manage identified risks and further position the organization as a strong compliance performer in the view of regulators and the public
- Advise on appropriate compliance policies and procedures and updates thereto
- Communicate the various aspects of the Company’s Code of Conduct (COC) and support the implementation and execution of compliance programs and initiatives, by establishing and carrying out, among other things, job-specific training for all team members about compliance policies and practices
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of compliance policies and procedures and make recommendations as to any adjustments or enhancements that may be necessary or appropriate
- Help administer third party vetting policy
- Field questions and concerns with respect to ethics and compliance from all areas of the business
- Periodically update the Executive Leadership Team and the Audit Risk Committee of the Board of Directors to provide guidance and recommendations related to the Company’s compliance program
- Actively support Chief Legal Officer in creating, communicating and implementing compliance programs and initiatives that promote corporate integrity and ensure adherence to the COC
- Maintain working knowledge of current and emerging laws, regulations and trends with respect to anti-bribery, anti-corruption and trade controls, data privacy regulations and revise and update the COC and other policies and procedures, from time to time as may be appropriate, with any substantive revisions subject to the approval of General Counsel
- Ensure that the COC and other ethics-related policies and procedures are readily accessible to, and acknowledged by, all team members
- Manage and/or directly pursue any compliance investigations as may be necessary or appropriate
- Manage the Company’s compliance helpline and taking such actions as may be appropriate to investigate and close out alleged violations of the COC in partnership with other members of the Legal team, Human Resources and Internal Audit, as appropriate
- Create, publish, maintain, and interpret such additional policies and procedures as may be appropriate to fully implement the provisions of the COC or to otherwise meet the requirements of applicable in-country statutes, regulations, business customs, or ethical standards
Data Privacy & Protection
- Lead the organization’s data privacy program, including policy development and implementation.
- Ensure compliance with applicable data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and other global privacy regulations)
- Advise on the collection, use, storage, transfer, and disposal of personal data
- Conduct and oversee Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and privacy risk assessments.
- Partner with IT, security, and business teams to implement privacy-by-design and data minimization principles
- Manage data subject rights requests (e.g., access, deletion, correction)
- Oversee third-party/vendor data privacy due diligence and contractual protections (e.g., DPAs)
- Support incident response efforts, including breach assessment and notification obligations
- Maintain records of processing activities and data inventories where required
General Legal Support
- Review and negotiate general business contracts, in particular software and other IT-related contracts
- Help manage litigation and discovery issues relating to ethics, compliance, and data protection
- Work with state and federal agencies involving regulatory matters
- Advise management on general corporate legal matters
- Handle claims against the company in pre-trial setting under the direction of Chief Legal Officer
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- JD Degree from an accredited Law school
- At least 7 years of relevant experience
- Admission and member with good bar standing or the necessary qualifications to register as in-house counsel
- The ability to analyze state and federal law and provide detailed recommendations to business partners
- Sound judgment, critical thinking and communication skills
- Familiarity with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Bribery Act, OFAC and foreign sanction rules
- Demonstrated experience with data privacy laws and frameworks (e.g., GDPR, CCPA/CPRA)
- CIPP/US and CIPP/E privacy certification a plus but not required
- Capability to analyze problems and take a solution-oriented approach
- Ability to engage individuals and teams to ensure timely project completion
- Capability to develop new areas of expertise and the confidence to quickly learn and develop independence in key practice areas
- Enthusiastic, energetic, and ready to take on challenges
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively
- The ideal candidate will be dynamic, self-motivated, able to work both independently and with a team
- Experience in a global, publicly-traded company in the aviation or hospitality industry is a plus but not required
Travel
Position requires the ability to travel 10% of the time
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, the physical demands listed are representative of those that must be met by an incumbent. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While preforming the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to handle and feel, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. The incumbent may occasionally be required to crouch and list items as heavy as 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities may include the incumbent’s ability to see near and far distances.
About Us
With more than 225 locations worldwide, Signature Aviation is the largest global network of private aviation terminals, delivering safe, convenient, and elevated experiences to those we serve. As a premier hospitality organization and a certified Great Place to Work™, we are committed to redefining private air travel. Our nearly 6,000-strong team of aviation experts and enthusiasts is dedicated to delivering excellence to our guests and communities, and it starts with taking care of our team. Signature provides a variety of benefits, programs, and resources to support our team members’ overall well-being and professional development. We proudly volunteer and give back, focusing on elevating the neighborhoods where we operate, empowering the next generation of aviation professionals, and supporting our veterans.
From your health to your financial wellness, there are several benefits for you and your family when joining Signature Aviation.
Our Benefits
- Medical/prescription drug, dental, and vision Insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- 401(k)
- Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Accident Insurance
- Identity Theft and Legal Services
- Paid time off
- Paid Maternity Leave
- Tuition reimbursement
- Training and Development
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) & Perks
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or other protected characteristics.
