Lead Counsel & Regional Compliance, GM International & Europe

Description

Work Arrangement:
Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the office three times per week or other frequency dictated by the business.

The Role
The Lead Counsel, Regional Compliance Officer for GM International and GM Europe (RCO) provide direction and oversight for the ethics and compliance program across a broad and complex set of markets, spanning over 100 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Europe. This role identifies and assesses areas of compliance risk, leads regional compliance communications and training, and partners closely with business leadership to embed a strong culture of integrity. The RCO is responsible for implementing and maintaining core elements of GM's global ethics and compliance framework, including policies, internal reporting processes, due diligence, investigations, and monitoring activities. The position works in close collaboration with the Assistant General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, regional Legal Staff Lead Counsel, and key stakeholders across audit, human resources, and country leadership teams. The counsel also supports the Global Ethics & Compliance Center (GECC) on global projects, policy development, and the advancement of data, analytics, and AI in compliance.

What You'll Do

• Lead and oversee implementation of GM's ethics and compliance program across GM International and GM Europe, including risk assessment, monitoring, and program enhancement.

• Advise on and develop compliance policies and guidance in areas such as anti-corruption, conflicts of interest, gifts and entertainment, export controls, and third party due diligence.

• Conduct and support internal investigations related to alleged corruption, fraud, and other misconduct, and assist in developing and implementing remediation plans and internal control enhancements.

• Provide legal and compliance counsel to business units, regional leadership, and functional stakeholders on corporate compliance, anti-corruption, export compliance, data privacy, and investigations.

• Support transactional and M&A activity, including joint ventures, by assessing and addressing compliance risks and due diligence requirements.

• Collaborate with the GECC on global projects, including policy and training development, compliance communications, and initiatives to strengthen ethical culture.

• Use data, analytics, and AI tools to help identify, assess, and manage compliance risks and to support continuous improvement of the compliance program.

• Manage outside counsel engaged on compliance matters to ensure high-quality, cost-effective support and representation.

• Law degree from an accredited college or university.

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant legal experience, with strong substantive knowledge of compliance program management.

• Subject matter expertise in anti-corruption laws (including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and U.K. Bribery Act), conflicts of interest, gifts and entertainment, export controls, third party due diligence, policy development, and compliance risk assessment.

• Demonstrated experience conducting or overseeing internal investigations related to corruption, fraud, or other misconduct, and advising on remediation and internal controls.

• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, practical guidance to business and functional stakeholders.

• High level of integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to ethical conduct and quality.

• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, complex business environment, managing multiple priorities and stakeholders across regions and functions.

• Strong organizational skills and financial acumen, with comfort working with data, dashboards, and operational reporting.

• In-house legal experience, preferably within a large, complex, or multinational organization.

• Experience working with international markets and complex business structures.

• Familiarity with the automotive industry, dealer or retail networks, and industry-specific regulatory trends and risks.

• Experience managing and partnering with external counsel on compliance matters.

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, influence without direct authority, and create an environment of continuous improvement.

• Experience developing and delivering compliance trainings, communications, and culture-building initiatives.

• Prior involvement in using data, analytics, or AI to enhance compliance monitoring, risk assessment, or investigations.