Ruan is now hiring VP & General Counsel to join our team!  This position works at the Ruan Campus located in downtown Des Moines.  

The Vice President and General Counsel (GC) is responsible for effectively performing, leading. and/or overseeing legal activities in a hands-on environment. The GC provides company management with effective legal and general business advice, manages the legal and claims teams, and obtains and oversees the work of outside legal counsel. The GC is directly involved in business transactions and in negotiating critical contracts.

Responsibilities:

Carrying out the Company's organizational values and operating in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and Company policies are required functions. Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supervise and provide leadership to build and maintain a strong team through effective communications, recruiting, training, coaching, counseling, appraising, rewarding, developing, and succession planning. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
• Directly provides and/or obtains expert counsel and legal guidance for the company.
• Assumes responsibility for ensuring the company conducts its business in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Directly handles or oversees the evaluation and potential litigation of automobile and workers' compensation claims.
• Periodically assists management in evaluating the potential impacts of decisions or courses of action. Anticipates legal issues and helps to estimate and eliminate or mitigate risks.
• Reviews, researches, interprets, and prepares written and oral opinions on the wide variety of legal issues the company faces.
• Reviews or oversees the legal review, modification, and negotiation of contracts, leases, and other legal documents with other business leaders as needed.
• Conducts or oversees various internal investigations as needed.
• Participates in enterprise level risk management, including the review, purchase, and analysis of insurance policies.
• Judges the merits of major court cases filed against or on behalf of the company, works with business leaders to define legal and litigation strategy and settlements of disputes where warranted.
• Keeps abreast of and effectively informs the company of legislative changes and common law developments impacting the
• Participates in the definition, development, and drafting of corporate policies, procedures, and programs.
• Oversees the selection, retention, management, and evaluation of outside legal counsel as needed.
• Provide oversight of corporate governance issues.
• Performs other job-related duties and special projects as required.

Education: Juris Doctor from accredited law school

Course(s) of Study: Licensed to practice law and in good standing

Experience: 10 + years

Type of Experience: Experience in general legal counseling in a business environment (corporate law, contracts, business transactions, negotiations, claims and litigation management, safety, environmental, labor and unemployment law, etc.). Ideally, experienced in commercial trucking, logistics, and/or supply chains with automobile liability and worker's compensation claims evaluation and litigation management experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Must be able to commit to Ruan's value statement by acting with integrity in everything we do.
2. Must be able to meet behavioral expectations and perform in alignment with our guiding principles: safety, people, customer, performance, and continuous improvement.
3. Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
4. Quickly create associations of trust, respect, and collaboration with key stakeholders.
5. Deal effectively with external partners and other parties (customers, external counsel, regulators, etc.)
6. Demonstrate highly effective team leadership skill.
7. Understand or quickly learn and effectively use business acumen.
8. Develop and execute effective legal strategies and objectives.
9. Demonstrate excellent judgement and analytical skills.
10. Meet leadership and behavioral expectations by performing in alignment with the company's Guiding Principles.
11. Commit to and operate under Ryan's value statement by acting with integrity in everything we do.