Counsel II; Sr. Principal - American Honda Motor Co Inc

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda

Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. 

 At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Purpose

This role provides high-quality legal advice and counseling in emerging business areas related to sustainability, electrification, and new business. Key, dedicated support is provided by this role to AHM Sustainability & Business Development and other parts of Honda that focus on sustainability, electrification and new business matters, such as new incubation ventures (Fastport), new joint venture and alliances (Ionna, Chargescape), new digital experiences of the Digital Services Division, new product types (e.g., fuel cell stationary generator, Motocompacto, and fuel cell class 8 trucks), electric charging infrastructure, and sustainability and triple zero initiatives. This role will help AHM in its high stakes evolution to electrified product and new sales models, negotiating and drafting related contracts in a nimble and efficient fashion, helping the company navigate in the new digital environment, and assisting as it expands its software and application services. The Counsel II; Sr. Principal will research and draft agreements, policies and procedures; advise on corporate and investment matters; perform legal research on state and federal law; retain and supervise outside counsel in the handling of research, legal advice; provide legal education/training to various Honda entities; manage risks by identifying countermeasures; and undertake projects to proactively identify issues and take steps to implement countermeasures.

Key Accountabilities

• Contract Drafting, Negotiation, Legal Advice: Provide high quality legal services and advice in a timely and cost-effective manner, and execute legal activities, to enable the applicable Honda divisions to meet legal obligations and reduce risk for highly complex and serious legal matters.
• Alliance, Joint Venture, Investment (e.g., M&A), and Incubation Company Legal Advice: Provide high quality legal services and advice on joint venture/alliance transactions with other companies (e.g., Chargescape, Ionna), potential investment in third party entities, and startup company projects (e.g., Fastport) in a timely and cost-effective manner, including flagging, organizing, and managing legal issues across a broad spectrum, and reaching out to appropriate stakeholders within Honda to help resolve issues.

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an Accredited Law School
• Admittance to the California, or other U.S. State, Bar
• 10 years of experience as an attorney, with a significant amount of time dedicated to contract drafting and negotiation, software licensing, intellectual property, and business counseling
• Must have very good knowledge of contract, intellectual property, corporate, and business laws
• Experience in leading legal support for projects
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, adept at problem solving, customer satisfaction, building relationships, coaching, decision-making, risk analysis, flexibility/adaptability, patience, listening, training, risk taking, focusing on achieving results and supporting others in achieving results, legal technical knowledge, Honda business knowledge.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid
• Occasionally longer work hours 
• Travel (depending on circumstances, at most 15%)

Benefits and Total Rewards

What differentiates Honda and makes us an employer of choice?

Total Rewards: 

• Competitive Base Salary: $154,800 - $232,100
  • Pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to, geographic location, work experience, education, etc.
• Annual Bonus
• Manager Lease Car Program (No Cost - Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)
• Industry leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, paid holidays, sick time, personal days
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Lifestyle Bonus

Career Growth:

• Advancement opportunities
• Career mobility
• Education reimbursement for continued learning
• Training and Development programs 

Additional Offerings:

• Wellbeing program
• Community service and engagement programs
• Product programs
• Free drinks onsite
  

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.