Job Summary
The Associate Counsel, under the guidance of the Assistant General Counsel, provides a full range of legal support specific to Executive Compensation and Corporate Transactions. The Associate Counsel is responsible for supporting the legal and corporate governance aspects of Avient’s executive compensation program and related SEC requirements, as well as supporting, coordinating, and leading various cross-functional transactions involving the finance, human resources, commercial, and operations teams.
Essential Functions
- Manage the annual definitive proxy process, including the development and drafting of content, and coordinate input from key stakeholders including finance, human resources, audit, and communications.
- Prepare for and support the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
- Manage the drafting and submission of various SEC filings, including new filer applications, Forms 3, 4, and 5, and other reports and statements as needed.
- Manage and maintain various NYSE listing requirements, including affirmations, dividends, and supplemental listing applications.
- Provide support as necessary for other SEC 1934 Act filings, including 8-Ks, 10-Ks, 10-Qs, and S-8s.
- Provide support and preparation of materials for the Avient Board of Directors and its Compensation Committee.
- Provide support for the onboarding of executives and non-employee directors.
- Provide legal support for Avient’s executive compensation and long-term equity incentive programs, including support for its long-term incentive agreements.
- Support corporate subsidiary governance and internal corporation transactions, including supporting changes to directors and officers, shareholder and board actions, dividends and cash repatriations, capital contributions, and internal operational and entity restructuring.
- Effectively interface with key business partners, payroll, accounting, tax, finance, human resources, and external legal and compensation advisors.
- Provide legal support for policies and procedures to ensure the achievement of compliant, equitable and competitive executive compensation.
- Analyze and summarize legal documents, including contracts, and make suggestions for alterations of those documents.
- Research and analyze the law on complex issues and write memoranda as necessary/requested.
- Maintain a working knowledge of global laws and regulations and practices influencing equity compensation, including compliance, reporting and disclosures.
- Understand and apply tax regulations, Labor and Securities and Exchange Commission laws, financial reporting requirements such as 409A and 162m, and all other regulatory requirements.
- Ensure the design and administration of the equity and executive compensation program follow internal governance guidelines and understand the global and in-country implications of such programs.
- Provide input and assistance during M&A activities.
- Participates in the selection, retention, and monitoring of outside counsel for Avient.
- Other duties as assigned.
Education And Experience
- Juris Doctor degree from accredited ABA School
- 5+ years of relevant experience at a law firm, in-house at a corporation, or at a consulting firm
Qualifications
- Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
- Strong proficiency in Workiva and Section 16 Manager (or similar) preferred
- Experience with Equity Administration systems (UBS, Fidelity, etc.)
Competencies
- Each position at Avient focuses on eight Core Competencies as a Leader of Self.
- Additionally, management positions focus on Leadership Competencies as a Leader of Others and/or a Leader of the Business.
- These competencies are designed to drive behavior that will ultimately help our associates excel at their current roles, while supporting individual and career development.
Physical Demands
- Requires standing and sitting for prolonged periods of time, talking and listening.
- Typical work is in an office environment where the noise level is low to moderate
Environmental, Health, Safety, & Security (EHS&S) Requirements
- Avient integrates EHS&S into all aspects of our operations. Each position at Avient is responsible for complying with all applicable EHS&S requirements. Additionally, employees and management are responsible for reporting all EHS&S incidents immediately to ensure we keep EHS&S a priority within the organization.
- Security includes physical security and cyber security.
Who We Are
Avient Corporation provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include:
- Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, enables unmatched levels of performance and protection for end-use applications, including ballistic personal protection, marine and sustainable infrastructure and outdoor sports
- Unique technologies that improve the recyclability of products and enable recycled content to be incorporated, thus advancing a more circular economy
- Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation and reduce carbon footprint
- Sustainable infrastructure solutions that increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation and fiber optic / 5G network accessibility
Avient employs approximately 10,000 associates and is certified ACC Responsible Care®, a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and certified Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit www.avient.com.
Why Avient
Avient Corporation is a world-class sustainable organization built on innovation, collaboration, and employee development. We are committed to providing a supportive and dynamic work environment where our diverse associates can grow and succeed, as well positively impacting our planet and the communities we serve. Our Great Place to Work culture, values, and benefits make Avient an employer of choice for top talent.
At Avient, we believe diversity of ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.
Avient Corporation is a drug free workplace. Avient is an equal opportunity employer. We maintain a policy of non-discrimination in providing equal employment to all qualified employees and candidates regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran’s status, or other legally protected classification in accordance with applicable federal, state and local law.
