Counsel-Ethics, Compliance & Product Regulatory Job at Valvoline Global (Lexington)

Job Description

The Ethics, Compliance & Product Regulatory Counsel serves as a legal advisor and strategic leader responsible for the design, execution, and continuous improvement of Valvoline Global Operations’ global ethics and compliance program. This role ensures alignment with applicable laws, regulatory requirements, and organizational values while enabling business objectives across diverse international markets. Operating with a high degree of independence, the role oversees global compliance governance, internal compliance investigations, and risk mitigation strategies spanning ethics, anti-bribery and anti-corruption (ABAC), global trade compliance, environmental, social & governance (ESG) compliance, and product regulatory compliance. This includes oversight of chemical regulations, product safety, transportation and hazardous materials compliance, and product stewardship requirements across all VGO entities globally, as well as ensuring appropriate ethics and compliance standards are established, monitored, and upheld within VGO joint ventures. The position plays a critical role in fostering a culture of integrity, managing legal and reputational risk, and providing transparent reporting and insights to executive leadership, shareholders, and the Board Audit Committee.

Job Responsibility

Lead and evolve VGO’s global ethics and compliance program, ensuring a risk-based, scalable framework aligned with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and company values across all wholly owned entities and joint ventures
Oversee key compliance program elements, including Code of Conduct, policy governance, ABAC, global trade compliance, ESG-related compliance, product regulatory compliance, and third-party risk management
Design and implement global compliance risk assessments, monitoring, and reporting processes to evaluate program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement
Stay abreast of evolving regulatory, enforcement, and ESG reporting landscapes and proactively advise business leaders on emerging risks and required actions
Direct the global compliance investigations function, including ethics hotline operations, case management systems, and anti-retaliation processes, ensuring accessibility, confidentiality, and appropriate escalation
Independently assess allegations of misconduct to determine potential violations of law, regulation, or company policy
Plan, scope, and lead complex, high-risk, and confidential internal investigations from inception through resolution
Review and provide guidance on investigation work conducted by investigators or regional resources to ensure consistency and quality
Ensure timely and appropriate documentation, reporting, and closure of investigations, including tracking remediation actions through completion
Prepare and deliver comprehensive compliance reporting and analytics to the Valvoline Leadership Team (VLT), shareholders, and the Board Audit Committee, including trends, key risks, and investigation outcomes across global operations and joint ventures, as applicable
Support Board Audit Committee (BAC) activities through preparation of compliance updates, investigation summaries, ESG-related reporting insights, and forward-looking risk perspectives
Provide guidance to compliance governance forums and leadership on risk posture, mitigation strategies, and program effectiveness
Lead the drafting, review, and ongoing enhancement of global ethics and compliance policies, including those related to ESG reporting, environmental compliance, product stewardship, and regulatory obligations governing chemical safety and transportation
Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of compliance procedures and workflows to operationalize policies effectively
Lead the design and deployment of global compliance training and communications to promote awareness of legal requirements, ethical expectations, and regulatory obligations across product lifecycle and environmental impacts
Advance a strong speak-up culture and reinforce non-retaliation principles across all regions and business functions
Lead the annual Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure process, including certification, review, risk mitigation, and reporting
Partner cross-functionally with global HR, Finance, Security, Product, Supply Chain, ESG, and Internal Audit teams to proactively identify legal, compliance, and governance risks and implement practical, defensible solutions
Coordinate with regional legal teams and manage external counsel to deliver consistent, pragmatic guidance on employment, ethics, ABAC, export controls, environmental compliance, and product regulatory matters
Support compliance aspects of internal audits, Aramco compliance audits, ESG reporting reviews, and other regulatory assessments, including tracking, remediation, and reporting of findings across wholly owned entities and joint ventures
Advise on cross-border transactions, product distribution, third-party relationships, and market expansion activities to proactively identify and mitigate compliance risks
Support and mature VGO’s third-party risk management program, including onboarding, implementation, and optimization of third-party due diligence platforms and processes
Oversee risk-based due diligence and monitoring of third parties, with a focus on ABAC, export controls, sanctions, ESG considerations, and product compliance risks
Establish and enhance governance, escalation, and mitigation frameworks related to third-party compliance risks across global operations and joint ventures
Provide legal oversight and guidance on global product regulatory compliance, including chemical regulations, product safety requirements, and product stewardship obligations
Support compliance with environmental and ESG-related regulations and reporting frameworks, including environmental disclosures, sustainability reporting, and related governance expectations
Advise on compliance with global chemical regulatory frameworks (e.g., Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)) and applicable regional requirements
Provide guidance on transportation and hazardous materials regulations, including Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements related to shipping, handling, and distribution of regulated materials
Partner with Product, Supply Chain, and ESG teams to ensure compliant product lifecycle management, including labeling, safety data sheets, storage, transportation, and disposal requirements
Monitor regulatory developments related to environmental, health, safety, and product compliance, and translate requirements into actionable business guidance
Monitor investigation trends, case data, compliance metrics, and ESG-related risks to identify systemic issues and implement preventative legal, policy, and training solutions
Lead or support enterprise compliance initiatives, including ESG integration, regulatory readiness, risk assessments, and audits
Ensure effective follow-up on corrective and disciplinary actions to confirm timely and appropriate implementation

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active license to practice law
Significant experience (typically 5–8 years) in ethics & compliance, internal investigations, regulatory law, ESG compliance, or related legal roles within a global organization
Demonstrated expertise in compliance program management, including ABAC, global trade, ESG compliance, and product regulatory frameworks (e.g., chemical regulations, product safety, transportation compliance)
Strong knowledge of environmental and product-related regulatory regimes, including GHS, DOT hazardous materials regulations, and global product stewardship standards
Proven ability to lead complex, sensitive internal investigations and provide clear, risk-based recommendations
Experience interacting with executive leadership and Board-level stakeholders, including preparation of formal reports and presentations
Experience managing outside counsel and working across multiple jurisdictions
Exceptional analytical, judgment, and problem-solving skills with the ability to operate independently in high-stakes situations
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex legal and regulatory concepts to non-legal audiences
High level of integrity, discretion, and professional ethics
Primarily office-based or hybrid work environment with extended periods of sitting and computer use
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, global environment
Occasional travel (approximately 10–20%) to support global investigations, training, audits, and business engagement
May require availability outside standard business hours to support global operations and urgent compliance matters.

What we offer

Health insurance plans (medical, dental, vision)
Health Savings Account (with employer-base deposit and match)
Flexible spending accounts
Competitive 401(k) with generous employer base deposit and match
Incentive opportunity
Life insurance
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Paid vacation and holidays
Employee Assistance Program
Employee discounts
PTO Buy/Sell Options
Tuition reimbursement
Adoption assistance
Bonus eligible

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