Sarah Tilton
Laconia,NH
Summary
Senior Corporate Counsel at JTEKT North America with expertise in contract negotiation and compliance oversight. Demonstrated success in strategic advising and risk management, providing proactive legal solutions that improve business operations. Strong ability to collaborate across functions, building relationships while ensuring regulatory compliance and effective communication.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Corporate Counsel
JTEKT NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION
04.2023 - Current
- Provide commercial legal advice and counsel to various internal teams, primarily to the corporate human resources, procurement and sales teams.
- Support for these teams includes structuring, drafting, reviewing, analyzing, negotiating, and interpreting a wide range of contracts, and related documents.
- Responsible for providing advice and counsel in various substantive areas of commercial and labor and employment law.
- Draft, analyze, review and negotiate a variety of contractual documents including, but not limited to, sales, vendor and purchasing contracts/agreements, and prime contracts and subcontracts in support of government orders.
- In-depth knowledge of the FAR/DFARs and other relevant government contracting rules and regulations.
- Provide legal analyses of applicable laws, regulations and industry guidance.
- Provide practical, proactive legal advice on a broad range of topics including employment practice topics, performance management, employee discipline and separations (including reductions in force), workplace investigations, leaves of absence and accommodations, recruiting and hiring, benefits, wage and hour, compensation, unemployment and workers' compensation, and immigration issues.
- Work cross functionally across the company to analyze legal risks, devise creative solutions and develop strong, trusted advisor relationships.
- Support continuous improvements of forms, policies and processes to help streamline and simplify deals and product/service terms.
- Provide legal and strategic business advice to ensure agreements are consistent with internal corporate policies and processes.
- Deliver trainings to sales and purchasing teams on terms and conditions and other legal issues.
- Assist our General Counsel in additional corporate matters, including compliance and litigation.
Principal Counsel for NHBB and NMB (USA) Companies
NEW HAMPSHIRE BALL BEARINGS, INC. (MinebeaMitsumi Group)
07.2020 - 04.2023
- Experience with interacting at a senior level with business management groups including sales, finance, human resources and purchasing departments.
- Adept at working in a fast-paced, high activity environment and have a strong ability to independently manage heavy workloads to meet company deadlines while achieving business and risk management objectives.
- Experience with evaluating, developing and implementing compliance programs across business functions in accordance with company policies and applicable laws and regulations.
- Compliance programs/policies/plans have included affirmative action, return to work, export, FAR/DFAR, VEVRAA, FLSA (exempt/nonexempt classification review), E-verify, wage and hour law (including CA meal and rest break rules and regulations) and progressive discipline.
- Responsible for compliance oversight of the company’s employee benefits programs (Retirement plans and health and welfare benefit programs).
- In addition, I have created subject matter focused materials/guidance for multi-state labor and employment issues.
Senior Corporate Counsel
NEW HAMPSHIRE BALL BEARINGS, INC. (MinebeaMitsumi Group)
03.2016 - 06.2020
- Provide legal counsel to the NHBB’s business units and affiliate companies in North America and Germany.
- Draft, analyze, review and negotiate sales, vendor and purchasing contracts/agreements including, but not limited to, prime contracts and subcontracts in support of government orders.
- Advise and train internal clients about legal risks, negotiation strategies and propose action plans to mitigate risk.
- Assist with the review and negotiation of complex acquisitions.
- Conduct legal research as needed.
- Engage and manage outside counsel in a variety of litigation matters including complex California labor and employment matters.
- Serve as a board member for the organizations captive insurance company, MHC Insurance Co.
- Periodically review and update the MHC product recall insurance policy documents.
- Draft and update internal policies and contractual documents.
Director of Risk Management & Title IX Coordinator
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF NH (CCSNH)
03.2014 - 03.2016
- Responsible for identifying the financial, safety and security risks for community college system, and finding ways to reduce those risks through planning and problem-solving.
- Formulate and administer risk management policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance and consistency.
- Track and interpret applicable laws and regulations to advise employer on legal compliance requirements.
- Direct loss prevention and safety programs and oversaw compliance with state and federal regulations such as the New Hampshire Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.
- Plan, implement, and administer an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program for the CCSNH.
- Review, investigate and manage workers’ compensation and general liability claims.
- Served as a member of the CCSNH Leadership team that is responsible for strategic planning, fiscal management, resource development, policy setting, and overall administration of the community college system.
- Advised the Chancellor and college presidents on all potential sources of risk, made recommendations to minimize or eliminate exposure and implemented compliance programs.
- Managed a centralized investigation and reporting program to ensure appropriate recording of, response to and resolution of reports of sexual harassment and misconduct.
- Provided overall coordination and oversight of college Title IX coordinators including each college’s coordination with local police departments and other campus and community resources related to incidents of sexual assault and harassment.
Risk Manager – Department of Administrative Services
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
06.2013 - 03.2014
- Responsible for the effective supervision of the Risk Management Department operations including budget preparation and monitoring, purchasing and financial transactions, prioritizing and assigning work, performance management, employee relations, Joint Loss Management Committee, safety programs and related activities.
- Management of the procurement, contract management and general oversight of assigned third party administrators (TPA) of the State of New Hampshire property and casualty insurance programs, including workers’ compensation, fleet, property and liability insurance.
- Provide subject matter expertise, research, assistance with communication, or other technical assistance to state agencies and the Governor and Executive Council as needed.
Education
Certificate Program - Employment Law
Cornell University
01.2022
Juris Doctorate -
Massachusetts School of Law
Andover, MA01.2013
Bachelor of Science -
Endicott College
Beverly, MA01.2002
Skills
- Contract negotiation
- Compliance oversight
- Risk management
- Strategic advising
- Regulatory compliance
- Problem solving
- Effective communication
- Legal analysis
- Stakeholder engagement
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Litigation management
- Trade secret protection
- Intellectual property
- Drafting complex legal documents
- Legal research and review
Certification
- SHRM-CP, 2021
- Admitted to the MA BAR, 2013, BBO #687401
- Admitted to the NH BAR, 2015, BBO #26775
Professional Recognition
MinebeaMitsumi President’s Award
Timeline
Senior Corporate Counsel
JTEKT NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION
04.2023 - Current
Principal Counsel for NHBB and NMB (USA) Companies
NEW HAMPSHIRE BALL BEARINGS, INC. (MinebeaMitsumi Group)
07.2020 - 04.2023
Senior Corporate Counsel
NEW HAMPSHIRE BALL BEARINGS, INC. (MinebeaMitsumi Group)
03.2016 - 06.2020
Director of Risk Management & Title IX Coordinator
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF NH (CCSNH)
03.2014 - 03.2016
Risk Manager – Department of Administrative Services
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
06.2013 - 03.2014
Certificate Program - Employment Law
Cornell University
Juris Doctorate -
Massachusetts School of Law
Bachelor of Science -
Endicott College
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