Corporate Legal & Compliance Director

Join Rigaku in shaping a better world through new perspectives!

Rigaku is seeking an experienced and strategic Director, Corporate Compliance & Legal Affairs to lead our compliance, ethics, governance, and risk management programs across the Americas. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, industry standards, and corporate policies while supporting the organization's continued growth and business objectives.

Reporting directly to the CEO and partnering closely with executive leadership and the General Counsel of Rigaku Holdings Corporation, you will play a key role in strengthening our compliance culture, managing enterprise risk, and advancing corporate governance initiatives. You will serve as a trusted advisor to leadership, overseeing regulatory and operational compliance programs, coordinating legal matters with external counsel, and helping drive sound business decisions across the organization.

This opportunity is ideal for a dynamic leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and is passionate about building effective compliance programs that protect the organization, support strategic priorities, and foster long-term success.

Responsibilities:

Corporate Compliance & Governance

• Develop, implement, maintain, and continuously improve enterprise-wide compliance and ethics programs.
• Establish compliance policies, procedures, controls, monitoring activities, and reporting frameworks that support regulatory adherence and risk management objectives.
• Conduct enterprise compliance risk assessments and recommend mitigation strategies to executive leadership.
• Develop and deliver compliance training and awareness programs that reinforce ethical conduct and accountability throughout the organization.
• Monitor regulatory developments and evaluate organizational impacts, ensuring timely implementation of necessary policy and operational updates.
• Establish compliance metrics, reporting mechanisms, and executive dashboards to measure program effectiveness.

Regulatory & Equipment Compliance

• Lead compliance activities supporting the manufacture, distribution, installation, servicing, and support of analytical instrumentation and scientific equipment.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Service, Quality, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to ensure compliance with applicable product, safety, environmental, and operational regulations.
• Support internal audits, customer assessments, regulatory inspections, and compliance reviews.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions resulting from audits, investigations, inspections, and compliance findings.
• Monitor industry regulations and standards affecting analytical instrumentation, manufacturing operations, and related technologies.

Risk Management & Oversight

• Maintain and enhance enterprise risk management processes and governance frameworks.
• Oversee compliance with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, export control, trade compliance, data privacy, information security, workplace safety, and sustainability requirements.
• Supervise compliance personnel, including export control and compliance specialists.
• Investigate compliance concerns and coordinate remediation activities with business and functional leaders.
• Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, transparency, and compliance across the organization.

Financial Compliance & Internal Controls

• Partner with Corporate Finance and Internal Audit teams to ensure effective internal control processes.
• Support compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements and financial governance obligations.
• Assist with compliance audits, internal reviews, and remediation efforts to strengthen organizational controls.

Legal Affairs

• Provide legal review of routine business transactions, contracts, and operational decisions to identify risk and support sound business judgment.
• Develop and maintain standard contract templates for sales, service, distribution, supplier, and commercial agreements.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel and coordinate legal support activities.
• Support litigation, dispute resolution, and legal matters in collaboration with outside counsel and the Global General Counsel.
• Advise business leaders regarding legal and regulatory considerations affecting operations and commercial activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Legal Studies, Compliance, Risk Management, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in corporate compliance, legal affairs, ethics, governance, risk management, or a related function.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance frameworks, corporate governance principles, and risk management practices.
• Exceptional integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with employees, leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across functions, departments, and global teams.
• Strong customer service mindset with a commitment to supporting business objectives while maintaining compliance standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), or other advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Experience in scientific instrumentation, manufacturing, life sciences, or other regulated industries.
• Knowledge of export controls, trade compliance, anti-corruption, data privacy, and information security regulations.
• Experience supporting multinational organizations and global compliance programs.
• Experience leading compliance audits, regulatory inspections, investigations, and corrective action programs.
• Prior leadership experience managing compliance, legal, regulatory, or risk management teams.

Rigaku offers a rewarding work environment and excellent benefits. All applicants are kept in strict confidence. Benefits package includes Health, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, Life insurance, section 125 flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan and more.

Rigaku is an EEO/AA employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the Unted States.