BarkerGilmore is the trusted partner to industrial and manufacturing companies seeking legal and compliance executives who deliver strategic value, mitigate risk, and drive operational excellence. With decades of experience focused exclusively on in-house legal and compliance recruiting, we help manufacturers, industrial suppliers, and global enterprises secure exceptional leaders who understand the challenges of supply chain resilience, workplace safety, regulatory compliance, and international trade.
Our manufacturing executive recruiters understand what’s at stake, from OSHA and environmental regulations to cross-border expansion, IP protection, and product liability. We identify candidates who not only meet the technical requirements of the role but who also possess the operational agility, business acumen, and leadership presence to drive lasting impact.
Industrial & Manufacturing Executive Recruiters & Legal Executive Search for the Nation’s Most Respected Industrial Organizations
BarkerGilmore serves as a strategic partner to industrial and manufacturing companies across heavy equipment, automotive, aerospace, chemicals, electronics, and diversified manufacturing, recruiting legal and compliance executives with sector-specific knowledge and executive presence required to succeed in highly competitive, highly regulated environments.
Our executive recruiters for manufacturing understand the evolving regulatory landscape, technological disruption, and labor and environmental pressures that shape legal and compliance functions in the industry.
Covering a Broad Range of Industrial & Manufacturing Categories
Agriculture
From equipment manufacturing to agribusiness suppliers, we recruit legal and compliance leaders who understand food safety regulations, environmental standards, and global trade issues impacting the agricultural sector.
Automotive
We place executives who navigate evolving compliance challenges in vehicle manufacturing, electric mobility, supply chain sustainability, and international trade across the global automotive industry.
Aviation and Aerospace
Our executive recruiters identify legal and compliance leaders with expertise in export controls, government contracting, safety regulations, and IP protection for aviation and aerospace companies.
Building Materials
From cement and steel to glass and insulation, we recruit leaders who address OSHA standards, environmental regulations, and compliance in the building products industry.
Chemicals
We partner with chemical manufacturers and specialty materials companies to find executives with expertise in environmental compliance, safety, and international regulatory frameworks.
Construction
Our legal and compliance executive search services support construction firms facing contract risk, labor relations, safety compliance, and infrastructure project governance.
Engineering
We help engineering firms secure leaders who bring deep knowledge of intellectual property, project risk management, environmental regulations, and global operations.
Logistics and Supply Chain
Our recruiters deliver compliance executives who understand import/export law, trade compliance, supply chain security, and global distribution networks.
Packaging and Containers
We identify legal and compliance executives with experience in materials regulations, sustainability initiatives, labeling requirements, and international distribution.
Paper and Forest Products
We partner with companies in pulp, paper, and forest products to recruit leaders with expertise in environmental law, land use, trade, and supply chain compliance.
Wholesale Distribution
Our executive recruiters place legal and compliance talent for wholesale distributors, addressing contract law, risk management, and evolving trade and logistics regulations.
Why Leading Industrial & Manufacturing Companies Choose BarkerGilmore
When searching for executive recruiters and legal executive search specialists, it’s critical to partner with a firm that understands both the nuances of the industrial and manufacturing industry and the unique demands of in-house legal leadership.
Deep Sector Specialization — We focus exclusively on placing in-house legal and compliance executives. Within industrial & manufacturing, that includes General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officers, and senior legal leaders with experience in regulatory strategy, labor relations, product liability, global trade, and M&A.
Elite Network Access — Our long-standing relationships connect us to the top echelon of manufacturing legal talent. The most qualified candidates respond to us because they know we bring career-defining opportunities.
Rigorous Candidate Assessment — We go far beyond resumes. Our vetting process includes in-depth interviews, behavioral analysis, and Hogan Assessments to ensure alignment with your organization’s values, pace, and goals.
Right-Sized and Right-Fit — We are not the biggest search firm, and that’s intentional. Every engagement is led by experienced search professionals, ensuring accountability, responsiveness, and tailored service from start to finish.
Recruiting Legal and Compliance Leaders Who Create Value for Industrial & Manufacturing Organizations
Whether you’re expanding into new markets, strengthening ESG initiatives, or improving system-wide compliance, our manufacturing executive search team identifies professionals who lead with integrity and elevate organizational performance.
For CEOs: We find leaders who understand the business of manufacturing and industrial enterprises.
You need GCs and CCOs who don’t just interpret the law; they interpret your organization’s strategy. The ideal candidates bring business-oriented mindsets, offering pragmatic guidance that facilitates growth, innovation, and mission alignment. They are comfortable making decisions at the pace of operations and have earned a seat at the executive table.
Our search process ensures candidates understand both the unique regulatory environment and the commercial realities of delivering innovative products and services in a competitive landscape.
For CHROs: We find collaborative partners in talent, ethics, and culture.
Legal and compliance leaders intersect deeply with your firm’s human capital strategy. Whether it involves credentialing, labor relations, or internal investigations, your GC and CCO must act as cultural stewards who support an ethical, inclusive, and legally sound workplace.
We evaluate leadership style, team-building ability, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure the candidate can foster trust across departments.
For Boards: We find risk managers with governance insight and strategic foresight.
Your legal and compliance executives must bring more than technical acumen. They must be architects of sound governance, capable of advising on fiduciary duties, disclosure obligations, compliance oversight, and reputational risk.
Our candidates have experience presenting to and advising boards, understanding the nuances of board dynamics, regulatory reporting, and strategic risk management.
Beyond Industrial Executive Recruiting — Leadership Coaching and Advisory
BarkerGilmore goes further than other industrial and manufacturing executive recruiting firms by offering executive coaching and strategic advisory services tailored to the professional and personal needs of industrial and manufacturing legal and compliance leaders. Executive coaching and strategic advisory support for legal and compliance leaders are two of the most effective ways to enhance long-term performance and fuel business success.
BarkerGilmore offers a truly differentiated approach, combining executive recruiting with executive coaching, delivered by a team of former Chief Legal Officers and Chief Compliance Officers who have led legal and compliance functions at many of the country’s most respected companies, including leading industrial and manufacturing organizations.
Our coaches bring firsthand experience, strategic insight, and trusted guidance, tailored to meet their clients’ needs. Whether your organization is seeking to facilitate the onboarding of a new executive, strengthen the leadership skills of a legal or compliance executive, or provide longer-term guidance on critical issues, our team of seasoned executive coaches and strategic advisors will deliver tangible, effective outcomes for your organization.
By partnering with BarkerGilmore, you gain:
- Access to industry veterans who have “sat in the seat” and understand what it takes to be an effective leader
- Customized executive coaching programs designed to enhance the effectiveness of your senior legal and compliance professionals and the teams they lead
- Insights and proven best practices that accelerate the onboarding process and ensure the long-term return of your investment in a new hire
Connect with BarkerGilmore’s Industrial & Manufacturing Executive Recruiting Team
Former SVP, GC, CCO, CLO & Corporate Secretary
Ashland Global Holdings, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH | Asheville, NC
Work with the Nation’s Leading Industrial & Manufacturing Executive Recruiters and Legal Search Specialists
Whether you’re navigating expansion, managing transformation, or reinforcing compliance disciplines, we can help you find a GC or CCO who will drive your industrial and manufacturing organization forward. Contact us today to start the conversation.
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