Description
JOB TITLE: Associate General Counsel, Lactalis Heritage Dairy
REPORTING TO: General Counsel, Cheese Divisions
LOCATION: Chicago, IL
Lactalis USA is currently seeking a talented individual to join our US Legal team. This role is hybrid in Chicago, IL.
Lactalis, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to nurturing the future by providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. We offer an enviable range of dairy brands including Galbani, Président, Kraft Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Parmalat, Siggi’s, and Stonyfield Organic in addition to several brands imported from our affiliates in Europe.
At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to building a safe, diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE!
You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company.
The Associate General Counsel, Division (AGC) is responsible for overseeing all legal matters impacting the business of the Lactalis Heritage Dairy division (the “Division”), and the individual responsible for the formulation and execution of legal strategy for the Division. The AGC reports to the General Counsel, Cheese Divisions and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the Crisis Management Team, to which the AGC provides tactical and strategic legal and business advice. A key driver is fostering a workplace environment that is consistent with the values and business goals of Lactalis USA and the Division and that unifies and inspires employees to achieve breakthrough results.
Key responsibilities for this position include:
- Advises the Chief Executive Officer of the Division, the Executive Leadership team and other senior managers of the company on all legal and regulatory issues affecting the Division’s business affairs. Coordinates all legal activity for the Division, including without limitation in the following subject matter areas: food law and regulation, environmental law, real estate law, advertising law, litigation and contracts. Advises business functions on existing laws, new and emerging legal trends, and legal rights and obligations that would impact functionality or reputation of the business.
- Participates in the development and execution of policies and procedures at both the USA and Divisional levels.
- Is responsible for ensuring that the Division conducts its business in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Serves as key legal advisor with respect to all commercial relationships between the Division and third parties.
- Advises the Divisional CEO on employment matters in coordination with the Lead Counsel, Labor & Employment.
- Evaluates the merits of all litigation matters filed against or on behalf of the division, works with the appropriate executive(s) to define a strategic defense and advises on settlements of disputes, and selects and supervises outside counsel, all in accordance with the Division’s delegations of authority.
- Is a leader on the crisis management team and ensures that proper procedures are in place in the event of crisis that could significantly impact the business and/or present a food safety risk to the public.
- Works in cooperation with the General Counsel, Cheese Divisions and other members of the USA Legal Department on continuous improvement initiatives relating to legal department performance, including policies, guidelines, and processes to enhance the legal department’s ability to serve its internal clients and the business across all divisions in the U.S.
- Reviews legal issues with the General Counsel, Cheese Divisions, and coordinates matters as appropriate with other senior members of the USA Legal Department and with Group Legal Affairs.
- Reviews the performance and results of the Divisional legal team, comparing them with the stated objectives and acting appropriately to correct unsatisfactory performance and results.
- Manages outside legal counsel for the Division and other legal and regulatory consultants, as may be required.
- Other duties as may be assigned.
Requirements
Qualified applicants will contribute the following:
Education:
- Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
Experience:
- 10+ years of experience required.
- 10 years of relevant commercial contract transactional experience.
- Experience with FDA regulatory food labeling requirements preferred.
- Knowledge of promotional and advertising law.
- Experience can be from a combination of large law firm and/or in-house experience.
- Experience in food industry, manufacturing, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) company preferred.
Skills / Abilities:
- Must have initiative, be able to work independently and exercise good judgment. Ability to effectively handle a diverse range of duties and responsibilities while exercising initiative and independent judgment in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to be strategic, to anticipate issues and estimate risks, including safety, security, reputational, regulatory, and legal.
- Ability to be creative in identifying proactive solutions to eliminate or mitigate risks and advance the business.
- Highest ethics, integrity and professionalism with colleagues in the legal department, internal company stakeholders, and in all dealings with third parties.
- Identifies and analyzes legal and regulatory issues and develops and effectively communicates sound advice.
- An understanding of business and key business concepts (i.e., finance, accounting, statistics, marketing, etc.).
- Provides practical advice within applicable legal and regulatory framework.
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication (verbal and written), relationship management, and client service skills.
- Acute attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects at a given time.
- Excellent negotiation skills.
- Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines within specified time and business constraints.
- Ability to operate in multi-functional teams and a fast-paced environment.
- Commitment to continuous improvement, company mission and values, training, and continued education on changing laws and regulations.
- Ability to draft, negotiate, and advise on a broad range of complex commercial contracts supporting operations and business functions in line with the company's objectives and applicable laws and regulations.
- Ability to interpret and implement the law in relevant areas concerning the company's activities and to develop control systems to ensure proper application and compliance.
Lactalis Heritage Dairy is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.
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