Senior Counsel

Position Overview

The Senior Counsel will play a key part in supporting our growing global Legal team. This role will offer broad exposure to legal operations across Johnsonville’s presence in the Western Hemisphere and will serve as a key legal role supporting the business in this geography.

This is a generalist role and will involve a wide portfolio of legal matters as noted below. We won’t require deep expertise in every area, but we will require a drive to learn and gain expertise over time at our company. Specifically, this role will handle contracts, employment, employee benefits, litigation, regulatory matters, and governance matters (among others). In each case, the Senior Counsel must relentlessly drive Johnsonville’s business needs and seek to create a competitive advantage, usually in ambiguous circumstances. The successful candidate will possess a keen business mind and an immense amount of curiosity for Johnsonville’s business drivers as well as a love for elevating legal skills throughout the organization.

Responsibilities

• Partner with members (including senior management) of the U.S. Johnsonville business units and shared services; partner with International Business Unit to provide support for operations in Canada, Mexico, and South America/Caribbean
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts and NDAs in the following areas: vendor, customer, IT (including master services agreements, software licensing agreements, and SaaS agreements), employment, engineering, leases, real estate, transportation, logistics, insurance, tax, and finance
• Assist with litigation and pre-litigation matters, including matters relating to contract disputes, transportation, intellectual property, product liability, and employment; respond to subpoenas
• Manage trademark and patent portfolios with the assistance of outside counsel
• Advise Member Services (HR) team on HR matters, including matters related to employee benefits and employment laws
• Support strategic activities such as mergers and acquisitions, licensing, joint venture and co-packer agreements
• Handle regulatory and compliance matters, including domestic and international human safety and food safety food regulations
• Support Compliance team in implementing effective compliance policies and practices
• Advance the legal department’s mission through training, coaching and mentoring
• Report directly to the Associate General Counsel
• Exemplify the Johnsonville Way in all communications and interactions

Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited institution, required

Experience

• At least 7+ years of experience practicing law at a law firm and/or in-house, required
• Strongly preferred to have a combination of law firm and in-house experience
• Experience providing superlative counsel, advice, and training to management and their related functions, required

Skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated high integrity, sound judgment, and the ability to manage confidential information with care
• The ability to work independently in a fast paced, high-volume environment, and handle both small and large matters with equal effectiveness and enthusiasm
• Strong business judgment and the ability to understand and respond to business issues and needs
• Ability to encourage risk-taking at the company’s level of risk tolerance
• Results-driven, with the ability to inspire others deliver highest impact on customer success
• Proven track record for leading and influencing people
• The ability to “issue spot” and exercise sound judgment across multiple areas of the law
• Effective leadership style
• A coachable attitude; able and willing to receive and provide constructive feedback
• Curiosity and a love for lifelong learning

Other Requirements

• A member in good standing with the Wisconsin bar (or acceptable equivalent)
• Travel: Not a ton, less than 10% of your time domestically

Benefits and Compensation

Members have potential for a monthly bonus and 401k with a company match. Members also have access to terrific benefits including affordable medical, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; and fertility and adoption assistance. Johnsonville also offers competitive paid time off, including paid parental time off, as well as access to the 24/7 onsite fitness center, and onsite medical clinic! Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located, without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.