Senior Counsel, Food Law & Policy

Job Summary

Reporting to the Vice President, Chief Counsel – Marketing, Regulatory & IP, and Government Affairs, the Senior Counsel – Food Law and Policy will provide legal support and strategic leadership for food law/regulatory and other food policy-related matters on an enterprise-wide basis. The role will counsel and advise business and other internal cross-functional partners, and will engage with numerous external stakeholders including external expert counsel, regulatory authorities, and various industry trade groups. The role will also provide support as needed on other matters such as food marketing-related activities and labeling-related litigation and industry challenges.

Position Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and counseling to the business and key cross-functional partners (Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Affairs, R&D, Labeling, Nutrition) on the full scope of food law-related compliance activities, with a particular focus on food safety, food science, and nutrition matters, including:
  • Compliance with food laws and regulatory schemes at the federal (e.g., FSMA), state (e.g., Prop 65), and international levels
  • Primary legal oversight support on the management of special situations (such as product recalls and market withdrawals)
  • Advocating on the company's behalf with relevant regulatory and enforcement authorities at all levels (local, state and federal)
  • Development of comments on relevant rulemakings
  • Product attribute claim development
  • Ingredient and product safety assessments (e.g., GRAS, Prop 65)
  • Competitive challenges
• Provide strategic leadership and support for the company's management of policy-related matters, with a particular focus on legal aspects and implications for policy matters unique to the food industry. Specific activities would include:
  • Helping identify and prioritize policy issues that may particularly impact the company
  • Active involvement in development of the company's position on such issues in collaboration with other key stakeholders
  • Internal coordination on management of issues through various cross-functional forums
  • Helping develop and, depending on the issue, lead any necessary compliance approach
  • Active engagement in various industry forums and trade associations to help navigate and manage issues while advancing the company's interests·
• Support other regulatory-related activities for the company, such as CPSC and Customs/Trade Compliance counseling.
• Support as needed on marketing-related activities, with a particular focus on those that overlap with support activities (e.g., regulated label claims, product attribute claims).
• Provide support as needed on labeling-related litigation and industry challenges
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with business and other cross-functional partners, balancing legal risks with business realities, and with key external constituents including industry peers and influencers, regulatory and other governmental personnel, and non-governmental organizations.
• Commit to promoting the development of one's own legal and business skills, industry knowledge, and to maintaining an inclusive working environment.

Position Qualifications

• Licensed attorney with a [minimum of seven (7) years] of experience in a law firm, government agency or corporate legal department.
• Meaningful experience advising on food law/regulatory matters, including FDA and USDA regulatory compliance and enforcement matters.
• Experience navigating complex legal and regulatory environments and developing appropriate compliance approaches, ideally within the food or other consumer goods industry.
• Ability to evaluate scientific and technical information to support product safety determinations and product claims substantiation.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, think critically, manage complex projects, learn new areas of law, and solve problems.
• Ability to work autonomously in areas of responsibility while keeping manager and business partners appropriately informed.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently leverage external expert counsel within budget parameters.
• High integrity, collaboration skills, and emotional intelligence.
• Collaboratively influential. Must be able to ensure key legal perspectives are taken into account and alternative actions and outcomes considered, even if unpopular.·
• Professional and effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to think in business scenarios, evaluate and articulate risk on a cost-benefit basis, and propose creative alternative solutions.
• Demonstrated curiosity; ability to quickly learn new areas and business considerations