Senior Legal Counsel

Job Title:                     Senior Legal Counsel

Department:                Legal Function

Reports to:                                 REPORTS TO:              Head of Legal, Group HQ (Dublin, Ireland)

                                   

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Company Overview

The most important element of our company background is our purpose.  We are a dairy cooperative of cooperatives.  That means that we exist to create value for our cooperatives and the 14,000 Irish family dairy farms they support.  This is central to how we operate, critically important for our employees and what fuels our ambition to win.

 

With that, Ornua is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy, exporting to over 110 countries with annualised sales of €3.4 billion.

 

We are multi-national, operating from 19 subsidiaries worldwide and employing over 2,300 staff. Ornua has teams working in-market across all four corners of the globe from Algiers to Beijing, to Lagos and LA.

 

The business is structured across two core divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients.

Ornua Foods owns the iconic Kerrygold brand, as well as the Pilgrims Choice, Dubliner, Forto and BEO Milk Powder brands.

 

Ornua Ingredients supplies superior quality dairy ingredients to leading global food manufacturers from some of the world’s most technically advanced manufacturing and prepacking facilities located in Africa, China, Ireland, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the UK and the US.

 

Ornua Foods North America Inc, is headquartered in Evanston, IL with additional teams located throughout the US.  The consumer foods product portfolio is spread across butter, cheese and powders.

 

The North America division is a powerhouse within Ornua, with an iconic and beloved brand and a highly-engaged, highly inclusive, and high-performing team that, together, have delivered double-digit, profitable growth on the business for the last twenty years.

 

 

Ornua’s Values

At Ornua, our Values guide us as we work together and care for each other to achieve great things. Our five values, and their underlying behaviors, encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care and Achieve Great Things Together.  All of our people practices are underpinned by these values.

 

Job Summary:

 

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a purpose-led organization, collaborating in a high-performing team to drive an iconic brand, and make a difference. 

 

This newly formed stand-alone role offers an exciting opportunity to work closely with the senior leadership team on a great brand, in an ambitious and growing environment within a multi-national organization.  As the legal business partner for Ornua US you will lead on all legal matters that arise within OFNA Inc, including foreseeing and managing risk, getting involved in Innovation from inception, advising on marketing claims, implementing contracts and navigating legal challenges.  You will also provide ad hoc legal support to the Ingredients side of the business.

 

You will be required to provide both strategic and hands-on solution-focussed support for business partners. 

 

You will report to the Head of Legal for Ornua in Dublin, will be a member of the global Ornua legal team who are based in Dublin, and will be key support for the Ornua Foods North and Latin American Leadership team.

 

Dynamic Working

 

Ornua has a Dynamic Working policy in place which facilitates flexible hours and hybrid working.   Our in-office policy is to be in office three days a weeks, with two anchor days where all individuals are in the office. This position will be based in our Evanston office. Occasional trav