Senior Director, Legal Counsel - Environmental, Safety & Sustainability

Location(s):

United States of America

City/Cities:

Atlanta

Travel Required:

00% - 25%

Relocation Provided:

No

Job Posting End Date:

April 29, 2025

Shift:

Job Description Summary:

The Senior Director, Legal Counsel – Environmental, Safety & Sustainability will report directly to the Associate General Counsel for Global Regulatory & Litigation. This role will lead the global environmental and sustainability legal practice and will manage the legal network for these areas. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the Company’s regulatory strategy and providing oversight and guidance on all legal matters related to Environmental, Safety & Sustainability. The focus will be on delivering strategic, solution-oriented legal services and practical, expert counsel on compliance, investigations, and enforcement matters. This role requires collaboration with Operating Unit counsels to ensure comprehensive legal support for our global business.

What You’ll Do for Us: 

Environmental & Sustainability:

• Develop and implement the global Environmental and Sustainability strategy, partnering with the Corporate Secretary’s Office to anchor an international Environmental and Sustainability network.

• Collaborate with Operating Unit counsels worldwide to ensure seamless delivery of legal support.

• Provide counsel on environmental, safety, and securities laws and regulations, assessing their impact on our current and future business. Identify and manage significant risks and provide regular status reports to senior legal and business management.

• Offer legal counsel to Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability (PACS), including review of significant global sustainability communications, including internal and external materials, Business & Sustainability Reports, and the annual proxy statement.

• Cooperate with Technical, Supply Chain, Risk Management, and PACS to address regulatory risks and trends.

• Review and advise on draft securities filings, communications related to earnings announcements, annual shareholders’ meetings, audit letters, and US Securities filings.

• Advise on pending legislation and proposed regulations affecting climate, greenhouse emissions, recycling, and other sustainability issues. Collaborate with trade associations and external partners to influence public policy.

• Conduct and oversee environmental due diligence for real estate acquisitions and other transactions.

• Provide legal counsel on packaging, recycling, and technical innovations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Collaborate with the Litigation team to handle environmental litigation and remediation.

• Provide legal counsel, advice, and training on sustainability external communications policy.

• Manage the environmental/sustainability legal budget, maximizing efficiency and controlling costs associated with outside counsel.

Safety:

• Supervise and manage occupational health and safety enforcement and compliance for the North America Operating Unit (NAOU) operations and facilities.

• Provide counsel on implementing and evolving global occupational health & safety compliance policies to ensure adherence to laws, regulations, and best practices.

• Handle investigations and incident responses related to occupational health and safety.

• Advise on EOSH issues from various Company plants and facilities across the US.

• Participate in cross-functional Incident Management & Crisis Response (IMCR) teams as the legal representative to address environmental, safety, and sustainability issues.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education:

• J.D. Degree and a practicing member in good standing of a U.S. state or international bar.

• Excellent academic credentials, including a superior record in law school; participation in law review or advocacy programs is a plus.

Experience:

• 10-15 years of experience in a large national law firm, government, and/or corporate legal department practice, with 7+ years specifically in environmental law and public policy.

• Consumer products, marketing, and/or food and beverage industry experience is a plus, as is prior government service.

• Background in science, engineering, or environmental studies is strongly preferred.

• ·Expertise in multiple federal and state regulatory programs, with litigation and investigations ex