Compliance Counsel

Sargento Foods • Elkhart Lake, WI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

At Sargento, the Compliance Counsel will monitor federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory developments affecting food manufacturing, including FDA and USDA rulemaking, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act developments, Federal Meat Inspection Act requirements, and state and local food safety laws. This role will support government affairs initiatives, including analysis of proposed legislation, preparation of comment letters on proposed rules, and coordination with industry associations and trade groups. The Compliance Counsel will brief senior leadership on emerging regulatory risks and opportunities, translating complex regulatory developments into practical business guidance. They will support cross-functional implementation of new and amended regulations by providing support in activities such as gap assessments, remediation plans, timelines, and verification of completion. This role will partner with Quality, Food Safety, Operations, Supply Chain, and Marketing to embed regulatory requirements into manufacturing processes, labeling, claims, and supplier programs. The Compliance Counsel will serve as a primary point of contact for the FDA, USDA, and state and local food safety authorities, including responses to inquiries, inspections, notices, and information requests, and escalate situations in line with internal processes and procedures. They will draft and manage regulatory submissions, registrations, and notifications and provide support to the Director of Compliance in designing and executing compliance roadmaps for new markets and locations. This role will assess jurisdiction-specific licensing, registration, and permitting requirements across facilities, products, and distribution channels, and support compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements applicable to Sargento government contracts. The Compliance Counsel will perform legal research and/or review of all compliance policies, programs and procedures, and review all compliance training materials to ensure alignment with all legal and compliance requirements. They will research and monitor regulatory enforcement trends and evaluate outstanding litigation on topics relevant to the company, and assess the likelihood of enforcement in areas affecting the business and its supply chain. This role will analyze the nuances of specific business situations to determine both the likelihood and the potential impact of regulatory risk, and synthesize regulations, guidance, enforcement actions, litigation, and industry practice into clear, actionable recommendations. The Compliance Counsel will counsel business partners in alignment with the company’s conservative risk appetite and strategic initiatives, positioning compliance as an enabler of the business, and support other attorneys on the legal team by providing holistic, risk-informed regulatory guidance in support of their business partners. This role performs special projects as assigned from time to time by the Vice President, Legal and Compliance, Deputy General Counsel, the General Counsel. The Compliance Counsel acts as a liaison between the legal team and the business units for effective communication, legal and compliance risk analysis and issue resolution, assuring consistent understanding and interpretation of applicable laws and regulations by compliance/regulatory team and business units. They will conduct legal research, interpret legal information, and implement corresponding changes to internal processes as well as assist in maturing the compliance function overall. The Compliance Counsel must have a strong understanding of the company's products and business strategies and keep abreast of legal and regulatory developments that may affect the company. They will communicate effectively and professionally with all levels of staff and management and facilitate the resolution of their compliance concerns. This role will understand and anticipate departmental needs and corporate matters; deliver high quality service and results ensuring timely follow up on pertinent compliance matters. The Compliance Counsel must remain current on all policies, procedures, and strategic plans of Sargento Foods Inc. as they relate to the area(s) supported by the corporate legal department and provide legal counsel and support to any area of the company as directed by the General Counsel from time to time.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school
• Minimum of 5-7 years experience preferably in a corporate legal department or law firm with a focus on corporate regulatory law (including FDA/USDA, EPA, DNR, OSHA, SEC, etc.), compliance/regulatory practice, or corporate compliance
• Experience interacting directly with regulatory agencies, including inspections, inquiries, or enforcement matters

Nice To Haves

• Previous in-house experience is preferred but not required

Responsibilities

• Monitor federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory developments affecting food manufacturing, including FDA and USDA rulemaking, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act developments, Federal Meat Inspection Act requirements, and state and local food safety laws
• Support government affairs initiatives, including analysis of proposed legislation, preparation of comment letters on proposed rules, and coordination with industry associations and trade groups as directed by the General Counsel or the Vice President, Legal and Compliance
• Brief senior leadership on emerging regulatory risks and opportunities, translating complex regulatory developments into practical business guidance
• Support cross-functional implementation of new and amended regulations, by providing support in activities such as gap assessments, remediation plans, timelines, and verification of completion
• Partner with Quality, Food Safety, Operations, Supply Chain, and Marketing to embed regulatory requirements into manufacturing processes, labeling, claims, and supplier programs
• Serve as a primary point of contact for the FDA, USDA, and state and local food safety authorities, including responses to inquiries, inspections, notices, and information requests and escalate situations in line with internal processes and procedures
• Draft and manage regulatory submissions, registrations, and notifications
• Provide support to the Director of Compliance in designing and executing compliance roadmaps for new markets and locations
• Assess jurisdiction-specific licensing, registration, and permitting requirements across facilities, products, and distribution channels
• Support compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements applicable to Sargento government contracts
• Perform legal research and/or review of all compliance policies, programs and procedures
• Review all compliance training materials to ensure alignment with all legal and compliance requirements
• Research and monitor regulatory enforcement trends and evaluate outstanding litigation on topics relevant to the company, and assess the likelihood of enforcement in areas affecting the business and its supply chain
• Analyze the nuances of specific business situations to determine both the likelihood and the potential impact of regulatory risk, and synthesize regulations, guidance, enforcement actions, litigation, and industry practice into clear, actionable recommendations
• Counsel business partners in alignment with the company’s conservative risk appetite and strategic initiatives, positioning compliance as an enabler of the business
• Support other attorneys on the legal team by providing holistic, risk-informed regulatory guidance in support of their business partners
• Performs special projects as assigned from time to time by the Vice President, Legal and Compliance, Deputy General Counsel, the General Counsel
• Act as a liaison between the legal team and the business units for effective communication, legal and compliance risk analysis and issue resolution
• Assure consistent understanding and interpretation of applicable laws and regulations by compliance/regulatory team and business units
• Conduct legal research, interpret legal information, and implement corresponding changes to internal processes as well as assistance in maturing the compliance function overall
• Keep abreast of legal and regulatory developments that may affect the company
• Communicate effectively and professionally with all levels of staff and management and facilitate the resolution of their compliance concerns
• Understand and anticipate departmental needs and corporate matters; deliver high quality service and results ensuring timely follow up on pertinent compliance matters
• Remain current on all policies, procedures, and strategic plans of Sargento Foods Inc. as they relate to the area(s) supported by the corporate legal department
• Provide legal counsel and support to any area of the company as directed by the General Counsel from time to time

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical including Fertility, Adoption benefits, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Remote ½ day Fridays
• Onsite Health & Wellness Center
• Employer 401K contribution in the top 1% of the nation
• Relocation Assistance
• Tuition Assistance
• Access to Employee Store

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree