Deputy General Counsel, Regulatory & Commercial - REMOTE

Thorne Research Inc

4d•Remote

About The Position

At Thorne, we work to deliver high-quality, science-backed solutions to empower individuals to take a proactive approach to their well-being. Each day begins with a mission to help others discover and achieve their best health. We count on our team members to challenge and push the boundaries to make that happen. At Thorne, you’ll be joining a team of more than 750 passionate individuals committed to our cause of providing superior health solutions at every age and life stage. Position Summary: The Deputy General Counsel, Regulatory & Commercial will assist the General Counsel in overseeing the legal affairs of the company while serving as the day-to-day legal lead for matters involving FDA, FTC, and related regulatory requirements applicable to dietary supplements and wellness products. This role combines broad legal leadership with deep subject-matter expertise in dietary supplement regulation, advertising, labeling, and claims substantiation. The Deputy General Counsel partners closely with cross-functional teams to provide practical, business oriented legal guidance, enabling compliant innovation while managing legal and regulatory risk. This position also collaborates with various departments and plays a critical role in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a variety of contracts to ensure compliance with laws and regulations while protecting the Company’s interests. The Deputy General Counsel will have a significant role in legal and compliance decision-making and will be instrumental in achieving the Company’s strategic objectives while managing legal and regulatory risk. This is a remote role.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active bar membership.
Minimum of 5+ years of legal experience, with substantial experience advising on FDA and FTC regulatory matters related to dietary supplements, consumer health products, food, or wellness products, including experience with DSHEA compliance.
Demonstrated experience with advertising review, product labeling compliance, and claims substantiation under FDA and FTC regulations.
Demonstrated ability to advise cross-functional teams in a regulated, fast-paced environment.
Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze complex legal and business issues, providing strategic and practical solutions.
Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy and meticulous attention to detail in reviewing and drafting legal documents.
Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
Problem-Solving: Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify risks and develop effective mitigation strategies.
Negotiation Skills: Proven ability to negotiate effectively with counterparties to achieve favorable outcomes for the organization.
Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Legal Research: Proficient in conducting legal research and staying updated on relevant laws, regulations, and industry trends.
Contract Management Software: Familiarity with contract lifecycle management software and legal research databases.
Regulatory Compliance: Comprehensive understanding of applicable corporate and commercial law, with a focus on ensuring regulatory compliance.
Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Technology Proficiency: Proficient in using standard office software and legal technology tools to streamline legal processes.
Mentorship and Team Building: Lead and mentor by fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment. Encourage professional growth through regular feedback, coaching, and development opportunities.
Skill Development: Facilitate continuous learning by identifying and addressing skills gaps within the team. Promote opportunities for training in new legal technologies, regulatory updates, and emerging industry trends.
Performance Management: Set clear, high expectations and hold team members accountable for their performance. Recognize achievements and address areas for improvement constructively.
Promoting a Positive Culture: Cultivate a culture of openness, mutual respect, and trust. Encourage team members to share ideas and perspectives, fostering innovation and problem-solving.
Succession Planning: Develop a succession plan to ensure continuity within the legal team. Identify and train potential leaders to take on more significant responsibilities in the future.
Strategic Leadership: Align the team’s efforts with the company’s strategic objectives, ensuring everyone understands their role in the organization’s success. Lead initiatives that contribute to the company's mission and values.

Responsibilities

Support the General Counsel across a broad range of legal matters, including commercial contracting, corporate governance, enterprise risk management, litigation management, intellectual property coordination, employment law compliance, privacy and data protection, and regulatory compliance.
Serve as a senior legal advisor to business teams, providing clear, pragmatic guidance aligned with business objectives.
Act as a delegate and backup to the General Counsel, as appropriate, to ensure continuity of legal support.
Provide day-to-day legal guidance on FDA and FTC compliance for dietary supplements and related wellness products, including compliance with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), labeling requirements under 21 CFR Part 101, advertising claims, structure/function claims, disease claims, endorsements, testimonials, and influencer marketing programs.
Partner with Regulatory Affairs to advise on regulatory interpretation, enforcement risk, and legal defensibility.
Advise on product development, formulation, ingredient compliance, claims development, and substantiation strategy from a legal and regulatory risk perspective, including assessment of potential FDA and FTC enforcement exposure.
Provide legal guidance on the use of clinical research, scientific studies, and consumer perception data supporting product claims, including assessment of substantiation adequacy, study design and methodology, downstream marketing and advertising considerations, and compliance with FTC substantiation standards.
Monitor and analyze FDA and FTC enforcement trends, warning letters, consent decrees, regulatory guidance documents, and legislative developments, and translate regulatory developments into actionable legal guidance and risk assessments for the business.
Review and provide legal guidance on advertising, labeling, digital content, social media, influencer marketing, and promotional materials to ensure compliance with FDA regulations, FTC Act Section 5, FTC Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials, and applicable state consumer protection and advertising laws.
Advise Marketing, Research & Development, Product Development, and Regulatory Affairs teams on legally defensible use of clinical studies, scientific research, and consumer perception data in support of product claims, including assessment of whether claims are adequately substantiated under applicable FTC standards.
Support responses to regulatory inquiries, investigations, or enforcement actions, as needed.
Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, with particular emphasis on contracts related to regulated activities, research support, and claims substantiation.
Draft, review, and advise on contractual provisions related to data ownership, intellectual property rights, confidentiality, publication rights, indemnification, limitation of liability, regulatory compliance obligations, and claims substantiation requirements.
Support broader enterprise contracting needs as required.
Partner with Marketing, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Product, and Commercial teams as a legal advisor and risk partner.
Develop and deliver training programs, standard operating procedures, contract templates, and written guidance to support scalable FDA/FTC compliance and claims best practices across the organization.
Promote consistency in legal decision-making and risk assessment across the organization.
Collaborate closely with the General Counsel on legal strategy, risk tolerance, and priority-setting.
Escalate novel, high-risk, or precedent-setting matters to the General Counsel for alignment and final decision-making, and coordinate with outside counsel when specialized expertise is required.