Director and Senior Counsel, M&A and Ventures

Mondelēz International•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Mondelez Global LLC is seeking a Director, M&A and Ventures to provide legal analysis, advice and support primarily for our global portfolio of merger, acquisition, divestiture and joint venture (“M&A”) transactions as well as existing and prospective venture capital investments (“Ventures”). Based in Chicago, IL, this role will report to the Senior Vice President – Chief Counsel, M&A, IP and Global Law. Act as a member of the legal M&A team providing sophisticated legal counsel to Mondelēz and its affiliates related to global M&A, Ventures and other related matters as assigned. Primary day-to-day responsibilities will include leading day-to-day support for M&A and Ventures transactions worldwide with sound, commercially pragmatic and creative legal counsel to our businesses. To thrive in this role, you will need strong business judgment, commercial acumen, an ownership mindset and common sense as well as intellectual curiosity and an unrelenting work ethic and commitment to driving solutions. The M&A aspect of this role requires substantial M&A legal experience across public, private and cross-border transactions with expertise in M&A, corporate and related transactional law. This position will support complex legal work for different aspects of an M&A transaction life cycle, from early-stage discussions to post-completion matters. Daily responsibilities may include building and leading due diligence teams, drafting and negotiating preliminary, definitive and ancillary transaction agreements, handling pre-closing deliverables, supervising and successfully completing closings and supporting integration efforts. The Ventures aspect of this role involves legal support for SnackFutures, Mondelēz’s global venture investments team which partners with early-stage companies financially and operationally to help drive the future of snacking innovation. Daily responsibilities include evaluating, structuring, negotiating and consummating private capital investment in early-stage companies, managing investment and relationship life cycle matters with portfolio companies, such as commercial relationships, follow-on investments, recapitalizations, exits, workouts and buyouts, and corporate governance matters.

Requirements

7+ years’ experience in a large, international law firm or multi-national corporate in-house legal department.
JD from an accredited law school and license to practice law in at least one US jurisdiction; ability to be licensed in Illinois.
Substantial management skills, business judgment and commercial acumen with a capacity to make decisions and give risk-calibrated advice demonstrating command of overall business objectives and the risks/rewards of each situation.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; team player who collaborates well with others and can manage multiple matters concurrently in a fast-paced and matrixed environment.
Exceptional research, writing and contract drafting skills, and a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a non-legal audience, including business leaders and functional partners in Corporate Development, Tax, Accounting, Finance, HR, IT, Compliance and Treasury.
Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to remain calm under pressure, adapt nimbly, build trust and influence others through complex situations in a demanding environment.
High degree of initiative, self‐direction, and ability to work both independently and collaboratively within an international team.
Continuous improvement mindset with cross-functional experience developing and enhancing internal processes, practices and procedures.
Ability to oversee and effectively manage internal and external counsel.

Nice To Haves

7+ years of full-time experience working on complex cross-border M&A transactions, including in emerging markets.
Experience with one or more of the following: representing strategic and private equity buyers and sellers; Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) / Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry; general corporate and corporate governance matters; global M&A competition analysis and regulatory filings; and/or working with cross-functional teams such as Corporate Development, Tax, Accounting, Finance, HR, IT, Compliance and Treasury.
Experience deploying artificial intelligence platforms or digital solutions in M&A execution, including due diligence, deal documentation, regulatory and/or integration.
Experience representing venture capital investors throughout the venture capital investment life cycle, including evaluating, structuring, negotiating and managing debt and equity investments as well as commercial agreements, collaborations and partnerships, and handling governance matters and risks.
Fluency in one or more non-English languages.

Responsibilities

Act as a member of the legal M&A team providing sophisticated legal counsel to Mondelēz and its affiliates related to global M&A, Ventures and other related matters as assigned.
Primary day-to-day responsibilities will include leading day-to-day support for M&A and Ventures transactions worldwide with sound, commercially pragmatic and creative legal counsel to our businesses.
Building and leading due diligence teams
Drafting and negotiating preliminary, definitive and ancillary transaction agreements
Handling pre-closing deliverables
Supervising and successfully completing closings and supporting integration efforts
Evaluating, structuring, negotiating and consummating private capital investment in early-stage companies
Managing investment and relationship life cycle matters with portfolio companies, such as commercial relationships, follow-on investments, recapitalizations, exits, workouts and buyouts, and corporate governance matters.