In-House Counsel

Stanislaus Food Products•Stockton, CA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

This position supports the parent company and its subsidiary entities by delivering timely, practical legal guidance that aligns with business objectives. Responsibilities include partnering with the Senior Leadership Team and other responsible management personnel around commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and coordination of outside legal specialists. The role also includes exposure to international markets, particularly Canada and Mexico. This position reports to the Senior Vice President of Risk, Compliance, and Supply Chain with dotted line reporting to the President and Company Board.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active membership in a U.S. state bar; eligibility for California in-house counsel registration if not already licensed in California.
Minimum of 7 years of legal experience, including in-house or relevant experience in manufacturing, food, agriculture, or consumer packaged goods.
Experience in commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance.
Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions.
Exposure to international markets, especially Canada and Mexico.
Strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the foodservice, food manufacturing, or agricultural supply chain sectors.
Familiarity with tomato processing, olive-oil manufacturing, or related commodity industries.
Experience working within multi-entity or family-owned corporate structures.
Experience with USMCA-related considerations, customs compliance, or international trade matters.
Prior experience managing outside counsel across multiple specialties.

Responsibilities

Provide legal advice to executive leadership and management across all business units and subsidiary companies.
Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including supply, distribution, co-packing, private-label, vendor, professional services, and customer contracts.
Advise on product development, labeling, marketing, and claims related to tomato and olive-oil products.
Support mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and related strategic transactions, including due diligence and integration activities.
Provide guidance on cross-border commercial matters involving Canada and Mexico.
Support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including FDA, FSMA, USDA, and state food safety requirements.
Monitor regulatory developments affecting the food manufacturing industry and advise leadership on required actions.
Support compliance with international food regulations, customs requirements, and trade considerations for Canadian and Mexican markets.
Assist in developing and maintaining internal compliance programs, policies, and training.
Identify and mitigate legal and operational risks across the organization.
Support corporate governance activities, including preparation of board materials, subsidiary management, and maintenance of corporate records.
Manage or coordinate litigation, claims, and dispute resolution matters.
Coordinate and oversee outside legal experts in Human Resources, Workers’ Compensation, Intellectual Property, Water, Labelling, and Medical Benefit Plans.
Partner with supply chain, procurement, operations, and quality assurance teams on matters involving growers, processors, logistics, and import/export activities.
Support real estate, equipment, and capital project transactions.
Assist with intellectual property protection, including trademarks, trade secrets, and brand assets.
Provide legal support for international sourcing, distribution, and customer relationships.
Other responsibilities as assigned.