In-House Counsel

JonnyPops•Plymouth, MN

6d•$155,000 - $185,000•Hybrid

About The Position

JonnyPops is hiring an In-House Counsel to serve as the company’s dedicated legal partner, reporting to the CFO. The role handles day-to-day legal work for a growing food and CPG brand, including commercial contracting, review of labeling, packaging, advertising and creative, consumer affairs matters, and food regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate is a practical, business-first lawyer with food and CPG experience who can turn contracts and reviews around quickly, understand regulatory requirements, and work efficiently with outside counsel. The position partners with Sales, Marketing and Commercialization, Supply Chain and Procurement, FSQA and Consumer Affairs, Finance, HR, and other teams. It manages outside counsel relationships and legal spend, and communicates legal risks to the executive leadership team in plain language. The role will also build contracting templates, an intake process, a contract repository, and a shared-service foundation to support the company’s plans for 2027. The position is based at JonnyPops’ Plymouth, Minnesota corporate office with a hybrid schedule and flexibility. Occasional travel to the Elk River manufacturing facility and to customer or legal meetings is expected as needed. The role also supports food safety and SQF certification responsibilities, including label and claims review, recall and withdrawal support, food-safety contract requirements, and audit-ready records.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school.
Active bar admission in Minnesota or eligibility for admission.
At least 5 years of legal experience.
Hands-on experience reviewing food labeling, packaging, and advertising claims for FDA, USDA, and FTC compliance.
High-volume commercial contracting experience, including retailer, distributor, supplier, and co-manufacturing agreements.
Business-first legal mindset, providing clear, actionable guidance that helps the business move.
Ability to provide fast, practical contract and creative-review turnaround without sacrificing judgment on material risks.
Plain-language communication skills with executive leadership and cross-functional teams.
Organization and independence, with comfort managing a high-volume, fast-moving docket.
Ability to determine when and how to use outside counsel and manage costs.
Commitment to JonnyPops’ core values: Integrity, Masterful Growth, Excellence, Team Work, Fact-Based Decisions, Alignment, and Service and Contribution.

Nice To Haves

In-house experience at a food, beverage, or CPG company (strongly preferred).
Admission to additional states.
Experience handling consumer complaints, product liability matters, or recalls.
Experience with trademark portfolio management.
Exposure to employment matters, insurance, financing, corporate governance, or corporate transactions.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate vendor agreements for ingredient and packaging suppliers, co-manufacturers, logistics and transportation, technology and SaaS, and services.
Draft, review, and negotiate retailer and club vendor agreements, supplier terms, distributor and broker agreements, trade and promotional program terms, and food service and vending agreements.
Handle NDAs, leases, marketing and sponsorship agreements, and licensing agreements.
Build and maintain standard templates, a contract repository, and a simple intake and approval workflow.
Review product labels, packaging, nutrition and ingredient statements, and on-pack claims for FDA, USDA, and FTC compliance, working with Marketing, FSQA, and R&D.
Review advertising, social media, influencer, sweepstakes and promotional content, website copy, partner case studies, and press materials that name JonnyPops.
Support food service compliance, including USDA Smart Snacks standards.
Advise Consumer Affairs and FSQA on consumer complaints, adverse event reports, and demand letters, including response strategy and documentation.
Coordinate with FSQA and Operations on product liability, withdrawals, and recalls; work with the CFO on insurance notice and claims.
Track and advise on food, labeling, advertising, privacy, and state-law requirements affecting products, channels, and marketing.
Research and answer business compliance questions with clear, practical guidance; maintain key compliance policies and support training as needed.
Handle vendor and customer disputes, contract terminations, chargeback and deduction disputes with legal exposure, and demand letters.
Manage litigation and regulatory inquiries with outside counsel, including strategy, budget, and status reporting to the ELT.
Manage the trademark portfolio across JonnyPops and its affiliates, including clearance, filing, maintenance, and monitoring, with outside IP counsel.
Advise on intellectual property for new products, brand assets, and partnerships, and on infringement matters.
Partner with the Chief of Staff and HR on employment matters, including offer letters, separation agreements, restrictive covenant and IP assignment agreements, and policy reviews.
Support the CFO on insurance programs and claims, financing documents, lender requests, and corporate records, working with outside corporate counsel.
Manage outside counsel relationships and outside legal spend efficiently.
Serve as the first point of contact for company legal questions, triage matters for in-house or outside counsel, and involve the executive team when required.
Review labels, allergen statements, ingredient and nutrition panels, and on-pack claims with FSQA to ensure claims match products made at the SQF Certified, peanut-free facility.
Support FSQA and Operations on withdrawals and recalls by advising on legal obligations, customer and regulator communications, and documentation, and support insurance notice and claims with the CFO.
Work with Procurement and FSQA to ensure supplier, co-manufacturer, and customer agreements reflect food-safety, specification, traceability, audit-access, and certification requirements.
Handle consumer complaints, adverse event reports, and regulatory inquiries so records are complete, accurate, and retrievable for SQF audits and customer food-safety assessments.
Complete required food-safety and GMP awareness training on schedule and follow GMP and visitor expectations when at the Elk River facility.
Understand and be able to explain Legal’s supporting responsibilities in maintaining JonnyPops’ SQF certification during an audit.
Conduct oneself consistently with JonnyPops’ mission, values, and code of ethics; assume additional duties as necessary.