Legal Counsel

Select Milk Producers•Dallas, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Select Milk Producers is seeking a Legal Counsel to support a broad range of legal matters across commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, and general corporate operations within a multi-site, manufacturing and supply chain environment. This role will partner closely with the General Counsel and cross-functional leaders to provide practical, business-focused legal support that enables execution while managing risk. The position offers meaningful exposure to complex operational, regulatory, and commercial matters, with the opportunity to grow into increased responsibility over time. The ideal candidate is a strong legal executor with sound commercial judgment, a hands-on approach, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving organization.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school
Active license and good standing with a U.S. state bar (Texas preferred)
4–8 years of legal experience (law firm and/or in-house)
Experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Client-focused with strong partnership orientation
Results-oriented with focus on practical outcomes
Sound judgment and appropriate risk escalation
High integrity and alignment with SMP’s values
Strong drafting, issue-spotting, and analytical skills
Practical, business-minded approach to legal advice
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
Collaborative, professional, and service-oriented mindset

Nice To Haves

In-house experience or exposure to manufacturing, agriculture, dairy, food & beverage, or regulated industries
Familiarity with regulatory frameworks applicable to food production and supply chain operations
Interest in developing broader corporate governance and operational legal expertise

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including vendor, procurement, logistics, and customer contracts supporting SMP’s operations
Develop and maintain contract templates and playbooks, identifying and escalating non-standard or higher-risk provisions
Support contract lifecycle management, including renewals, amendments, and risk tracking
Support corporate governance and subsidiary management across SMP’s multi-entity structure
Provide day-to-day legal guidance to internal stakeholders across operations, supply chain, logistics, quality, and finance
Partner with business leaders on operational and strategic initiatives, ensuring legal considerations are addressed early and pragmatically
Provide legal support on regulatory matters impacting SMP’s dairy, food production, and related operations
Assist with compliance initiatives related to food safety, labeling, transportation, and operational regulations
Monitor regulatory developments and support implementation of compliance practices across plants and corporate functions
Identify legal risks in commercial and operational activities and escalate as appropriate
Support management of outside counsel, including coordination, research, and matter tracking
Assist with dispute resolution, claims management, and issue mitigation
Work closely with operations, sales, finance, quality, and HR teams to support business objectives
Communicate legal guidance clearly and practically to non-legal stakeholders
Contribute to process improvements and increased efficiency within SMP’s legal function