Senior Legal Specialist, Marketing and Intellectual Property

ConAgra Foods•Chicago, IL

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Specialist, Marketing & Intellectual Property (IP) provides legal support for enterprise-wide marketing and IP matters, reporting to the Senior Counsel – Marketing & IP. Under attorney supervision, the role handles legal reviews of a broad range of marketing and sales communications and works closely with brand and marketing personnel. It also supports discrete IP-related activities, primarily involving trademarks, and uses technology to optimize processes and procedures. The position supports marketing and sales material reviews, social media campaigns, consumer promotions, claims substantiation, marketing-related company commitments, and label reviews. IP responsibilities may include trademark application preparation and filing, portfolio maintenance support, license database maintenance, preliminary clearance searches, and monitoring trademark and brand services. The specialist also develops guidelines and self-help tools, helps deliver legal training, participates in special projects, and develops their legal and business skills. The role is hybrid, with three days in the office.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Paralegal with at least five years of experience in a law firm and/or corporate department handling a variety of marketing- and IP-related matters.
Awareness and use of AI/GenAI tools in a marketing and advertising or legal context, including staying current with emerging AI practices and technologies.
Strong organizational skills and ability to compile information from multiple sources.
Ability to handle confidential company information and data with a high degree of care.
Self-starter with a sense of urgency.
Ability to multitask, handle unanticipated situations effectively, and work well under pressure with tight deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting marketing-related activities, including review of marketing and social media campaign assets, in a CPG-related business is ideal, if not essential.
Working knowledge of trademark filings and procedures is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day legal reviews of marketing and sales materials in accordance with company policies, including advertising, point-of-sale materials, customer and trade materials, and press releases.
Review social media campaigns and related communications and provide guidance.
Provide primary support for consumer promotions, including sweepstakes, contests, premium offers, and cause marketing; develop or review promotional rules and assist with state-specific compliance requirements.
Develop claims substantiation letters, including letters for network clearance.
Provide compliance support for marketing-related company commitments, such as the children’s advertising pledge.
Review labels.
Assist with IP matters, primarily trademarks, as directed by the manager.
Prepare and file domestic and foreign trademark applications, sometimes coordinating with external counsel.
Gather information from internal stakeholders to support prosecution and maintenance of the global trademark portfolio.
Coordinate notarization and legalization of documents.
Help maintain the database of existing trademark licenses.
Conduct online preliminary trademark clearance searches.
Monitor and evaluate trademark watch and brand monitoring services.
Develop guidelines and self-help tools, such as FAQs, related to support activities.
Use technology to optimize processes and procedures.
Assist in developing and conducting legal training related to support activities.
Participate in special projects, including developing strategies, guidelines, processes, and procedures for the IP and Marketing team.
Promote the development of personal legal and business skills and industry knowledge.