Corporate Counsel

Company and Position Information:

Del Monte Foods (DMFC) is a multi-national food company headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA, with a powerful portfolio of brands, including iconic Del Monte, Contadina and College Inn. Our premium-quality meal ingredients, snacks and beverages can be found in six out of ten U.S. households.

At Del Monte Foods, we believe in supporting one another. In helping our people shape their own careers - in letting them grow outward, upward and across disciplines. We are tending to the greater good, providing accessible, nourishing, great-tasting food for all. We are Del Monte Foods - Growers of Good.

The salary range for this role is:

Responsibilities:

Reporting directly to the Associate General Counsel, Commercial & Corporate (AGC), the Corporate Counsel is a mid-level licensed attorney who will provide legal advice, services and counsel on a range of in-house legal practice subject matter areas, with an emphasis on commercial business. The Corporate Counsel will work closely with our Commercial teams on all types of commercial arrangements and agreements. The Corporate Counsel will be a valued member of the legal team and frequently interact with cross-functional internal business leaders and teams.

This may be a remote (home office) role with no relocation required as long as the candidate is based out of any of the following U.S. states: AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, MA, MI, MN, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI. Preference to hybrid role with geographical proximity to Walnut Creek, CA or Pittsburgh, PA corporate offices.

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety and high volume of commercial agreements in support of DMF's multi-national operations, ranging from day-to-day/routine contracts to highly complex transactions, including supply and manufacturing contracts, distribution and sales agreements, marketing, operations, procurement, technology and software related agreements, master services agreements and statements of work, and other business agreements.
• Provide commercial support and legal advice to cross-functional company teams and functions as assigned by the AGC, including serving as liaison with functional teams and leaders on status of and strategy to negotiate and complete agreements and projects.
• Create and revise new and existing contract templates as needed. Participate in and develop training on template use, update templates to reflect changes in applicable law, DMF policies and best practices, and create playbooks. Assist with streamlining and improving the contracting process, including improvements to use of contract management tools, and potentially implementation of artificial intelligence tools.
• Monitor applicable federal, state, and international laws, rules, and regulations, as well as industry standards and developments, proactively advise business partners with respect to relevant changes and trends, and provide training as needed.
• Accurately and consistently utilize Contract Lifecycle Management software system to ensure integration of contract templates and playbooks, prepare instructions and training materials, and conduct training sessions.
• Influence team members of all levels within the organization by identifying and analyzing options that mitigate risk while driving business priorities.
• Identify and implement projects and protocol improvements as a key member of the legal team.
• Provide input and best practices research and recommendations into company policies.
• Additional responsibilities and project management as legal department and business priorities warrant.
• Provide coverage for other members of the legal team as needed.
• Expand areas of responsibility over time.

Del Monte Foods Leadership Behaviors:

As leaders we:

Ground Our Teams

• Connect our teams to a clear strategy.

• Provide the support our teams need for success.

• Hold ourselves and our teams accountable.

Create the Climate

• Solve problems together with our teams.

• Enable smart risk taking.

• Empower our teams to make decisions and take action.

Nurture the Good

• Are intentional about building trust.

• Lead with empathy.

• Grow and develop our teams.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Active California Bar license or ability to qualify as CA Registered In-House Counsel.
• Strong academic credentials.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible commercial legal experience in law firm and/or corporation, including 3+ years in-house legal practice.
• 4+ years of legal experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, including supply, manufacturing, distribution, sales, master services, independent contractor, marketing, operations, SaaS software licenses, NDAs, DPAs, joint development agreements, trademark license and other types of business agreements.
• Consumer Packaged Goods industry, operations and/or procurement experience are a big plus.
• Can-do attitude, initiative, curiosity, and drive to learn and apply business and company processes and priorities to legal practice.
• Practical approach to legal communications, contract drafting, problem solving and ability to translate legal issues into clear, "plain English" guidance for non-lawyers.
• Proficiency and accuracy with Contract Lifecycle Management systems and process.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Excellent business judgment and ability to assess legal risk while also thinking strategically with minimal supervision and providing practical actionable advice and recommendations.
• Strong client service orientation and bias to action.
• Ability to deal effectively with wide range of personnel in and outside the company.
• Ability to organize and supervise complex projects, develop results-oriented strategies, and monitor results.
• Ability to triage, manage, track and complete multiple projects and respond on a timely basis to urgent business demands.
• Team player who will roll up their sleeves and take on additional responsibilities, while also being able to work independently and think strategically.
• Comfort with ambiguity, urgency, ongoing prioritization, risk calibration and change.
• Spanish language written and verbal fluency a plus.
• Additional experience in litigation, corporate finance, corporate governance, real estate, labor and employment, privacy, intellectual property, import/export, food safety, and/or regulatory compliance would also be welcome.

WE OFFER:

• Competitive salary.

• Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401(k).

Please be advised that your application is not complete until you fill out, sign, and submit an Application for Employment for a specific position for which Del Monte Foods is actively recruiting. Your application must reflect that you possess the required qualifications for the position.

No sponsorship is available for this position.

No agencies or 3rd party vendors.