Senior Corporate Counsel

About the role

We are looking for a key member of our Legal team at our Global Headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas. The Senior Corporate Counsel will provide contract-focused legal counsel to senior leadership, partnering with the business to manage risk, support strategic initiatives, and navigate complex legal matters.

Responsibilities

Manage legal and compliance risks arising from Kraton’s corporate activities and transformation projects by providing practical, business-oriented legal support, including:

• Advising business stakeholders and shareholder representatives on corporate, employment and benefits, and project-related legal matters
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and related documentation
• Management of disputes, claims, and pre-litigation matters in coordination with internal stakeholders, shareholder representatives and external counsel
• Assess legal exposure and recommend practical strategies to mitigate risk and resolve disputes efficiently
• Managing relationships with external counsel, including scope of instruction, cost management, and quality oversight
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, internal policies, and global legal standards

Requirements

This role will be required to show a high level of critical thinking, commercial acumen, and prioritization skill in order to:

• Sum up complex issues and provide guidance on decision making, whilst being mindful of the commercial stakes involved
• Act as a business partner by balancing legal risk with commercial objectives and providing pragmatic, solution-oriented advice
• Prioritize competing demands from the businesses

This role will interface with various stakeholders across the organization, with the key interfaces including: Kraton’s General Counsel, Kraton’s leadership located in Houston, and other business stakeholders, Assistant General Counsel (Americas), Senior Legal Counsel (Jacksonville), and Senior Paralegal (Houston).

Skills

Required skills include:

• Excellent drafting skills and knowledge of relevant laws and regulations
• Knowledge of employment and benefits laws and regulations (mastery of US laws with broad understanding of EU applications and implications)
• Analytical, counselling, communication and interpersonal skills with sound legal, ethical and commercial judgment
• Proven experience interacting with and leading business and legal professionals
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills
• Good judgement and a strong ability to deal with ambiguity
• Ability to prioritize competing demands from multiple stakeholders

Qualifications

Education, Certifications & Licenses:

• Legal master/Academic
• 7 – 10 years qualified lawyer
• Working experience in a large complex organization and/or within a leading law firm
• Demonstrated familiarity with areas of corporate, contracting (procurement and supply chain is a plus) and regulatory law (such as product liability and general compliance related laws)

Benefits

We’re proud to offer benefits that meaningfully support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. Some of the benefits offered are:

• Medical Insurance, including TeleDoc - multiple plans available with Flexible Spending Account & Health Savings Account options
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Advocate – free support to help you understand your coverage and answer questions
• Life Insurance – base coverage paid for by Kraton with option for additional coverage
• 401k – Kraton provides matching contributions based on enrollment level
• Employee Assistance Program – provided at no cost to employees
• Accident, Disability, and Critical Illness Insurance