Senior Counsel

Position Overview

The Senior Counsel will play a key part in supporting our growing global Legal team. This role will offer broad exposure to legal operations across Johnsonville’s presence in the Western Hemisphere and will serve as a key legal role supporting the business in this geography.

Responsibilities

• Partner with members (including senior management) of the U.S. Johnsonville business units and shared services; partner with International Business Unit to provide support for operations in Canada, Mexico, and South America/Caribbean
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts and NDAs in the following areas: vendor, customer, IT (including master services agreements, software licensing agreements, and SaaS agreements), employment, engineering, leases, real estate, transportation, logistics, insurance, tax, and finance
• Assist with litigation and pre-litigation matters, including matters relating to contract disputes, transportation, intellectual property, product liability, and employment; respond to subpoenas
• Manage trademark and patent portfolios with the assistance of outside counsel
• Advise Member Services (HR) team on HR matters, including matters related to employee benefits and employment laws
• Support strategic activities such as mergers and acquisitions, licensing, joint venture and co-packer agreements
• Handle regulatory and compliance matters, including domestic and international human safety and food safety food regulations
• Support Compliance team in implementing effective compliance policies and practices
• Advance the legal department’s mission through training, coaching and mentoring
• Report directly to the Associate General Counsel
• Exemplify the Johnsonville Way in all communications and interactions

Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited institution, required

Experience

• At least 7+ years of experience practicing law at a law firm and/or in-house, required
• Strongly preferred to have a combination of law firm and in-house experience
• Experience providing superlative counsel, advice, and training to management and their related functions, required

Skills

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated high integrity, sound judgment, and the ability to manage confidential information with care
• The ability to work independently in a fast paced, high-volume environment, and handle both small and large matters with equal effectiveness and enthusiasm
• Strong business judgment and the ability to understand and respond to business issues and needs
• Able and willing to lead and influence people
• The ability to “issue spot” and exercise sound judgment across multiple areas of the law
• Effective leadership style
• A coachable attitude; able and willing to receive and provide constructive feedback
• A love for lifelong learning

Other Requirements

• A member in good standing with the Wisconsin bar (or acceptable equivalent)
• Travel: Not a ton, less than 10% of your time domestically

Benefits and Compensation

• Potential for a monthly bonus and 401k with a company match
• Access to terrific benefits including affordable medical, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; and fertility and adoption assistance
• Competitive paid time off, including paid parental time off, as well as access to the 24/7 onsite fitness center, and onsite medical clinic!

About Our Company

Since 1945, our family-owned band of sausage-makers has invented better ways to make, eat and prepare crave-able sausage. Today, we are 4,000+ Members strong. We sell our famous sausage in all 50 United States and more than 40 countries. We have a culture built on the idea that if we make developing your talents our top priority, great business results will follow naturally. We call it The Johnsonville Way. It has been our secret sauce for decades, and we hope you get to experience it for yourself!

Johnsonville is an equal opportunity employer, including Vet/Disability.

We embrace the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including protected veteran and disability status.