Sr Associate General Counsel

• Uses extensive knowledge and application of contracting fundamentals and key contract provisions to, under the oversight of the Principal Associate General Counsel, ensure that all contracts are tailored to the opportunity and are consistent with corporate guidelines.

• Reviews, negotiates and drafts contracts supporting the operations of the company, including supply chain, sales, shared services and other miscellaneous agreements. Will also, from time to time, maintain and draft the company's official corporate policies.
• Provide strategic and authoritative guidance to internal business teams on all legal and compliance matters.
• Performs special projects as assigned from time to time by the Deputy General Counsel, the General Counsel or the Vice-President, Compliance & Risk.
• Working across functions and providing contract consultation and transaction-related answers to customers, business units and project teams regarding strategic partnerships, large capital purchases, new product development, liability/indemnification, and other strategic concepts. Understanding and anticipating departmental needs and corporate matters; delivering high quality service and results. Leading, initiating, or participating in discussions to address and resolve contract issues.
• Acting as a liaison between the legal team and the business units for effective communication, legal and compliance risk analysis and issue resolution. Assuring consistent understanding and interpretation of applicable laws by contracts team and business units.
• Assisting with the creation of complex contract provisions and standards and by conducting legal research, interpreting legal information, and implementing corresponding changes to internal processes as well as assistance in maturing the contracts function overall.
• Leading and assisting with litigation management activities. For some matters, the AGC may be asked to enter an appearance on behalf of the company.
• Have a strong understanding of the company's products and business strategies and keep abreast of legal developments that may affect the company.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with all levels of staff and management and facilitate the resolution of their legal and contract concerns. Understand and anticipate departmental needs and corporate matters; deliver high quality service and results ensuring timely follow up on pertinent legal matters.
• Remain current on all policies, procedures, and strategic plans of Sargento Foods Inc. as they relate to the area(s) supported by the corporate legal department.
• Provide legal counsel and support to any area of the company as directed by the General Counsel from time to time.
• Support the General Counsel and the Vice-President, Compliance & Risk as requested on the Company's government affairs efforts.

Other Functions:

• Establishes effective working relationships with all Sargento stakeholders.
• Has a strong work-ethic and client-service oriented perspective.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Qualifications and Desired Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Substantial experience working with legal and commercial contract language, including the analysis, interpretation and effective communication of the same.
• Ability to understand, interpret and explain complex legal terms and laws, and to apply legal principles to the business and drive consensus and resolution in an efficient manner.
• Broad commercial awareness, including developing a thorough understanding of the Company's business, representatives, end consumers, markets, facilities, and competitors to identify trends and formulate appropriate advice, structures and strategies.
• Highly motivated, efficient, and organized; able to juggle multiple projects at a time in a fast-paced environment, both collaborating as a team and working independently to get the job done.
• Ability to inspire trust through open, candid relationships, treating individuals at all levels within the organization fairly and with respect. A team player who is direct, honest and humble.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate, including promoting ideas persuasively, working through conflict in a constructive way, negotiating win-win solutions, and being respectful towards others in high-stakes circumstances.
• Experience working with multiple projects with often rushed and short timelines.
• Strong attention to detail, maintains a positive outlook, works constructively under pressure and responds resourcefully to change and ambiguity.
• Focuses well on client needs and is very accessible and responsive to requests for advice and information.
• Possesses superior communication, facilitation and consensus-building skills and demonstrates strong problem-solving skills; comfort tackling complex problems and ability to show results.
• Has a strong organizational awareness with an understanding of how to engage the organization to get things accomplished and exhibits a high degree of personal initiative.
• Takes independent actions and calculated risks, and asks for and offers help when needed.

Education and/or Experience:

Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school. Minimum of 10-15 years experience preferably in a corporate legal department or law firm with a focus on business transactions and/or corporate law. Previous in-house experience is preferred but not required.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

License to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. If the candidate is not licensed to practice in Wisconsin, then promptly after being hired, he or she must become a member of the Wisconsin bar through reciprocity, or by passing the Wisconsin bar exam.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual will have knowledge of internet based legal software solutions, spreadsheets, word processing, presentation software, Adobe Acrobat and pertinent document retention and database software.

Oral Presentation and Written Communication:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret a variety of complex agreements and provide corresponding commercially focused communications and guidance with minimal supervision. Excellent ability to read and interpret applicable laws and apply that knowledge to contract drafting, review, analysis and modifications or improvements to established templates, and processes and to communicate implementation procedures as needed.

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from key stakeholders.

• Ability to write clearly and informatively; edit work for spelling and grammar; vary writing style to meet needs; interpret and summarize written information.

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills and ability to work with all levels of staff and management. Excellent communication skills with remote team members customers and vendors. Highly developed and strong interpersonal skills are essential.

Dependability and Initiative:

• Demonstrates attention to detail, accuracy and thoroughness. Looks to improve and promote quality. Follows instructions, responds to management direction; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals. Takes independent actions and calculated risks and asks for and offers help when needed. Is consistently at work and on time.

• Demonstrates a committed work ethic and is comfortable working in a flexible and matrixed environment.

• Ability to balance team and individual responsibilities, contributes to building a positive team spirit.
  
  
• Maintains professionalism at all times by accepting responsibility for own actions and follows through on commitments.
  
  
• Maintains complete confidentiality as required.

• Managing time, tasks and interruptions given a broad range of key responsibilities within the organization. Excellent at multitasking and prioritization. Willing to deal with constant interruptions for numerous requests for information, documents and bid assistance with strict and immediate deadlines.

• Ability to work well under pressure, take initiative, be self-directed, results oriented and with a dedicated work ethic.

Reasoning Ability:

Must possess the ability to develop solutions to complex problems, relying on business and legal and regulatory knowledge. Ability to synthesize complex or diverse information; collect data and research solutions. Ability to problem solve by identifying and resolving matters in a timely manner. Gathers and analyzes information skillfully.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 5 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

,The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.