Associate General Counsel - Regulatory, Compliance, and IP

Company and Position Information :

Del Monte Foods, Inc. (DMFI) 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 :

$164,108.11 - $295,306.54

Responsibilities :

Reporting directly to the SVP General Counsel / Chief Compliance Officer, the Associate General Counsel - Regulatory, Compliance, and IP (AGC) will establish strategy and provide legal advice and counsel relating to several subject matter areas, including FDA / TFC laws and regulations, intellectual property, food labeling and packaging, product-related class action litigation, and other compliance matters.

The AGC will manage outside counsel relationships for Labeling Litigation / Disputes, Regulatory, and Trademark and Intellectual Property matters.

The AGC will manage relationships with the Company's trademark licensees and assure compliance with license terms. The AGC will be the primary Legal interface with the Business Units, Technical Services Team, and the Food Safety and Quality team.

The AGC will provide reports to the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership on Litigation and Regulatory Compliance matters.

Reporting to the AGC will be a Regulatory Affairs team, a Trade Compliance team and a Legal Compliance Specialist.

The AGC's areas of primary responsibilities include :

Marketing, Labeling and Advertising : Provide legal advice and risk management counseling on a variety of legal issues, including label claims, packaging, FDA and FTC compliance;

review media and advertising for legal compliance and risk management. Proactively identify relevant state and federal laws and regulations that could affect our products, including FDA laws and guidance, and work cross-functionally to manage and mitigate legal risks.

Intellectual Property : Supervise outside counsel in protecting and maintaining brands, trademarks, and other intellectual property.

Manage relationships with licensees and review of licensed products.

• Litigation Management : Manage ongoing product related litigation and claims. Work closely with outside counsel to develop effective defense strategies and manage spend.
• Regulatory and Trade Compliance : Supervise Regulatory function, including Creative Services, and Trade Compliance. Partner with Technical Services to assure compliance and anticipate evolving regulations and related costs.
• Compliance and Risk Mitigation . Work cross-functionally to develop and implement comprehensive legal strategies, policies, procedures and trainings to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and manage legal risk.

Areas of focus include data privacy, anti-corruption, AI, ESG, anti-competition, etc.

The anticipated breakdown across key areas is expected to be as follows :

• 20% Marketing, Labeling, Advertising
• 20% Intellectual Property / Trademarks / Licensee relationships
• 20% Manage Litigation and Outside Counsel
• 20% Manage Regulatory and Trade Compliance teams
• 10% Compliance and Risk Mitigation
• 10% Counsel and advice to Senior Leadership and the Board

Other duties as assigned.

Del Monte Foods Leadership Behaviors :

As leaders we : Ground Our Teams

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.
• Strong academic credentials.
• 10+ years commercial legal experience, with at least 5 years in-house in the packaged foods industry.
• 5+ years of legal experience with FDA and FTC laws and regulations relating to labeling, marketing, and promotion of food products.
• Knowledge of a wide range of relevant laws and regulations, including intellectual property laws.
• Experience managing litigation and compliance matters.
• Proven track record of successfully managing a team and working cross-functionally.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Excellent business judgment and ability to assess legal risk while also thinking strategically and providing practical advice.
• Strong client service orientation and sense of urgency.
• Ability to deal effectively with personnel in and outside the company.
• Ability to organize and supervise complex projects, develop results-oriented strategies, and monitor results.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and to 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 and change.
• Practical approach to legal drafting and problem solving and ability to translate legal issues into clear, "plain English" guidance for non-lawyers.

WE OFFER : Competitive salary.

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, Inc.

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.