Director of Legal, Insurance, and Real Estate Operations

About Sara Lee Frozen Bakery:
Sara Lee Frozen Bakery became a stand- alone company in 2018 when it was purchased by Kohlberg and Company (private equity) from Tyson Foods. Our desserts have always stood for incredible flavor and superior value in the frozen food aisle and away from home markets. The Sara Lee Frozen Bakery collection of top brands includes Sara Lee®, Chef Pierre®, Bistro Collection®, Superior on Main® and Cyrus O'Leary's®.

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is proud to take these iconic brands into a new era and to continue the evolution that transformed one small Chicago bakery into an American institution. Using carefully sourced ingredients and time-honored recipes, the company is committed to making life's moments a little sweeter, putting its customers first and discovering new ways to make everyone's favorite foods even better.

Working for Sara Lee:

Our vision is to be the world's most beloved bakery by creating irresistible foods, growing with our customers, and delivering value for all. We will achieve success through collaboration and innovation in an environment where employees feel empowered to execute with speed. We believe that each of us has unique points of difference and experience to offer. We believe that there is always a better way, and we will never be satisfied with status quo. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, continually seek process improvements and a strong sense of customer service, then this is the right type of environment for you.

Position Summary:

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is seeking a strategic and experienced Director of Legal, Insurance, and Real Estate Operations to join our team and oversee critical operational functions that align with our business objectives. This role will be responsible for managing all legal, insurance, and real estate activities within the organization. You will ensure compliance with laws and regulations, mitigate risks, and optimize the company's real estate portfolio. The ideal candidate will possess a strong legal background, expertise in strategic insurance management, and a proven track record in real estate operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Legal Oversight:

• In conjunction with the Chief Legal Officer assist in the management of outside counsel, implementation of tools and technology for operational efficiencies and business processes.
• Provide legal guidance and support to senior management and various departments.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts and agreements to protect the company's interests.
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance, local, state, and federal regulations, and manage legal risks.
• Lead outside counsel engagement, including onboarding, performance tracking, and billing oversight.
• Provide guidance and advice across the organization as a member of multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Partner closely with Finance business partners and FP&A team to manage budgeting, forecasting and budget variance analysis for Legal.
• In close collaboration with the manufacturing sites, provide oversight and coordination of social compliance audits.

Insurance Management:

• Develop and implement insurance strategies to safeguard company assets and mitigate risk.
• Manage relationships with insurance brokers and providers, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
• Analyze and manage insurance claims and coordinate with legal counsel as necessary.

Real Estate Operations:

• Oversee the acquisition, disposition, and management of real estate assets.
• Develop and implement real estate strategies that align with the company's growth objectives.
• Negotiate leases, contracts, and agreements related to property management.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with finance, HR, and operations teams to ensure alignment on legal, insurance, and real estate matters.
• Lead initiatives to educate staff on legal compliance and risk management best practices.
• Serve as a key point of contact for business stakeholders on legal processes and contracts.
• Support high-volume commercial contracting needs, including NDAs and vendor agreements.

Process Improvement & Compliance

• Identify opportunities to streamline legal workflows and eliminate inefficiencies.
• Develop and document standard operating procedures and best practices.
• Support compliance initiatives, including policy development and internal training.

The position responsibilities outlined above are not to be construed as all-encompassing. Other duties and responsibilities may be required and/or assigned as necessary.

Education, Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required; Juris Doctor (JD), MBA, or other advanced degree preferred
• 8-10+ years of progressive experience in legal operations, or corporate legal functions
• Strong background in contract management, commercial agreements, and corporate governance
• Demonstrated experience managing or implementing legal technology solutions and systems
• Proven ability to design, optimize, and scale operational processes within legal or cross-functional environments
• Experience overseeing insurance programs, including risk mitigation strategies and claims management
• Knowledge of real estate operations, including lease negotiation, property management, and portfolio strategy
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis in partnership with finance teams
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization
• Ability to work independently while effectively escalating issues when needed to Chief Legal Officer
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with legal systems, contract management tools, and databases

Personal Attributes:

The Sara Lee Leader is one who:

• Role Models Integrity - Creates a culture of respect and inclusion, where all team members are empowered to contribute.
• Masters their Craft - Continually develops their skills and expertise to drive self, team, and company forward. Is intellectually curious, asking questions to inspire a better way.
• Values Partnerships - Frames the tough issues and works productively through them. Paves the way for their team to build relationships and collaborate effectively.
• Behaves Like a Business Owner - Perseveres toward a goal, despite obstacles and distraction.
• Navigates Change - Adapts quickly to address the most critical business needs. Leads the charge around capabilities, processes, and systems.

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery offers a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support your whole-life well-being. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, tax-advantaged savings accounts (HSA/FSA), a 401(k) plan with company match, company-paid life and disability insurance, and access to wellness resources such as virtual healthcare and an employee assistance program. Employees are also provided a generous paid-time off program including company-paid holidays.

Compensation is based on factors such as experience, education, skills, and role scope, ensuring a fair and competitive salary aligned with market standards.

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.


This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.