Senior Counsel, Contracts

Description Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose. At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive-whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed. As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family‑owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award‑winning dairy products that bring people together. In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz. At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued. Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. From your PASSION to ours The Senior Counsel, Contracts is responsible for developing and overseeing the contract management process at Lactalis USA. Key duties include supporting and managing workflows for all legal department reviewers, managing and supporting both direct and indirect procurement contracts, drafting and negotiating complex agreements, supporting strategic initiatives, and handling a wide array of other commercial contracts and issues. The position will report to the Chief Legal Officer, USA ("CLO") and will be based in Chicago. From your STORY to ours Manage the contract management lifecycle from initial intake through execution, collaborating with business teams to drive contract negotiations to timely and successful completion. Advise on day-to-day commercial contracting issues. Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, and approval workflows to enable efficient contracting at scale in collaboration with Legal team members. Work independently and partner cross‑divisionally and cross‑functionally with internal stakeholders (e.g., with procurement, finance, sales, marketing, manufacturing and supply chain) to meet business needs in a timely manner and achieve desired results. Support the Legal team's contract review process by leveraging AI technology and innovation, allowing legal staff to focus their review time towards high‑priority and high‑risk contracts. Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including direct and indirect procurement contracts, logistics agreements, manufacturing agreements, capex and infrastructure projects, and other strategic and operational agreements. Identify and mitigate contractual risks, including liability, indemnification, warranty, insurance, compliance, data/privacy, and termination provisions. Liaise with the divisional General Counsels and other legal team members, as needed. Advise internal stakeholders on contract interpretation. Assume additional responsibilities as needed. Requirements From your EXPERTISE to ours Education: Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school, and at least one bar admission. Experience: 7+ years law firm and/or in‑house commercial law experience handling a variety of transaction types. Skills/Abilities Deliver high quality, cost‑effective legal services to a range of stakeholders across the organization, providing practical advice and facilitating creative problem‑solving and informed decision‑making. Shows initiative and the ability to work independently and exercise good judgment in a complex business environment. Takes active ownership of areas of responsibility. A self‑motivated strong teammate with the ability to identify and get out ahead of problems. Demonstrates strategic ability. Anticipates legal issues and estimates legal risks. Develops creative, proactive, and practical solutions to mitigate legal risks in support of the business. Models high ethics and integrity. Possesses an eagerness and ability to understand the business. Possesses excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication (verbal and written), relationship management, and internal client service skills. Acute attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects at a given time. Demonstrates excellent negotiation skills. Operates well in multi‑functional teams and a fast‑paced environment. Is committed to continuous improvement, company mission and values, training, and continued education on changing laws and regulations. Creates processes and procedures that effectively mitigate legal and regulatory risk. Is a quick and flexible learner: intellectually curious, open‑minded, adaptable, comfortable with ambiguity and risk, and excited by dynamic change. Can make sound, complex cost/benefit assessments. Inspires trust, forges relationships quickly, builds consensus and earns the confidence and cooperation of divisional business partners. At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career. Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally‑recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an affirmative action employer will comply with all related legal obligations. #J-18808-Ljbffr Lactalis USA