Senior Counsel, Food Law and Regulatory Compliance

Job Description

Job Description

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, Président® 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, Food Law and Regulatory Compliance reports to the VP General Counsel, Cheese Divisions and serves as the primary legal advisor on food law, regulatory compliance, labeling, advertising, product claims, and related regulatory matters for the Cheese Divisions. This attorney partners closely with Regulatory, Quality, R&D, Marketing, Commercial, Industrial, Procurement and Sustainability teams to identify legal and regulatory risks, develop practical business solutions, and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and international food laws and regulations. The position requires an attorney with strong business judgment, capable of working in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment. This attorney will be called upon to lead complex cross-functional initiatives, drive compliance strategies, and develop practical, risk-based solutions that advance business objectives while protecting the Company.

From your STORY to ours

Food Law and Regulatory Compliance

• Serve as a legal advisor on FDA, USDA, FTC, state consumer protection, food labeling, and food advertising requirements, monitoring developments in food law and emerging regulatory trends.
• Review product labels and packaging to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and international food laws, including nutrition facts, ingredient declarations, standards of identity, allergen labeling, and net quantity statements.
• Advise business teams on claims substantiation for product and marketing claims, including nutrient content claims, health claims, structure/function claims, and comparative claims. 
• Review advertising campaigns, digital marketing materials, promotional materials, and other consumer-facing communications to advise brand teams on regulatory and litigation risk. Participate in innovation and brand strategy meetings to understand future initiatives and provide proactive legal and regulatory counsel, supporting product development, marketing initiatives, and growth objectives.

Regulatory Enforcement and Litigation Risk Management

• Support regulatory enforcement matters, investigations, and litigation risk management, including interactions with FDA, USDA, FTC, and state regulatory agencies, and work with outside counsel and senior management to develop and implement cost-effective response strategies.
• Support the Company’s responses to warning letters, requests for information, inspections, inquiries, and enforcement actions from regulatory agencies.
• Advise the General Counsel, Cheese Divisions and internal stakeholders on key legal and regulatory developments, and risk mitigation strategies. 

Cross-Functional Partnership and Business Support

• Support legal oversight of complex cross-functional projects with Regulatory, Quality, R&D, Marketing, Commercial, Industrial, Procurement, and Sustainability teams  to identify legal and regulatory risks and develop practical business solutions.
• Provide strategic advisory support on product innovation, new product launches, product reformulations, acquisitions, commercial growth initiatives, and other key business priorities.
• Provide legal guidance to Quality, Regulatory, Operations, R&D, Supply Chain, Commercial, and other cross-functional  business teams on product, packaging, labeling, quality, and regulatory matters, including risk assessment and decision-making related to withdrawals, recalls, market actions, customer notifications, and other corrective actions. 
• Develop and deliver trainings on food law, labeling, advertising, regulatory developments, and compliance requirements to cross-functional business teams.

CSR and Emerging Regulatory Issues

• Provide strategic legal counsel on sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• Advise on laws and regulations relating to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), packaging compliance, recyclability and environmental marketing claims, and product stewardship obligations.

Other Responsibilities

• Work on other projects as may be assigned from time to time.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Education:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. At least one bar admission.

Experience:

• 6 to 8 years’ experience with a national law firm and/or in-house legal department. Significant experience in food law, FDA regulation, consumer products regulation, advertising law, or a related practice area. Experience advising consumer packaged goods, food, beverage, dairy, or other regulated industries strongly preferred.

Skills/Abilities :

• 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. 
• Demonstrates strong executive presence and stakeholder management skills, with ability to effectively communicate complex regulatory concepts to non-lawyers.
• Possesses deep knowledge of food law and regulatory requirements, with ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.

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.