Corporate Counsel

Corporate CounselNiagara Bottling, LLC is a leading bottled water and beverage manufacturer in the United States and internationally. We are seeking a talented Corporate Counsel to join our dynamic, collaborative Legal team. In this high-impact role, you will serve as a strategic business partner and trusted legal advisor to our Sales and Beverage business teams, helping to drive commercial success while proactively managing risk. You will have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of commercial transactions, support cross-functional initiatives, and contribute to a company that is reshaping the beverage industry through innovation, operational excellence, and environmental stewardship.As Corporate Counsel, you will be an integral member of the Legal team and a key business enabler, responsible for providing proactive, solution-oriented legal support that accelerates commercial growth while helping to manage and mitigate legal risk. Your primary responsibilities include:Lead end-to-end contract management for primarily sales and customer-focused commercial agreements, including intake, prioritization, drafting, negotiation, and execution of master agreements, amendments, addenda, NDAs, and related documents with minimal supervision.Serve as the primary legal point of contact for the Water and Beverage Sales teams, providing real-time commercial legal support and strategic counsel on customer-facing transactions and relationships.Act as a trusted advisor and strategic business partner to internal stakeholders across multiple business units, translating complex legal concepts into practical, actionable business guidance.Develop, maintain, and continuously improve contract templates, playbooks, and processes to drive efficiency and scalability across the legal function.Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships with internal business teams (e.g., Sales, Operations, Finance, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Product Development, Product Engineering, Compliance) and external partners, including key customer stakeholders.Partner proactively with business teams by participating in pipeline meetings, deal reviews, and strategic planning sessions to provide early-stage legal input and become deeply embedded in business operations.Identify, assess, and mitigate commercial and contractual risks, escalating material issues to legal and business leadership and recommending risk mitigation strategies that enable business objectives.Manage and help resolve pre-litigation disputes, customer claims, and commercial controversies, working collaboratively to achieve favorable outcomes while preserving important business relationships.Support special projects, M&A / joint venture due diligence, and other strategic initiatives as requested by the Associate General Counsel, Sales and Beverage and/or the General Counsel / Vice President of Legal Affairs.Design and deliver training programs for cross-functional business partners and plant personnel on contract processes, legal risk awareness, and compliance-related matters.Stay current on legal developments, industry trends, and emerging issues affecting the food and beverage and CPG industries.Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.QualificationsRequired Qualifications:Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law schoolActive bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state (California bar preferred)8+ years of relevant legal experience, including substantial experience in commercial contracts, transactions, and/or sales-related legal mattersSignificant experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements (MSAs, supply agreements, distribution agreements, license agreements, etc.)Proven track record of serving as a trusted legal advisor to business stakeholders in a fast-paced, high-volume environmentExperience may include a combination of law firm and in-house practicePreferred Qualifications:10+ years of relevant legal experience with progressive responsibilityPrior in-house experience at a consumer packaged goods (CPG), food and beverage, or manufacturing company strongly preferredIntellectual property law knowledge in the context of drafting, revising and negotiating commercial agreementsExperience supporting national retail accounts or large-scale and complex commercial relationshipsFamiliarity with food and beverage regulatory frameworks, product labeling, and supply chain complianceKey Competencies & SkillsLead Like an OwnerMakes safety the number one priorityKeeps alert for safety issues and escalates immediatelyEffectively prioritizes tasks based on department goalsShows respect to others and confronts interpersonal issues directlyPrioritizes resolution of customer issues effectivelyResponds promptly and honors commitments to internal and external customersInnovACTMakes recommendations to continuously improve policies, methods, procedures, and/or productsDemonstrates adaptability by reacting appropriately to unexpected changes in situations or circumstancesIncreases performance through greater efficiencyFind a WaySeeks to develop technical knowledge through learning from other expertsUnderstands interdepartmental impact of individual decisions and actionsSeeks solutions rather than placing blameEmpowered to be GreatConsistently looks for ways to improve one's self through growth and development opportunitiesCommunicates clearly and promptly up, down, and acrossCommunicates effectively to manage expectationsIn addition to embodying our LIFE values, the ideal candidate will demonstrate:Exceptional legal acumen with strong issue-spotting, analytical, drafting, and negotiation skillsOutstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a customer-service orientationProven ability to build trust and credibility with business partners at all levels, from plant managers to C-suite executivesStrong executive presence and ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non-legal audiencesExpert knowledge of contract law, commercial transactions, and the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) as applied to sales and purchasingFamiliarity with or interest in emerging legal topics such as data privacy, sustainability/ESG, AI governance, compliance and regulatory topicsExperience in consumer packaged goods (CPG), food and beverage, or manufacturing industries highly valuedDemonstrated leadership and strategy abilities and potential for growth within the legal functionAbility to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and meeting tight deadlinesSelf-starter mentality with strong initiative, adaptability, and the ability to work both independently and collaborativelyProficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Copilot) and contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems; experience with Icertis, Legal Tracker, HarveyAI, Smartsheet, or Oracle a plusEnthusiasm for leveraging legal technology, including AI-powered tools, to drive efficiency and innovation in legal service deliveryHighest ethical standards and a positive, collaborative approach that contributes to a healthy, high-performing team cultureWhy Niagara?At Niagara, you'll be part of an amazing company with a culture built on innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement. We offer:A collaborative, business-minded legal team that values creative problem-solving and professional growthDirect exposure to senior leadership and meaningful impact on company strategy and growthOpportunities to grow your career within a rapidly expanding, industry-leading organizationA commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardshipCompetitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive work environment with wonderful colleaguesWork Environment & Additional DetailsThis is a full-time, exempt position based at our corporate headquarters. Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with flexibility as business needs require. Some evening and weekend work may be required from time to