Compliance Counsel

Your Passion. Our Culture.

At Sargento, you work for a company you believe in, with a family of people who believe in you. Our culture stems from a simple premise: Hire good people and treat them like family. At Sargento, you can make decisions based on how they affect people as well as the long-term health of our company. You will be encouraged to make a meaningful difference in the community, in the company and in your career. With diverse experiences and tools to learn and develop, you can transform your aspirations into reality. If you’re ready for the right place to belong and grow your career, you can find it here.

Benefits that set us apart.

Comprehensive medical including Fertility, Adoption benefits, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Remote ½ day Fridays

Onsite Health & Wellness Center

Employer 401K contribution in the top 1% of the nation

Relocation Assistance

Tuition Assistance

Access to Employee Store

What You Do.

Monitor federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory developments affecting food manufacturing, including FDA and USDA rulemaking, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act developments, Federal Meat Inspection Act requirements, and state and local food safety laws

Support government affairs initiatives, including analysis of proposed legislation, preparation of comment letters on proposed rules, and coordination with industry associations and trade groups as directed by the General Counsel or the Vice President, Legal and Compliance

Brief senior leadership on emerging regulatory risks and opportunities, translating complex regulatory developments into practical business guidance

Support cross-functional implementation of new and amended regulations, by providing support in activities such as gap assessments, remediation plans, timelines, and verification of completion

Partner with Quality, Food Safety, Operations, Supply Chain, and Marketing to embed regulatory requirements into manufacturing processes, labeling, claims, and supplier programs

Serve as a primary point of contact for the FDA, USDA, and state and local food safety authorities, including responses to inquiries, inspections, notices, and information requests and escalate situations in line with internal processes and procedures

Draft and manage regulatory submissions, registrations, and notifications

Provide support to the Director of Compliance in designing and executing compliance roadmaps for new markets and locations.

Assess jurisdiction-specific licensing, registration, and permitting requirements across facilities, products, and distribution channels

Support compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements applicable to Sargento government contracts

Provide legal research and/or review of all compliance policies, programs and procedures

Review all compliance training materials to ensure alignment with all legal and compliance requirements

Research and monitor regulatory enforcement trends and evaluate outstanding litigation on topics relevant to the company, and assess the likelihood of enforcement in areas affecting the business and its supply chain

Analyze the nuances of specific business situations to determine both the likelihood and the potential impact of regulatory risk, and synthesize regulations, guidance, enforcement actions, litigation, and industry practice into clear, actionable recommendations

Counsel business partners in alignment with the company’s conservative risk appetite and strategic initiatives, positioning compliance as an enabler of the business

Support other attorneys on the legal team by providing holistic, risk-informed regulatory guidance in support of their business partners

Performs special projects as assigned from time to time by the Vice President, Legal and Compliance, Deputy General Counsel, the General Counsel

Acting as a liaison between the legal team and the business units for effective communication, legal and compliance risk analysis and issue resolution. Assuring consistent understanding and interpretation of applicable laws and regulations by compliance/regulatory team and business units.

Conducting legal research, interpreting legal information, and implementing corresponding changes to internal processes as well as assistance in maturing the compliance function overall.

Have a strong understanding of the company's products and business strategies and keep abreast of legal and regulatory developments that may affect the company.

Communicate effectively and professionally with all levels of staff and management and facilitate the resolution of their compliance concerns. Understand and anticipate departmental needs and corporate matters; deliver high quality service and results ensuring timely follow up on pertinent compliance matters.

Remain current on all policies, procedures, and strategic plans of Sargento Foods Inc. as they relate to the area(s) supported by the corporate legal department.

Provide legal counsel and support to any area of the company as directed by the General Counsel from time to time.

Your Education and Experience.

Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.

Minimum of 5-7 years experience preferably in a corporate legal department or law firm with a focus on corporate regulatory law (including FDA/USDA, EPA, DNR, OSHA, SEC, etc.), compliance/regulatory practice, or corporate compliance.

Experience interacting directly with regulatory agencies, including inspections, inquiries, or enforcement matters.

Previous in-house experience is preferred but not required.

Our Story.

With over 2,400+ employees and net sales of $1.8 billion, Sargento Foods is a family-owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years. We created the world’s first, successful pre-packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses. Sargento is based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where we manufacture and market shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients and sauces. Sargento is known for the exceptional quality of our products and for product design, packaging and merchandising innovations that have transformed our industry.

To learn more about our culture and values, please visit our website at https://careers.sargento.com/us/en.

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