Compliance Counsel

Sargento Foods; Elkhart Lake (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Remote Fridays

Wellness Center

401K matching

Relocation assistance

Tuition assistance

Employee store

Job summary

Sargento Foods is seeking a regulatory attorney to monitor and analyze federal, state, and local regulatory developments impacting food manufacturing. You will support compliance programs, coordinate with FDA/USDA authorities, and advise cross-functional teams on labeling, claims, and supplier programs.

Strong in-house or corporate regulatory experience is preferred. The role involves drafting regulatory submissions, guiding policy interpretation, and presenting risk-based recommendations to

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.
• Minimum of 5-7 years experience preferably in a corporate legal department or law firm with focus on corporate regulatory law.
• Experience interacting directly with regulatory agencies, including inspections, inquiries, or enforcement matters.
• Previous in-house experience is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Monitor regulatory developments affecting food manufacturing (FDA/USDA, etc.).
• Support government affairs initiatives, including analysis of proposed legislation and comment letters.
• Brief senior leadership on regulatory risks and opportunities with practical guidance.
• Assist cross-functional teams to implement new regulations in manufacturing and labeling processes.
• Serve as primary contact for FDA, USDA, and state/local food safety authorities and coordinate inquiries and inspections.
• Draft and manage regulatory submissions, registrations, and notifications.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Legal research

Regulatory liaison

Policy analysis

Education

Juris Doctorate (J.D.)

Job description

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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