Legal Director, Brands

WK Kellogg Co; Michigan; On-site; USD 185,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive Plan bonus eligibility

Health, dental and vision insurance

Savings and Investment Plan with 401(k

Paid Time Off

11 Paid Holidays

Life Insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Employee recognition program

Job summary

WK Kellogg Co in the United States seeks a Legal Director, Brands to set and execute the U.S. Brands legal and regulatory strategy, guiding advertising, labeling, and claims across a portfolio of iconic brands.

You will lead governance, protect intellectual property, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to accelerate speed-to-market while safeguarding the company's reputation. Reporting to Senior Corporate Counsel, you will manage senior attorneys and legal operations support, supervise

Qualifications

• Education: Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensure: Admission to the bar in Michigan or ability to become admitted to the bar in Michigan.
• Experience: Minimum of 7 years of legal experience, with significant experience advising on U.S. commercial/brand matters, advertising and promotion, food law and regulatory compliance, and contract negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute the U.S. Brands legal and regulatory strategy aligned to business priorities; identify emerging risks/opportunities and provide practical, solutions-oriented guidance.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to Marketing, Innovation/R&D, Regulatory, and Corporate Affairs on advertising and promotion, labeling and claims (nutrition/health), food law, consumer protection, and related regulatory compliance matters.
• Lead legal review and approval for asset review processes for U.S. brands to ensure advertising, promotional materials, packaging, and external communications comply with applicable law, internal policies, and substantiation standards.
• Partner with Regulatory Affairs to ensure ingredients, labeling, nutrient content claims, health claims, visuals, and other commercialization efforts are compliant and appropriately substantiated; support and enhance team capabilities through guidance and training.
• Track and analyze new state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to our food and packaging and lead planning for compliance workstreams, including reformulation, packaging updates, reporting, and fees.
• Provide end-to-end legal support for innovation and renovation, including ingredient permissibility, claim and substantiation strategy, landscape assessments, and intellectual property clearance and risk mitigation.
• Participate in Incident Management Team as legal subject matter expert as it pertains to food law, advertising, and marketing, such as issues related to consumer data, food labeling, manufacturing, and food safety law.
• Advise on data privacy and technology matters impacting brands and marketing activities and coordinate with privacy, IT, and HR stakeholders to implement compliant practices and risk controls.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements supporting marketing, agencies, influencers/endorsements, promotions, sponsorships, charitable donations, and external communications; manage contract execution and playbooks/templates as appropriate.
• Manage and direct external counsel; oversee budgets and matter strategy; ensure high-quality, timely deliverables and knowledge transfer to internal stakeholders.
• Lead or support responses to inquiries from FDA and other regulators, manage regulatory filings and comments, and support document retention and other compliance processes requiring U.S. regulatory legal expertise.
• Contribute to enterprise Legal prioritization and continuous improvement initiatives, including training, process enhancements, and governance that improve speed-to-market while maintaining compliance.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Drafting skills

Negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Data privacy

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

At WK Kellogg Co, we exist to create joy and connection to inspire Gr-r-reat days. We believe that doing good is always good for business and we have stood for this since Kellogg Company was founded more than 120 years ago. We are passionate about doing our part to make nutritious foods, create social connectivity and respect natural resources. Together, these actions create positive progress for people and the planet – today and for years to come. We have big plans for how we are going to accomplish this, and we would love for you to join us in this effort.

Legal Director, Brands is Reporting to the Senior Corporate Counsel, serve as a strategic legal expert for the U.S. Brands organization, setting and executing the legal and regulatory strategy that enables compliant innovation, commercialization, and marketing across a portfolio of iconic brands. Provide proactive, risk-based counsel on advertising and promotional review, labeling and claims substantiation (including nutrition/health claims), food law, food safety, data governance, privacy and technology considerations for marketing activities and a broad range of commercial agreements that enable external communications and brand activation. Lead governance processes (including C3 asset review) and influence cross-functional decision-making to accelerate speed-to-market while protecting intellectual property, minimizing regulatory and litigation exposure, and safeguarding the company’s reputation. Manage complex matters through partnership with internal stakeholders and oversight of external counsel, including engagement with regulators and industry groups as needed.

Reports to: Senior Corporate Counsel
Supervises: May supervise attorneys, paralegals, and/or legal operations support as assigned; leads cross-functional project teams on brand/commercial initiatives.
Peers: Corporate Counsel, Brands; Legal Directors/Leads (Regulatory, Litigation, Employment, Privacy, IP); Regulatory Affairs leadership; R&D and Nutrition Science leaders; Marketing and Commercial leaders.
Key contacts:

• Internal: Marketing, Innovation/R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Procurement, Corporate Affairs/Communications, Wellbeing, Sales/Revenue Growth Management, HR (privacy/employee data), IT (data/privacy), Finance; external counsel (advertising, regulatory, IP, privacy);
• external agencies and vendors; regulators and industry groups as needed.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Set and execute the U.S. Brands legal and regulatory strategy aligned to business priorities; identify emerging risks/opportunities and provide practical, solutions-oriented guidance.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to Marketing, Innovation/R&D, Regulatory, and Corporate Affairs on advertising and promotion, labeling and claims (nutrition/health), food law, consumer protection, and related regulatory compliance matters.
• Lead legal review and approval for asset review processes for U.S. brands to ensure advertising, promotional materials, packaging, and external communications comply with applicable law, internal policies, and substantiation standards.
• Partner with Regulatory Affairs to ensure ingredients, labeling, nutrient content claims, health claims, visuals, and other commercialization efforts are compliant and appropriately substantiated; support and enhance team capabilities through guidance and training.
• Track and analyze new state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to our food and packaging and lead planning for compliance workstreams, including reformulation, packaging updates, reporting, and fees.
• Provide end-to-end legal support for innovation and renovation, including ingredient permissibility, claim and substantiation strategy, landscape assessments, and intellectual property (including trademark) clearance and risk mitigation.
• Participate in Incident Management Team as legal subject matter expert as it pertains to food law, advertising, and marketing, such as issues related to consumer data, food labeling, manufacturing, and food safety law.
• Advise on data privacy and technology matters impacting brands and marketing activities (e.g., consumer data, child online privacy protection, artificial intelligence) and coordinate with privacy, IT, and HR stakeholders to implement compliant practices and risk controls.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements supporting marketing, agencies, influencers/endorsements, promotions, sponsorships, charitable donations, and external communications; manage contract execution and playbooks/templates as appropriate.
• Manage and direct external counsel; oversee budgets and matter strategy; ensure high-quality, timely deliverables and knowledge transfer to internal stakeholders.
• Lead or support responses to inquiries from FDA and other regulators, manage regulatory filings and comments, and support document retention and other compliance processes requiring U.S. regulatory legal expertise.
• Contribute to enterprise Legal prioritization and continuous improvement initiatives, including training, process enhancements, and governance that improve speed-to-market while maintaining compliance.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Education: Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Licensure: Admission to the bar in Michigan or ability to become admitted to the bar in Michigan.
Experience: Minimum of 7 years of legal experience, with significant experience advising on U.S. commercial/brand matters, advertising and promotion, food law and regulatory compliance, and contract negotiation (in-house and/or law firm).
Knowledge/Skills:

• Strong working knowledge of the U.S. legal frameworks governing advertising and consumer protection, FDA/USDA-related food labeling and claims (including nutrition/health claims), and claims substantiation principles/methodology
• Ability to translate legal requirements into practical business guidance; excellent drafting and negotiation skills
• Strong judgement and risk-based decision making; ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional stakeholders; demonstrated experience managing external counsel and complex matters

PREFERRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• 7+ years of relevant experience
• In-house experience supporting food and beverage and/or consumer packaged goods brands (e.g., partnering with Marketing/Innovation/Regulatory teams and operating within stage-gate commercialization and claims review processes)

Salary Range:$184,800 - $231,000

Salary pay ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, certifications, qualifications, relevant education or training, and local market conditions.

At WK Kellogg Co, our success depends on our most vital asset — our people. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with benefits and programs that support your Total Health and your journey to be and feel your best — physically, financially, emotionally, and socially.

Although subject to change, the below are the benefits currently offered in association with this position:

• Incentive Plan bonus eligibility

• Health, dental and vision insurance

• Savings and Investment Plan with Company match and contribution
• Paid Time Off (includes paid sick time)
• 11 Paid Holidays
• Life Insurance, AD and D Insurance and STD/LTD
• Tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance for eligible employees
• Employee recognition program

The above offerings are subject to the terms of WKKC policies, which will control in the event of a conflict with the above descriptions.

Our comprehensive and competitive benefits not only deliver value to you and your family, but also offer choice to meet your unique needs and knowledge to empower confident decision-making.

ABOUT WK KELLOGG CO

At WK Kellogg Co, we bring our best to everyone, every day through our trusted foods and brands. Our journey began in 1894, when our founder W.K. Kellogg reimagined the future of food with the creation of Corn Flakes, changing breakfast forever. Since then, we have embraced the same spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in everything we do, channeling our founder’s passion and commitment to creating high quality and delicious products while fostering communities. Our iconic brand portfolio includes Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, Froot Loops, Kashi, Special K, Raisin Bran, Frosted Mini Wheats, and Bear Naked. With a presence in the majority of households across North America, our brands play a key role in enhancing the lives of millions of consumers every day, promoting a strong sense of physical, emotional, and societal wellbeing. Our beloved brand characters, including Tony the Tiger and Toucan Sam, represent our deep connections with the consumers and communities we serve. For more information, visit www.wkkellogg.com.

If we can help you with a reasonable accommodation throughout the application or hiring process, please email [e-mail]

THE FINER PRINT

The ability to work a full shift, come to work on time, work overtime as needed and the ability to work according to the necessary schedule to meet job requirements with or without reasonable accommodation is an essential function of this position.

WK Kellogg Co is an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to provide an inclusive work environment, a seat for everyone at the table, and embraces the diverse talent of its people. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For US applicants:

Where required by state law and/or city ordinance; this employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For additional information, please follow this link.

Let’s create gr-r-reat days,

WK Kellogg Co Recruitment