Strategic General Counsel Leader — Public Company Expert

Golden Pet Brands; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 320,000 - 400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive healthcare coverage

Annual bonus

401k match up to 3.5%

Paid sick and wellness days

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Cell phone/internet reimbursements

Professional development opportunities

Charity sponsorships

Quarterly KPI bonuses

Job summary

Golden Pet Brands in the Los Angeles area seeks a Senior Vice President or Legal & Deputy General Counsel to lead our legal strategy within a high-growth consumer brand environment. This hybrid role supports El Segundo, CA and nearby Burbank/North Hollywood offices.

You will partner with the CEO, CFO and Board on governance, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk, and build a high-performing legal function with outside counsel to drive business objectives while maintaining rigorous governance

Qualifications

• 15+ years of legal experience, with 5+ in-house at a corporate legal function in a public company.
• Proven public company track record in corporate governance, M&A, SEC, and commercial legal areas.
• Deep expertise in SEC law, corporate governance, commercial transactions, and Board/C-suite engagement.
• Demonstrated success in building, managing, and scaling legal operations in a high-growth company.
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Prior experience as General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel in a public company.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO, CFO and Board on governance matters, risk oversight, and strategic initiatives.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive legal strategy aligned with long-term business goals and investor expectations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on corporate structure, M&A, commercial transactions, and enterprise risk.
• Build and lead a high-performing legal function that operates as a true business partner across the organization.
• Design and maintain a robust corporate governance framework, including Board and committee charters, policies, and reporting cadences.
• Oversee compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulatory requirements.
• Lead all M&A activity, including due diligence, structuring, negotiation, and integration.
• Oversee commercial contracting across procurement, sales, licensing, co-manufacturing, and distribution.
• Manage and optimize the company's use of outside counsel to ensure cost-effective, high-quality legal support.
• Provide legal support for financing transactions, including debt, equity, and strategic partnerships.
• Oversee the company's intellectual property portfolio, including trademarks, trade secrets, and licensing agreements.
• Manage all litigation, regulatory proceedings, and dispute resolution strategy.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, labeling, and pet product regulatory requirements (FDA, AAFCO, FTC).
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the business and proactively advise leadership.
• Develop and lead an enterprise-wide risk management framework.
• Own the company's Code of Conduct, ethics hotline, and compliance training programs.
• Partner with HR and Finance on employment matters, executive compensation, and benefits-related legal issues.
• Lead data privacy and cybersecurity legal strategy, including compliance with CCPA and applicable data protection laws.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

M&A experience

Corporate governance

Public company GC

Education

Juris Doctor (JD), U.S.

California Bar admission

Top U.S. law school

Job description

Golden Pet Brands in the Los Angeles area seeks a Senior Vice President or Legal & Deputy General Counsel to lead our legal strategy within a high-growth consumer brand environment. This hybrid role supports El Segundo, CA and nearby Burbank/North Hollywood offices.

You will partner with the CEO, CFO and Board on governance, regulatory compliance, enterprise risk, and build a high-performing legal function with outside counsel to drive business objectives while maintaining rigorous governance