Description:

Description:
Position Summary:
An Employee-Owned Company seeks a knowledgeable and pragmatic Associate Corporate Counsel to provide legal counsel and strategic guidance on a broad range of contracts. This role will focus on supporting commercial operations, managing legal risk, and ensuring compliance across a range of business functions including contracts, operations, supply chain, and regulatory matters. This role will focus on supporting commercial operations, managing legal risk, and ensuring compliance across various business functions and be responsible for drafting, negotiating, and managing a broad range of commercial contracts and related legal documents. This role provides guidance on contractual rights and obligations, oversees contract lifecycle management, and contributes to special legal projects under the general direction of the General Counsel. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and partnering with business units to support growth and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

Draft, review, and negotiate of a wide range of contracts, including vendor/supplier agreements, distribution agreements, customer agreements, licensing agreements, consulting agreements, NDAs and other corporate and commercial contracts.
Provide timely legal advice and counsel on contractual rights and obligations to help department heads understand the legal implications of business strategies to make informed decisions.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and industry regulations, such as product safety and labeling (CPSC, FTC, FPLA), environmental and chemical regulations (FIFRA, TSCA, CAA, and VOC regulations), advertising, marketing, and IP regulations, trade, customs, and supply chain regulations and data privacy and consumer protection regulations.
Develop and implement internal legal policies, procedures and training for commercial contracts
Oversee the full contract lifecycle, from milestone tracking to database management, to ensure visibility, accuracy, and accountability across the organization.
Anticipate and evaluate risks in contractual relationships, recommending practical legal solutions to reduce exposures and strengthen business outcomes.
Provide legal support for marketing, sales, R&D, finance, and operations to align contract terms with strategic priorities and drive cross-functional collaboration.
Champion compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards in all aspects of commercial contracting.
Manage and liaise with outside counsel on specialized matters as needed, contribute to high-impact special projects, and provide reporting and insights to the General Counsel.

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and an active license in good standing with a state bar
At least five years of legal experience, preferably with a mix of law firm and in-house work in a manufacturing, distribution or logistics related industry.
Strong knowledge of commercial contracts, business law and regulatory compliance
Ability to anticipate and analyze complex legal issues and provide practical, business-oriented solutions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with proven ability to partner with marketing, operations, finance, and sales teams and to advise business leaders and executives.
Exceptional attention to detail with strong proofreading and analytical skills and the capability of managing multiple priorities independently
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel; experience with contract management systems preferred.
Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively.

key characteristics required

Success in this role requires sharp legal and business judgment, strong collaboration and influence, and the ability to deliver practical solutions that move strategy into action. The ideal candidate will bring:
Legal Expertise coupled with a strong business acumen.
The role requires results orientation, with a clear focus on timely, accurate contract execution that balances business objectives and compliance.
Critical thinking and problem-solving are essential for analyzing complex issues, identifying risks, and developing practical solutions.
Equally important are collaboration and influence. This role works closely with leaders across the organization and must be able to build strong relationships, communicate effectively, and negotiate with confidence.
Attention to detail and organizational discipline are key, as the position manages multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Integrity, discretion, and sound judgment are expected in handling sensitive and high stakes matters.

Additonal Information