Description:

Job Description:
Position Summary:
The Director, Assistant General Counsel will support our Beer, Wine & Spirits, and Corporate divisions and will draft, review, revise, negotiate, and finalize commercial contracts such as consulting, software/SaaS and other information technology, data and market research, construction, equipment, real estate, facilities, energy/utilities, contract labor, transportation, warehousing, travel, production, procurement of direct materials, and other goods and services.

Responsibilities:
  • Serve as lead attorney for internal Beer, Wine & Spirits, and Corporate division clients for assigned matters/contract type(s). Provide legal advice to the business.
  • Draft, review, revise, negotiate, and finalize commercial contracts.
  • Provide guidance and oversight to Contracts Team professional staff, including providing direction on prioritization.
  • Develop knowledge of templates to guide Contracts Team members in selecting templates and modifying them for nonstandard requests.
  • Develop expertise with contract types the Director is assigned to support as lead attorney and an understanding of An American Producer and Marketer of Beer, Wine, and Spirits Company's contract positions and rationale for such contract types. Independently apply experience and knowledge to other types of contracts.
  • Develop and update contract templates and related contract aids (playbooks, checklists, etc.) with assistance from Contracts Team.
  • Support clients professionally, competently, and efficiently. Develop and foster productive working relationships with clients; be a valued business partner. Effectively manage client expectations.
  • Train clients and Legal Department colleagues (including other attorneys) on contract process, contract policy, contract templates, contract aids, and An American Producer and Marketer of Beer, Wine, and Spirits Company-preferred provisions and negotiating positions.
  • Supervise, mentor, and coach Contracts Team professional staff.
  • Partner with outside counsel/alternative legal service providers on assigned matters, including managing budgets. Match work to the right resource to efficiently and cost-effectively meet the needs of the business and Legal.
  • Lead special projects and perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications:
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with state bar required. If not admitted in New York, ability to become registered in-house counsel in New York.
  • A minimum of four years of relevant experience practicing law, including drafting and negotiating contracts, required. Experience in a corporate legal department preferred. Experience teaming with professional legal staff preferred.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Contract lifecycle management, matter management, SharePoint, OneDrive, and/or other workflow or document management software experience preferred.

Core Competencies to be Successful
  • Solid understanding of contract law and commercial transactions.
  • Superlative drafting skills.
  • Contract negotiation skills.
  • Critical thinking skills to appropriately identify, analyze, and mitigate risk issues. Advanced at issue spotting and decision-making, including in situations where there are no established procedures.
  • Exemplary people skills and communication skills.
  • Strong work ethic.
  • Ability to multi-task in a high-performance environment, including handle a high volume of matters, determine priorities, and timely complete tasks and projects.
  • Business acumen and partnership.
  • Solutions-oriented.
  • Team player.
  • Delegates effectively.
  • Commitment to upholding the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and confidentiality.
  • Commitment to development of self and others (growth mindset).
  • Tech-savvy – adept at using Legal Department's technology tools.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment
Must be able to sit and/or stand for long periods of time and work on a computer for extended periods. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This is a hybrid position working in our Rochester, NY office.