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Position Title:  In-House Counsel

Reports to: Senior Vice President of Risk, Compliance and Supply Chain

Department: Administration

Classification:  Full-time, Exempt

Pay: $200,000-250,000 annually

Stanislaus Mission

To attract quality-oriented restaurateurs with consistently superior tomatoes and olive oil, keep them through legendary service, and invest in talented people who share our dedication to customer success.

The Company

Stanislaus Food Products is a nationally recognized, family-owned company known for crafting the finest Italian-style tomatoes and sauces for top-quality Italian restaurants and pizzerias.

If you take pride in the quality of your work and prefer working on a team of talented individuals who share your passion for excellence, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity! This is a full-time position located on-site at our Stockton/Lodi area administrative office.

In this role as our In-House Counsel, you will provide comprehensive legal support to a leading food products company, serving the foodservice industry. This position supports the parent company and its subsidiary entities by delivering timely, practical legal guidance that aligns with business objectives. Responsibilities include partnering with the Senior Leadership Team and other responsible management personnel around commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and coordination of outside legal specialists. The role also includes exposure to international markets, particularly Canada and Mexico.  This position reports to the Senior Vice President of Risk, Compliance, and Supply Chain with dotted line reporting to the President and Company Board.

This position will be primarily responsible for:

Legal Counsel and Business Support

• Provide legal advice to executive leadership and management across all business units and subsidiary companies.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including supply, distribution, co-packing, private-label, vendor, professional services, and customer contracts.
• Advise on product development, labeling, marketing, and claims related to tomato and olive-oil products.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and related strategic transactions, including due diligence and integration activities.
• Provide guidance on cross-border commercial matters involving Canada and Mexico.

Regulatory and Compliance Oversight

• Support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including FDA, FSMA, USDA, and state food safety requirements.
• Monitor regulatory developments affecting the food manufacturing industry and advise leadership on required actions.
• Support compliance with international food regulations, customs requirements, and trade considerations for Canadian and Mexican markets.
• Assist in developing and maintaining internal compliance programs, policies, and training.

Risk Management and Corporate Governance

• Identify and mitigate legal and operational risks across the organization.
• Support corporate governance activities, including preparation of board materials, subsidiary management, and maintenance of corporate records.
• Manage or coordinate litigation, claims, and dispute resolution matters.
• Coordinate and oversee outside legal experts in Human Resources, Workers’ Compensation, Intellectual Property, Water, Labelling, and Medical Benefit Plans.

Operational and Commercial Support

• Partner with supply chain, procurement, operations, and quality assurance teams on matters involving growers, processors, logistics, and import/export activities.
• Support real estate, equipment, and capital project transactions.
• Assist with intellectual property protection, including trademarks, trade secrets, and brand assets.
• Provide legal support for international sourcing, distribution, and customer relationships.

Other responsibilities as assigned.

Candidate Requirements:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in a U.S. state bar; eligibility for California in-house counsel registration if not already licensed in California.
• Minimum of 7 years of legal experience, including in-house or relevant experience in manufacturing, food, agriculture, or consumer packaged goods.
• Experience in commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance.
• Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions.
• Exposure to international markets, especially Canada and Mexico.
• Strong analytical, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

Candidate Preferences:

• Experience in the foodservice, food manufacturing, or agricultural supply chain sectors.
• Familiarity with tomato processing, olive-oil manufacturing, or related commodity industries.
• Experience working within multi-entity or family-owned corporate structures.
• Experience with USMCA-related considerations, customs compliance, or international trade matters.
• Prior experience managing outside counsel across multiple specialties.

Physical Requirements:

Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling;   rare stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and frequent fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires the following percentages of time committed to physical activity:   50% or more sitting,  25% or less walking, and 25% or less standing. The job is performed under  occasional temperature variations and in an office environment. Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees. The ability to lift up to 25 lbs. is required. This position operates in a professional office environment with regular interaction across departments and business units. Occasional overnight travel may be required, including travel to subsidiary locations and international markets. Weekly travel by car between local facilities may be required.

Wellbeing:

In addition to our solid track record as a stable, growing employer, we offer a variety of different benefits: 

• Physical Wellness – Medical plan options, Dental, Vision.
• Social Wellness – Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Federal and State Leave of Absences.
• Development Wellness – Recognition, Development Training Programs, Succession Planning, Tuition Reimbursement.
• Emotional Wellness – Employee Assistance Program, People Operations Department -Open Door Policy. 
• Financial Wellness – Competitive Salary, Performance based bonus, 401k Program, Life Insurance.
• Nutrition Wellness – Access to best-in-class tomato sauce and olive oil products.