About the Opportunity

In this senior-level role, you’ll provide strategic legal support across the entire organization, influencing transactional processes, contract management, and global governance policies. You’ll work with diverse business units worldwide, ensuring legal protections and driving efficiency through improved controls and streamlined processes. The Legal Affairs department is responsible for providing focused oversight, policy, education, support, and coordination of general and transactional activities related to the business (R&D, nursery, growing, production, sales, and supply chain areas of the organization), with expertise in building out legal support for the global organization.  This position will provide focused support and global process and policy development related to transactional matters for Driscoll’s.  We are looking for a senior professional to become a member of this evolving and dynamic department, to provide support and guidance to a broad and diverse range of departments across all areas of the business and on a global basis. This position will provide overall effectiveness in managing contract and transactional matters, to ensure an appropriate assessment of business and legal risks, resulting in better legal protections for the Company’s assets and the effective and efficient delivery of legal support across the organization, and will also support and promote global governance and controls measures, process improvements and efficiencies in support of the global organization in alignment with Driscoll’s Mission, Vision and Values. 

Responsibilities

•  Provide focused legal support to the global business including R&D, IS, production, nursery, supply chain, sales, and global support areas of the company, including coordination of internal and external legal support in the analysis, drafting, modifying and negotiating of various contracts and strategic transactions in support of business objectives.

•  Provide legal support and direction to other practice areas within Legal Affairs related to transactional matters to ensure overall compliance with legal policies and coordinate related contractual protections and standards across the organization.

•  Develop and socialize process and policy solutions to standardize the company’s approach to transactions, including standard intake procedures, working with outside counsel, use of contract templates, policies and processes, that promote legal protection of the company’s assets, as well as timely and accurate execution of contracts and transactions that aid in the efficiency of service delivery to the global organization.

•  Provide expertise and guidance to the company and other members of Legal Affairs in contract administration and contract management areas.

•  Work with other members of the Legal Affairs team on cross-functional special projects and initiatives.

•  Follow Company policies and practices while representing Driscoll’s in an ethical and business-like manner in all interactions with employees, governmental agencies, growers, customers, etc.

•  Ensure the security of Driscoll’s confidential and proprietary information and materials and being discreet in all dealings internally and externally.

•  Domestic and international travel required 10-15% of the time.

•  A valid passport and the ability to travel internationally without restrictions.

Candidate Profile

•  JD a plus; Bachelor’s degree, paralegal degree or certificate and/or equivalent work or educational experience.

•  7-10+ years of progressively responsible experience working on a variety of transaction-based agreements and related projects.

•  Ability to apply general contract and intellectual property principles to independently address a variety of contract and legal issues.

•  Ability to translate business concepts into contract terms.

•  Progressively responsible experience in providing general and transactional legal support and supporting process improvement design and implementation for a global organization.

•  Significant experience with simple to complex contract analysis, interpretation, writing, and negotiating.

•  Outstanding research, project management, oral and written communication skills.

•  Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, the ability to develop close working relationships and to work and collaborate effectively across many diverse internal/external groups, teams and cultures.

•  Demonstrated ability to work efficiently, meet demanding deadlines, and balance multiple tasks and workflows in a fast-paced environment.

•  Demonstrated experience with database management, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.

•  Strong work ethic and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

•  Practical, clear, creative, and solution-oriented.

•  Equivalent experience in a related area considered.

•  Not required but Spanish is a plus.

Preferred (other) Qualifications

•  Experience in the agriculture industry a plus

•  Agriculture, IP licensing, and commercial agreements including grower, nursery, supply chain, and research and development agreements a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

The following information is provided in good faith as a general description of the salary range and benefits for the position posted. The actual compensation offered to the successful candidate is dependent upon experience, skills, education, work location, internal pay equity, and other objective job-related factors.

Salary Range estimated for the Senior Legal Manager role:

$90,052 – $134,628 annually (for non-attorneys)

$165,169 – $198,894 annually (for licensed attorneys)

Driscoll’s is committed to a culture of care and offers an attractive benefits package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, and disability coverage for positions working more than 30 hours per week. Other benefits include: 401(k) with employer match, profit-sharing participation, paid sick time, paid vacation, paid personal and family care leave, and a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP). More detailed information regarding the benefits package will be shared during the application process.

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About Driscolls

Driscoll's is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll's is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world.

Driscoll's exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods – meaning, no GMOs. From farm-to-table, we focus on delivering a high quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners.

Driscoll's is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries™.

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Driscoll's es el proveedor líder en la comercialización de Fresas, Frambuesas, Zarzamoras y Arándanos Azules en el mundo. Con más de 100 años de herencia en agricultura y cientos de productores independiente alrededor del mundo, Driscoll's es una compañía apasionada por cultivar Berries frescas, hermosas y deliciosas. Nuestros valores de humildad, pasión y confianza han guiado nuestra misión de deleitar a los consumidores en el mundo.

Las variedades exclusivas de Driscoll's han sido desarrolladas a través de años de investigación usando sólo métodos de mejoramiento natural. De la granja a la mesa, nos enfocamos en ofrecer una experiencia de alta calidad con apoyo de nuestros socios de la cadena de suministro.

Driscoll's es la marca de confianza de sólo las mejores Berries.