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Legal Counsel

Itasca, United States

At Prinova, our passion for food knows no bounds! With a rich history spanning over four decades in the food industry, we have established ourselves as a trusted global supplier and manufacturer of functional food ingredients, flavors, and aromas. With CUSTOMER FOCUS as our central core value, we put pride in our work to ensure the end user has a quality product.

For the past four years, Prinova has proudly received national acclaim as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation, a testament to our status as an exceptional employer.

Legal Counsel

Department: Legal, Corporate
Location: Itasca, IL
Type: Full-time

Summary:

The Legal Counsel will primarily support Prinova’s U.S. commercial operations, with a focus on drafting and negotiating a broad range of agreements, advising internal stakeholders on legal and compliance risks, and supporting HR-related and operational legal needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Draft, review, and negotiate U.S. commercial contracts, including:
- Customer and supplier agreements
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
- IP license agreements
- Floor stock and consignment agreements
- Distribution, tolling, and manufacturing agreements
Provide practical legal advice to internal teams, including Sales, Procurement, Operations, Quality, HR, and Finance.
Assist with employment-related legal matters, such as offer letters, terminations, restrictive covenants, and policy review.
Monitor regulatory developments relevant to the U.S. business, including FDA, FTC, labeling, data privacy, and marketing compliance.
Support corporate governance and contract lifecycle management, including template maintenance and internal approval processes.
Advise on compliance and risk mitigation strategies across the company’s business divisions, policies, and operational initiatives.
Coordinate with outside counsel on specialized matters, including litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory issues.
Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Education and/or Experience:

J.D. from an accredited law school and licensed to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
Minimum 1 year of legal experience with significant transactional exposure.
Law firm experience preferred; in-house experience a plus (including internships, fellowships, or rotations).
Experience in food, nutrition, manufacturing, or consumer goods is a plus but not required.

Required Skills/Abilities:

Strong skills in contract drafting, issue spotting, and negotiation.
Ability to distill legal advice into clear, practical guidance.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative approach.
Strong time management and organizational abilities in a fast-paced setting.
Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Travel:

Up to 10% travel

Work Conditions & Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Ability to lift up to > 10 lbs.
Work environment is normally in an office setting. Occasional travel and time spent in warehouse or manufacturing settings may be required.
Ability to view a computer screen and type for extended hours.
Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time
Other physical requirements include moderate standing and occasional squatting, bending, and twisting.
Ability to work around a variety of different smells and aromas.
Ability to adjust work schedule as business needs require.

What’s in it for you?

Competitive Pay – $100,000 - $135,000 annually

Experience, education, geographic location, and shift all taken into consideration.

Benefits: