Corporate Counsel

Title: Corporate Counsel

About Steuben Foods: Steuben Foods Inc. is a global leader in low-acid aseptic food and beverage manufacturing. We partner with the world’s most established food and beverage brands to co-manufacture fresh, delicious, and nutritious products that consumers can trust. We are driven by a commitment to innovation, reliability, quality, and adaptability while remaining rooted in Western New York and supporting local communities. Our focus on food safety, sustainability, and excellence reflect our mission to deliver the highest-quality products our partners - and their consumers - can rely on.

About the Position: We are seeking a highly independent, business-minded Corporate Counsel to join our experienced legal team. This role will serve as a key strategic partner to the business, with a primary focus on commercial contracting, supply chain and procurement operations, regulatory compliance (e.g., FDA), and risk mitigation in our complex aseptic manufacturing environment.

You will provide practical, actionable legal counsel across commercial agreements, supplier and customer relationships, operational decisions, and commercial disputes. While the role will draw on broad legal skills, day-to-day responsibilities will be weighted toward the commercial, transactional, and regulatory matters that directly support Steuben Foods’ contract manufacturing, innovation initiatives, and growth. You will collaborate closely with leadership and cross-functional teams (Operations, Procurement, Sales, R&D, Quality, and Finance) in a fast-paced, hands-on setting.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced attorney who thrives at the intersection of law and business, enjoys translating complex legal concepts into clear, practical guidance, and wants to make a direct impact on a growing, innovation-driven food manufacturer. You will be part of a team of in-house attorneys at Steuben and will have support from the Company’s existing legal team.

This is an in-person position located in Elma, New York. Candidates must be located in or willing to relocate to the Western New York area.

You Will:

• Lead and independently negotiate, draft, review, execute, and close critical commercial agreements that support Steuben Foods’ operations and partnerships, including customer co-manufacturing and manufacturing services agreements, vendor/supplier agreements, ingredient and packaging procurement contracts, logistics/shipping/distribution agreements, NDAs, MSAs, services agreements, and related documents.
• Manage and review insurance policies and oversee procurement of various insurance policies necessary for the business
• Advise on supply chain operations, procurement, supplier and customer relationships, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal counsel to all levels of the organization on operational and strategic decisions, helping leadership advance transformational initiatives while identifying, assessing, and mitigating legal and commercial risks.
• Collaborate with Operations, Procurement, Quality, R&D, and Sales teams to strengthen cross-functional alignment, support innovation projects, and ensure legal documents and processes reflect best practices.
• Manage commercial disputes and pre-litigation claims; direct and oversee outside counsel to achieve efficient, cost-effective resolutions.
• Ensure standard form agreements and templates are regularly updated to reflect evolving best practices and business needs.

Required Competencies:

• Experience independently drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements typical in supply chain, procurement, and manufacturing transactions (vendor/supplier agreements, manufacturing/distribution contracts, services agreements, NDAs, etc.).
• Understanding of legal risks in food-related operations and contracting, with demonstrated ability to provide clear, practical advice to non-lawyer business colleagues.
• Proven ability to understand key drivers of supply chain, procurement, and manufacturing functions and to lead or contribute to cross-functional projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to balance priorities across multiple internal clients in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• High degree of professional judgment, business acumen, and the ability to build strong relationships at all levels of the organization. 
• Skilled at identifying creative solutions to legal challenges, while managing business risk appropriately.
• Passion for continuous learning and professional development in a dynamic industry, while maintaining the highest professional standards.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a nationally accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in the State of New York (or eligibility to waive in).
• Minimum of 5–7 years of relevant experience as an attorney, preferably with a combination of big law firm (or top-tier law firm) and in-house experience.
• Significant experience in commercial contracting, procurement, supply chain, or related matters, preferably with 2 years in the CPG or food/beverage industry (experience with co-manufacturing agreements or CPG supply agreements is a plus but not a requirement).
• Strong academic credentials and excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or similar tools.

What Success Looks Like: The successful candidate will be a motivated, collaborative, and solutions-oriented legal professional who acts as a trusted advisor and business partner. You will combine deep technical legal skill with commercial instincts, helping Steuben Foods continue to deliver innovation and excellence to our partners/customers while protecting the company and advancing its mission.

If you are looking for a high-impact role where your work directly supports a growing, values-driven food manufacturer and you thrive in a hands-on, in-person environment, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation: Steuben offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefit package.  Final compensation will be determined based upon the applicant's relevant experience, skillset, and other factors as permitted by law.