Associate General Counsel

Job Description

Job Description

Position: Associate General Counsel

Department: Legal

Reports To: Chief of Staff & Corporate Responsibility Officer

Salary Type: Exempt

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Make a greater impact at Bonduelle Americas!

Bonduelle Americas is a certified B Corp inviting people to embrace a flexitarian lifestyle with an expanding portfolio of plant-rich products available in and beyond the produce aisle. We operate four facilities and employ nearly 3,000 Associates in the US.

Bonduelle Americas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe Bonduelle (BON.PA), an established global brand with more than 170 years of family heritage bringing the joy of plants to tables around the world. Globally, our ready-to-eat plant-rich food products are grown on 173,000 acres by our grower partners and marketed in nearly 100 countries. Our mission is to inspire the transition toward a plant-rich diet to contribute to people's well-being and planet health.

Join us at Bonduelle Americas for an opportunity to advance your career in a culture that places people first. As a valued member of our company, you will work in a mission-driven environment aimed at preserving the planet’s resources while providing healthy plant-based products to millions of consumers around the world.

Position Summary:

As a strategic legal leader reporting to the Chief of Staff & Corporate Responsibility Officer, the Associate General Counsel will serve as the company’s primary internal legal advisor, partnering closely with executive leadership and business teams to navigate a wide range of legal and strategic matters.

Working in close coordination with external General Counsel and outside legal partners, this role will serve as the central point of contact for legal matters inside the organization, ensuring the business receives practical, timely, and commercially grounded legal guidance. The Associate General Counsel will help translate legal complexity into clear business decisions, balancing risk management with the company’s growth and transformation priorities.

This role extends well beyond traditional legal compliance. The Associate General Counsel will engage directly with senior leaders across the organization on employment matters, commercial agreements, governance, regulatory developments, and emerging business initiatives. The role will also collaborate closely with the Corporate Responsibility team on issues connected to sustainability, ESG commitments, and broader stakeholder engagement.

The ideal candidate is intellectually curious, highly analytical, and energized by operating in a fast-moving environment where legal strategy and business strategy intersect. This individual will thrive as a trusted advisor who brings sound judgment, pragmatic problem-solving, and a strong sense of ownership to the company’s legal function.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Legal Advisor
  • Serve as the company’s primary internal point of contact for legal matters across the organization.
  • Partner with executive leadership to provide clear, practical legal guidance on strategic and operational decisions.
  • Translate legal complexity into actionable recommendations that enable the business to move forward with confidence.
  • Advise on corporate governance matters, including governance documentation, policies, and other-related materials.
  • Partner with leaders across HR, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Corporate Responsibility on key initiatives and business priorities.
  • Monitor legal, regulatory, and policy developments affecting the business and advise leadership on implications for strategy, operations, and risk management.
  • Support the company’s engagement with government entities, industry associations, and regulatory bodies, providing perspective on policy and regulatory developments affecting the food and consumer products sector.
  • Partner with Corporate Responsibility to assess legal, regulatory, and stakeholder considerations related to sustainability commitments and broader corporate responsibility initiatives.

• Employment & Workplace
  • Serve as the company’s lead internal advisor on employment and workplace legal matters across all jurisdictions in which the company operates.
  • Partner with HR and leadership to develop employment policies and workplace practices aligned with company culture and business objectives.
  • Provide guidance on workplace investigations, worker’s compensation, employee relations matters, organizational changes, and employment-related claims, including workers’ compensation matters.
  • Support dispute resolution strategies and mediations in coordination with outside counsel.
  • Advise leadership on workforce-related regulatory developments and evolving workplace requirements.

• Commercial & Business Legal Support
  • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including vendor contracts, service agreements, NDAs, and partnership agreements.
  • Provide legal guidance to business teams on operational and commercial matters supporting the company’s activities.
  • Support strategic initiatives including partnerships, transactions, and potential M&A-related activities.
  • Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting company operations and advise the business on implications.
  • Develop and deliver practical legal guidance or training for internal teams on topics such as ethics, compliance, privacy, and regulatory requirements.

• Legal Coordination
  • Serve as the internal coordinator for legal matters, working closely with external General Counsel and outside counsel on litigation, specialized matters, and strategic legal issues.
  • Help ensure efficient use of outside counsel and maintain strong working relationships with external legal partners.
  • Support development of internal legal processes, contract templates, and documentation standards that enable the business to operate efficiently.
  • Coordinate with external advisors and industry groups as appropriate on regulatory, compliance, and policy matters affecting the business.

Required Skills

• Strong analytical ability and sound judgment.
• Ability to translate legal complexity into clear, practical business advice.
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to collaborate across functions.
• Comfort working directly with senior leaders and influencing decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Intellectual curiosity and a proactive approach to solving complex issues.

Desired Qualifications

• D. and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar (Pennsylvania admission preferred or ability to obtain).
• Approximately 6-10 years of legal experience with strong academic and professional credentials.
• Experience at a leading law firm or in a high-performing in-house legal team preferred.
• Experience with employment law, commercial contracting, regulatory, or corporate governance matters.
• Interest in working across multiple legal disciplines rather than specializing in a single area.
• Experience in consumer products, food, manufacturing, or similarly regulated industries is helpful but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex issues and drive practical solutions.