Senior Legal Counsel - Food Law and Product Safety

This lawyer will support Senior Legal Counsel, Head of Food Law & Product Safety and collaborate with other attorneys in the Global Legal Function.

The Senior Legal Counsel, Food Law and Product Safety will actively assist the business in maximizing opportunities and managing risk in the areas of food law compliance and advertising substantiation for The Coca-Cola Company’s total beverage portfolio, including soft drinks, sparkling and flavored waters, coffee, juice, dairy, and many other beverage options. Senior Legal Counsel, Food Law & Product Safety will also advise business associates in the Company’s geographic business units around the world and in the following Corporate departments: Scientific and Regulatory Affairs (SRA); Ingredient and Product Governance (IPG); Global Marketing; Global Ventures; Research and Development (R&D); Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability (PACS); Global Quality; and the Incident Management and Crisis Resolution (IMCR) team.

They will keep Senior Legal Counsel, Head of Food Law & Product Safety informed as to the progress of matters and consult with her as appropriate.

What You’ll Do for Us

• Provide networked support, substantive collaboration and knowledge sharing with operating unit counsels around the world to ensure consistent legal strategy and coordinated support
• for food law needs across geographies.
• Counsel Global Marketing, R&D and PACS clients on what the Company can communicate publicly regarding the attributes of its products, ingredients, and packaging (in conjunction
• with SRA)
• Manage the timely and effective review and approval of submissions from business units around the world to the Company’s global review process for communications requiring
• substantiation, including:
• Evaluating claims to be used on product labels and in a wide range of media, including digital media, and the substantiation thereof; and supporting SRA’s overall management
• of the review process.
• Advising business stakeholders and management on litigation risks and threats and providing counsel to avoid or mitigate litigation risk.
• Collaborate with Global Marketing, R&D, IPG, SRA, and with business unit counsel to facilitate the development and launch of new products, which includes finding solutions and
• providing advice with respect to:
• The substantiation of claims to be made in a wide range of media and on product labels;
• Regulatory issues regarding ingredients and other substances; and labeling compliance
• Perform due diligence with respect to the food and advertising law aspects of potential acquisitions (done in conjunction with SRA)
• Provide counsel regarding the food law aspects of the Company’s contractual relationships with and obligations to third parties (e.g., bottlers, customers, suppliers, sponsorship
• properties, and others)
• Build and develop effective working relationships with clients and other lawyers by:
• Facilitating learning and information sharing via internal Food Law Network
• Tracking legislative and regulatory developments and educating clients regarding their impact.
• Drafting alerts and training materials to explain food law and advertising substantiation issues to clients.
• Support SRA in addressing regulatory compliance issues and communicating with regulatory authorities.
• Serve, as needed, on cross-functional IMCR teams in connection with recalls and other incident management matters
• Provide legal counsel on compliance with FDA regulations and guidance
• Advise Quality and Product Safety teams on various risk management workstreams
• Continue to develop expertise in food law and advertising substantiation through on-the-job training and Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
• Engage and manage outside counsel, when appropriate, to ensure zealous representation of the Company’s legal and business interests.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education

• U.S. Juris Doctor degree and a practicing member of a U.S. state or international bar. Strong academic credentials required.

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience (in-house, in a governmental agency, or in private practice), with demonstrated experience in counseling clients regarding regulatory matters.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Experience in the areas of food and consumer product regulation and advertising substantiation strongly preferred
• Ability to analyze problems and find solutions that further business goals while assessing and minimizing risk
• Ability to work independently and as a member of cross-functional teams
• Ability to manage numerous assignments (managing changing priorities and deadlines)
• Ability to influence and interact at all levels of the business
• Excellent organization and planning skills

What We Can Do for You:

• Purpose Driven: Purpose driven approach that empowers our people to protect the environment and communities we serve while delivering safe & quality products.
• Agile Work Environment: We embrace agile, with leadership that believes in removing barriers, so you are empowered to innovate and discover new solutions to complex problems.
• Community of Belonging: We’re an organization that believes our ability to continually grow and build the right atmosphere where people feel safe and empowered, lets you bring your best self to work.

Skills

Legal Consulting; Product Safety; Risk Management; Government Affairs; Regulatory Issues; Product Labels; FDA Regulations; Analytical Thinking; Teamwork; Labeling Compliance; Business

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:
We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.