Corporate Counsel

We are looking for our next Senior Counsel within our Legal Team. The Senior Counsel will support U.S. and Canadian operations with a focus on procurement and capital project contracting. This role involves providing a wide range of corporate and commercial legal services, developing contract templates, managing outside counsel, and advising internal stakeholders across the business. The successful candidate will be collaborative, detail-oriented, and business-minded, with a strong foundation in contract negotiation and general legal support.

This position is located in Geneva, IL, Gurnee, IL, or Keokuk Iowa office (Hybrid: 2-3 days/week).

Compensation:
The current salary range for this role is estimated to be$192,000 to $225,000. In addition, this position may also be eligible to earn performance-based incentive compensation. The specific compensation offered to a candidate will be influenced by a variety of factors including but not limited to skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

What We Offer:

• A highly collaborative team environment with ample room for exponential career growth.

• Competitive pay, annual performance bonus, comprehensive benefits, 6.2% company retirement contribution, and professional development opportunities.

• Generous paid time off and 12 annual paid company holidays.

• 12 weeks 100% paid maternity leave, and up to 4 weeks 100% paid parental leave (including adoption/surrogacy/foster care leave) for non-birthing parents.

• Student loan repayment assistance and tuition reimbursement program for select roles.

• Annual wellness benefits and wellness-centered programs focused on your health needs.

What You'll Do:

• Provide primary legal support for procurement and capital project contract negotiations across U.S. and Canadian operations for food and pharmaceutical businesses.

• Deliver general corporate and commercial legal services to internal stakeholders in both the U.S. and Canada.

• Represent the Legal function on capital projects, collaborating with project teams, Procurement, finance, senior leadership, and other business functions to manage legal risk.

• Act as an advisor to the business on legal issues to ensure that Roquette's businesses in the region comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including monitoring legal and regulatory developments relevant to Roquette.

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including Master services agreements, construction contracts, consulting agreements, and supply agreements.

• Develop and maintain a library of standard templates.

• Collaborate with Compliance and Privacy teams to implement regional directives, policies, procedures, and training.

• Assist with legal entity administration and internal corporate governance compliance.

• Manage outside counsel on litigation and other legal matters, ensuring cost-effective legal spending.

• Provide legal support on environmental, safety, employment, and other operational matters as needed.

• Contribute to the implementation of global legal strategies, supporting Heads of Compliance, IP, and Regulatory Affairs.

What You'll Need:
Education:

• J.D. from an accredited law school * Licensed to practice law in Illinois (or Iowa if primary location will be Iowa)

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-8 years of relevant legal experience, with a combination of law firm and in-house experience strongly preferred.

• Experience in procurement and construction contract negotiations required.

Desired Skills & Competencies:

• Proficiency in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, particularly in procurement and capital projects.

• Self-starter and capable of moving tasks to completion.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to align legal advice with commercial goals.

• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.

• Creative problem-solver with a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach.

• Detail-oriented and organized, with solid project management capabilities.

• Comfortable working cross-functionally and across cultures.

• Effective in a matrixed, global organization with multiple stakeholders.

• High professional integrity and a strong sense of ethics.

• Self-motivated with a continuous improvement mindset.

• Experience with the food or pharmaceutical industry is beneficial.

Work Environment

• This role spends approximately 50% of the time in an office environment and 50% of the time in the plant environment. (manufacturing only)

Business Travel:

• Travel will be required when working on projects at other manufacturing plants (currently US, Canada, Brazil).

• 80% of projects take place in Keokuk IA.

• Occasional international travel may be expected.

• Travel requirement is 5-10%.

AAP/EEO Statement
Roquette is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. "AAP, EEO, Drug-Free Workplace"

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.