Corporate Counsel
Description
Bringing our love of food to families for five generations! Blount Fine Foods is a family-owned and operated manufacturer, marketer, and developer of premium fresh prepared foods. We are an engaging team, bringing restaurant-quality products to America including single-serve grab-n-go fresh soups, mac & cheese, and entrées in grocery stores across the country, as well as for hot bars and restaurants. Help us create the finest food experiences including those with specialty certifications that include organic, gluten-free, and low sodium, among others. Join a proven team for growth, success, and a satisfying career!
Summary
Corporate Counsel at Blount Fine Foods will be an integral part of the team to support the continued growth of this dynamic fresh food business. This role will provide hands-on, business-oriented legal support across Blount Fine Foods and its subsidiary companies. As a privately held, fifth-generation, family-owned company, Blount values practical and long-term stewardship of the enterprise, while maintaining the entrepreneurial spirit that has accelerated Blount’s success over the years. This role is expected to be integrated into the team and involved in supporting all aspects of the business, including Sales & Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Food Safety & Quality, Regulatory, Human Resources, Finance and other commercial and functional teams to promote growth while managing risk and compliance.
The Corporate Counsel will also help support the company’s M&A and real estate transactions as well as the many random and undefined issues that come up with a diverse and fast-growing food company.
Business & Legal Advisory
· Act as a hands-on, commercially minded legal and business partner integrated into day-to-day decision-making across the enterprise.
· Advise business and functional leaders on contracts, compliance, risk management, employment law, and general corporate matters, with a focus on pragmatic, solutions-forward guidance.
· Offer clear, concise, risk-balanced advice that supports Blount’s business strategy and entrepreneurial spirit.
Employment Law & Compliance
· Serve as a trusted legal partner to Human Resources on employee relations, investigations, policies, separations, leaves, accommodations, wage and hour issues, workers’ compensation, and workforce compliance.
· Advise on federal, state, and local employment laws across Blount’s operating locations.
· Support compliance initiatives related to manufacturing environments, including wage/hour practices, meal break policies, pay practices, and workforce communications.
· Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting the company and proactively assess impact.
Contracts & Commercial Support
· Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of agreements, including vendor, supplier, service, confidentiality, licensing, and technology agreements.
· Support Sales and Marketing with customer and commercial agreements (as applicable), including customer supply agreements, private label/customer programs, pricing terms, promotions, rebates/chargebacks, and broker/distributor relationships.
· Provide legal review and guidance for marketing and external communications (as applicable), including advertising/marketing claims, customer communications, and branded content, in coordination with internal stakeholders.
· Partner with Procurement, Operations, IT, Food Safety, and Commercial teams to identify and mitigate contractual and business risk.
· Help maintain standardized contract templates and playbooks to support efficiency and consistency.
Risk Management & Litigation Support
· Assist with managing claims, disputes, and litigation in coordination with outside counsel.
· Support internal investigations, document review, discovery, and regulatory inquiries.
· Contribute to enterprise risk management practices and internal controls.
· Manage regulatory matters for a wide variety of issues (EPA, DEM, FDA, USDA, etc.)
· Manage outside counsel (where applicable) for practical and cost-conscious representation of the company.
Policy, Training & Governance
· Draft and update company policies, procedures, and internal guidance documents in partnership with HR, Operations, and other stakeholders.
· Support and occasionally deliver training for leaders and managers on legal, compliance, and risk topics.
· Maintain the highest standards of ethics, integrity, confidentiality and discretion.
Education and Experience
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
- Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (Rhode Island and/or Massachusetts preferred)
- 3-5 years of relevant legal experience, with a mix of in-house and/or law firm experience preferred
- Clear, concise communication experience required.
- Ability to build relationships and influence across functions and levels; comfortable partnering directly with leaders and front-line stakeholders in sales, marketing, supply chain, and manufacturing departments.
Our Total Compensation Package Includes:
- Medical, dental and vision benefits.
- 401k with Company match.
- Paid time off including vacation, sick time and holidays.
- Education Assistance Program.
- Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability.
- Discounts on Blount products at Company retail location.
- Discretionary Annual Bonus Program.