Lead Counsel - Legal and E&C (Canada or USA)

Nutreco

$120K — $150K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Law degree, licensed to practice in Canada or USA, or equivalent.
  • 7+ years of legal experience in an international context.
  • Knowledge of contract, competition, and basic corporate law; food law knowledge is a plus.
  • Experience drafting and revising international agreements; M&A training experience a bonus.
  • Proficient with legal technology, particularly CLM systems and legal AI tools.
  • Interest in Ethics & Compliance (E&C) work and willingness to develop in this area; E&C Officer experience desirable.
  • Fluent in English; French is advantageous.

Responsibilities

  • Provide legal and E&C guidance to international business units to manage risks and make informed decisions.
  • Build strong relationships with leaders to proactively advise on risks and opportunities.
  • Enable business operations with guidance, templates, and self-service resources for legal and compliance matters.
  • Oversee external counsel to ensure alignment with business priorities.
  • Enhance legal and E&C policies and procedures for improved governance and effectiveness.
  • Conduct training, risk assessments, and assist with internal investigations as needed.
  • Support strategic projects and M&A activities from a legal perspective.

Benefits

  • Robust pension plan with employer matching that begins on Day 1 (Canada).
  • Medical/Dental/Vision/HSA benefits starting on Day 1 (Canada).
  • Short-term/Long-term Disability and Mental Health allowance (Canada).
  • 3+ weeks vacation days with tiered structure (Canada).
  • Paid Parental Leave and Tuition Reimbursement programs (USA).
  • Annual bonus program based on performance.
  • 401k/IRA matching programs for USA employees.
Full Job Description

Job Description:

Role: Lead Counsel - Legal and Ethics & Compliance

Location: Hybrid (Canada or USA)
Hours/Shift: 40 hours
Vacancy Type: Replacement  

What You'll Do

  • Legal and E&C Advisory: Provide practical legal and E&C guidance to assigned international business unit(s), helping leaders manage risk, interpret requirements, protect the company's reputation, and make informed business decisions.
  • Strategic Business Partnership: Build trusted relationships with leaders across the business, acting as a proactive advisor who anticipates challenges, identifies risks and opportunities early, and provides practical solutions before issues arise.
  • Business Enablement: Enable the business to manage routine legal and compliance matters through clear guidance, templates, digital tools, and self-service resources, while fostering confidence and capability within leadership teams.
  • External Counsel Management: Manage external counsel to ensure specialized legal support is efficient, cost-effective, and aligned with business priorities.
  • Continuous Improvement: Support the development and improvement of legal and E&C policies, procedures, templates, playbooks, and systems to strengthen governance and improve operational effectiveness.
  • Training, Risk, and Investigations: Deliver legal and E&C training, support risk assessments, monitor trends, and perform or assist with internal investigations as needed.
  • Project and Transaction Support: Support strategic projects, M&A activities, and other cross-functional initiatives from a legal and E&C perspective.

Who We're Looking For

  • Law degree, licensed to practice law in Canada or USA, or equivalent qualification.
  • 7+ years of legal experience in an international business environment.
  • Knowledge of contract, competition, and basic corporate law; food law knowledge is an asset.
  • Experience drafting and revising international agreements; M&A and training experience are assets.
  • Experience with legal technology, including Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems and legal AI applications, is highly valued.
  • Interest in E&C work and willingness to grow in the role; E&C Officer experience is an asset.
  • Fluent in English; French language skills are an asset.
  • Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with senior leaders and establish credibility as a trusted business partner.
  • Proven track record of taking a proactive approach to identifying risks, opportunities, and solutions while balancing business objectives and legal requirements.
  • Ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions, levels, and geographies through practical advice, sound judgment, and strong communication.

You'll Also Need

  • Legal counsel experience in an international business setting.
  • Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Strong business acumen with the ability to translate complex legal matters into practical, actionable guidance.
  • A proactive, solutions-oriented approach that balances legal risk, compliance obligations, and commercial priorities.
  • Ability to work independently, build partnerships quickly, and become a trusted resource for business leaders.
  • Ability to travel regularly across North America and occasionally internationally.
  • Ability to work in a hybrid arrangement from one of our company locations. Locations include Canada - Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Guelph, St. Marys (ON), Montreal, Moncton. USA - Portales (NM), Bovina or De Leon (TX), Indianapolis (IN), and St. Louis (MO).

What you’ll receive

As part of Nutreco, you’ll be a member of the SHV family, a diverse group of companies with global footprint. Join us and you’ll gain access to a wide network of expertise and global career paths. 

In addition, you’ll receive

Canada

  • Robust pension plan with employer matching that begins on Day 1!  
  • Competitive health benefits - Medical/Dental/Vision/HSA, that start on Day 1!  
  • Short-term/Long-term Disability and Mental Health spending allowance 
  • Maternal top-up and Tuition Reimbursement  
  • 3+ weeks' vacation days to start (tiered) 
  • Annual bonus 

USA

  • Competitive health benefits – Medical/Dental/Vision/HSA/FSA   
  • Disability and Life insurance   
  • 401k/IRA - Matching Programs  
  • Paid Parental Leave and Tuition Reimbursement   
  • 10 Paid Vacation Days to start vacation and then 40 hours PTO and 2 Floating days 
  • Annual bonus program is based on performance  

How and why to find out more

We can offer you a rewarding career with real meaning and purpose. Where you’ll feel proud of the impactful role you perform every day and the part you play in Feeding the Future. So, if you’re interested in joining us, get ready to Own your progress, your potential and your career. We aim to review all applications within five business days and will get back to you as soon as possible. 

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