Senior Corporate Counsel - Contracts

Senior Corporate Counsel

A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We're looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now!

The Value You'll Bring:

As Senior Corporate Counsel, you will provide legal leadership and advice to the Company, supporting both the Law Department and business units on a broad range of commercial contracting matters. You'll collaborate with company leaders to achieve business goals while managing risks within acceptable limits. In this key role, you'll assist in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating corporate agreements, while also improving legal department processes. Your work will align with legal, ethical, and company standards, helping drive the company's growth and support strategic initiatives.

What You'll Do:

• Contract Drafting & Negotiation: Draft, analyze, and negotiate complex and routine commercial contracts, including NDAs, master services agreements, SOWs, SaaS agreements, supply chain agreements, transportation agreements, and licensing/technology agreements.
• End-to-End Contract Management: Oversee contract matters from intake to execution, assisting with ongoing contract management, dispute resolution, and advising on performance issues and contractual remedies.
• Contract Lifecycle & Standardization: Support contract lifecycle management, create templates, and develop contracting standards to ensure organization-wide consistency.
• Legal Technology & Innovation: Research and evaluate contract management software and legal technology tools to streamline legal processes and implement innovative solutions.
• Negotiation Strategy Development: Develop negotiation strategies based on contract terms, legal compliance, and company strategies.
• Executive Communication: Prepare business cases and executive summaries outlining negotiation schedules, issues, and risks.
• Training & Process Development: Create and deliver training materials and toolkits for business teams and help develop contracting processes.
• Team Leadership: Supervise and mentor junior attorneys and paralegals while actively managing outside counsel.

What We're Seeking:

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school and 8+ years relevant experience required.
• Must be admitted to practice law in at least one state.
• Must have a minimum of 8 years of substantive experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts with a corporate legal department or a well-regarded law firm.
• Skilled lawyer with the ability to independently manage heavy workload in a highly dynamic environment.

Other Skills That Make You Stand Out:

• Ability to effectively and efficiently manage multiple matters and changing priorities and to complete projects in a timely and accurate manner. Detail-oriented.
• Excellent communication (oral and written), organization, analytical and interpersonal skills. Ability to clearly communicate complex concepts to internal clients and externally.
• Sound judgment; ability to think critically, make and articulate well-reasoned recommendations and determine who should be kept informed.
• Ability to counsel internal clients on the risks associated with various options and to present creative solutions to difficult problems to achieve the desired business outcome while appropriately managing risk.
• Strong work ethic with a focus on business outcomes, urgency, honesty, fairness, and ownership over matters.
• Works well with others in high-pressure situations, maintaining a collegial and calm demeanor.
• Self-confident and inspires confidence from clients. Committed to be an engaged partner to internal clients.
• Willing to travel on an occasional basis.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Respectful, approachable, and focused on building strong working relationships and a positive team environment.

Relocation Package Available Yes

EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.