Senior Legal Specialist

Senior Legal Specialist

Location: This role can sit in any of our hub office locations including Purchase, NY, Chicago, IL or Plano, TX. Candidate is expected to be in office at least 3 days per week.

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $86 billion in net revenue in 2022, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, and Quaker. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with PepsiCo Positive (pep+). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

PepsiCo's Law and Compliance & Ethics function helps to drive business objectives and achieve sustainable business results, while also protecting PepsiCo legally, ethically and reputationally. Our structure follows the business, with dedicated lawyers and legal professionals supporting each Sector and their respective BUs/markets, along with Global Group/Corporate professionals to support certain practice areas and meet specific governance needs of PepsiCo, Inc.

Like all departments, we're committed to working Faster, Stronger and Better. We're continually looking for ways to leverage technology, simplify and enhance our processes, and expand and transform our capabilities. This allows us to accommodate evolving business needs and provide the best legal services to keep PepsiCo moving forward. We're also committed to diversity, equity and inclusion both within our department and the broader legal profession.

Responsibilities

The following job responsibilities for the Senior Legal Specialist will help us achieve the goals above:

• Provide comprehensive support to the business during all stages of the charge, pre-litigation, and litigation processes. This includes collaborating with Employment Law Attorneys, People/HR Partners, and internal stakeholders such as finance and operational business leaders.
• Conduct and coordinate thorough internal pre-litigation investigations, requiring regular interaction with key business partners.
• Prepare detailed responses and documentation addressing allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and related alleged unfair employment practices.
• Represent the Company in interactions with the EEOC or state agencies, including discussions and negotiations with administrative investigators and mediators.
• Negotiate resolutions for employment claims on behalf of the Company, engaging in both written and verbal communications with pro se complainants, the EEOC and state agencies, mediators, and opposing counsel, with attorney oversight and counsel, as necessary.
• Draft responses to administrative charges related to wage matters and negotiate with relevant agencies to resolve such issues.
• Design, implement, and deliver training programs covering various state-mandated topics, as well as specialized educational sessions focused on capability building, risk mitigation, and litigation avoidance.
• Attend depositions, mediations, and hearings as required.
• Manage and update various trackers and databases to ensure timely and accurate reporting of employment-related matters.
• Handle highly confidential information pertaining to the legal affairs and internal operations of the Company with discretion.
• Assist in the development and enhancement of standard policy templates, playbooks, and operational processes.
• Support additional projects that advance team and departmental objectives as needed.

Compensation and Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $76,400 - $127,850.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 8% of annual salary paid out annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• 2+ years' experience in Human Resources, business negotiations, or legal support function (such as a paralegal in a law firm or in-house legal department).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated excellence in both verbal and written communication.
• Proven ability to perform effectively in fast-paced and evolving environments.
• Skilled at engaging and influencing individuals across all levels of management and with external stakeholders in a professional manner.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Highly adaptable and collaborative team player.
• Advanced analytical and organizational capabilities; comfortable navigating ambiguity and adept at managing complex issues within dynamic settings.
• Strong commitment to ongoing learning regarding innovative and emerging technologies.
• Self-motivated individual who embraces responsibility and autonomy, thrives amid organizational change, and excels at bringing structure to unstructured scenarios.
• Exceptional prioritization, efficiency, and organizational skills necessary to independently manage a significant workload and large volume of weekly requests.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and Copilot.
• Familiarity with U.S. employee relations and best practices for defending against unfair employment allegations is advantageous.
• Oriented toward proactive process improvement and continuous enhancement.
• Demonstrated capacity and willingness to quickly acquire new knowledge and adapt to advanced technologies, tools, and systems.