National Food Manufacturer — Associate General Counsel (Sarasota, FL)

A national food manufacturer is seeking an Associate General Counsel to join its legal team and support regulatory compliance and operational legal matters. This role reports directly to the General Counsel and works closely with senior leadership, including the Chief Food Safety Officer, as the company expands its food safety and compliance infrastructure. The position focuses on advising the business on USDA and FDA regulatory requirements while supporting broader in-house legal functions across manufacturing operations.

The Associate General Counsel will handle federal regulatory matters, including USDA inspections, compliance reports, labeling requirements, and plant-level regulatory issues. The role involves regular interaction with federal and state agencies and ensuring compliance with industry and supply chain standards. In addition to regulatory work, the attorney will manage commercial contracts, distribution agreements, real estate matters, compliance and risk management initiatives, oversight of litigation and outside counsel, and internal policy development and training. The legal team is lean, offering direct exposure to business decision-making and cross-functional collaboration.

Candidates should have 5 to 10 or more years of experience in food regulatory and compliance matters, with strong familiarity with USDA and FDA frameworks in a food manufacturing context. Experience in a law firm, in-house legal department, or government agency is preferred. The role requires strong communication skills and the ability to work closely with operational teams while maintaining a broad generalist practice.

Salary range: $240,000 to $250,000.

Apply here!