Summary

CHS has an exciting opportunity in our Legal team. We are looking for a Senior Legal Counsel whose primary role will be to partner with our internal legal team and outside counsel to provide legal advice to leaders within CHS. You must have a practical, business-oriented approach to problem-solving, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, tempered by an appreciation of legal complexity and risk. Additional critical success factors for this position include: excellent communication skills and the ability to manage multiple, changing priorities efficiently, using discretion and judgment in executing assignments with high confidentiality, and the ability to work collaboratively with others and with a team approach to issues.
The person in this role is able to work a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

Primary Job Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the General Counsel, Chief Counsel Commercial Operations, attorneys, and paralegals to meet the legal needs of CHS’ wholesale and retail agronomy, processing, and grain marketing businesses, and other divisions.
• Draft and negotiate a wide array of commercial agreements, including but not limited to product and service procurement and sales agreements, manufacturing agreements, real estate property and asset purchase and sale agreements, transportation-related agreements, and technology licenses. Partner with legal colleagues and business unit leaders to develop efficient and thorough processes for contracting, transactions, and other legal services.
• Advise business leaders on compliance with applicable laws and regulations (including but not limited to transportation, environmental, food/feed safety, and competition).
• Provide updates and training to business units concerning changes in relevant laws and regulations, risk intelligence, and risk mitigation, and assist business units in developing processes to comply with applicable laws and regulations, and promote the efficient delivery of legal services.
• Work with business leaders and outside counsel in responding to requests from regulatory agencies.
• Provide counsel concerning trademark and copyright protection, advertising, and marketing and communications messaging.
• Develop strong, trusted working relationships with management at wholesale and retail processing, and grain marketing businesses, including distribution, sale, and transportation facilities, across the United States and in various global geographies.
• Support entity management and governance-related needs of domestic and international subsidiaries.
• Work with CHS Assistant General Counsel for litigation, dispute management, and preventative law to support proactive management of litigation and disputes affecting assigned business units, and provide regular updates to business leaders on progress, outcome potential, and facts to support decisions on appropriate financial reserves.
• Collaborate with CHS Compliance & Integrity team regarding corporate compliance and investigations-related matters.
• In collaboration with Legal Department colleagues, oversee a network of legal services providers, educating them on CHS’s business, communication, budgeting, reporting strategies
• Supported by Legal Department management, negotiate meaningful fee reductions and other alternative fee agreements with retained counsel/firms.
• Partner with Legal Operations leader to ensure efficient internal billing and matter management processes.
• Champion and promote a strong safety culture, follow all safety policies, procedures and regulations, identify and communicate workplace hazards and correct or seek assistance in correcting unsafe actions or conditions.
  

Minimum Qualifications (required)

• 
  J.D. Law Degree from an accredited U.S. law school
• Active member of a state bar in good standing
• 7 plus years of experience with a reputable law firm and/or corporate enterprise

Additional Qualifications

• 
  Extensive experience developing strong partnerships with business leaders
• Formal or informal experience working on and/or leading teams aligned to provide legal services to business units that are distributed by product/service line and/or geography.
• A proven commitment to continuous improvement and a passion for helping teams achieve common goals.
• Achievements consistent with academic excellence.