Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Counsel - Regulatory

US-KY-Louisville hybrid onsite - required

Sazerac Company Overview

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka.

We’re proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting, entrepreneurial industry.

Senior Counsel – Regulatory

The position is responsible for ensuring Sazerac’s compliance with various federal, state, local and international regulatory requirements. Point of contact for internal personnel and legal counsel with regard to TTB and customs compliance. Counsel on alcohol laws, regulations, and guidance documents with respect to complex regulatory issues relating to product development, product lifecycle management, manufacturing operations, quality, and M&A transactions.

• Enhance performance within the company through evaluation of regulatory framework and regulatory developments, planning, and goal execution. Strive to constantly develop oneself as a valuable asset through personal and professional growth and attention to the position’s outcomes.
• Primary liaison to TTB for Sazerac. Point of contact for internal personnel and the Chief Legal Officer. Assist US manufacturing facilities, brand managers, co-pack partners and import suppliers with compliance concerns. Collaborates with cross-functional teams and counsels a variety of clients on complex legal regulatory issues. Responsible for counseling on alcohol laws, regulations, and guidance documents with respect to complex regulatory issues relating to product development, submissions; lifecycle management; manufacturing and quality.
• Effectively manage legal spend to ensure we receive best value for our outside counsel spend. Leverage regulatory framework to identify and execute cost savings initiatives.
• Oversee permit application process. Prepare procedural directives for TTB compliance. Keeps abreast of changes in laws and regulations that may impact the regulation of Alcoholic beverages and identifies opportunities to influence content and engages in external influencing efforts.
• Ensures alignment to Sazerac culture and is a role model ambassador for the organization. Interacts with and provides legal and strategic guidance to senior management and functional organizational leadership.
• Design and implement development opportunities for the purpose of building an effective and engaged regulatory compliance team. Provide continuous feedback to team to effectively manage performance.
• Establish well organized priorities for yourself and make sure team members understand expectations of the priorities and tasks. Provide the appropriate parties with regular feed back and timely updates.

Requirements

MUST

• Ability to communicate with all levels of an org
• Bachelor's Degree
• Ability to manage multiple projects at one time
• Ability to quickly learn new systems/processes
• Excellent oral & written communication skills
• Demonstrate the ability to work as a team as well as self-directed
• Juris Doctor Degree
• 10 years relevant experience (minimum)
• 5 years Experience in a compliance related field such as TTB, Customs, IRS, auditing

PREFERRED

• Experience in Alcohol Beverage Industry or CPG overall
• 3 years Alcoholic Beverage Industry compliance experience

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel (up to 25%)

Sazerac and its affiliates engage in personnel decisions and administer our personnel policies without regard to race, religion or creed, color, sex or gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic. We affirm in policy and practice to support and promote the concept of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, provincial and municipal laws.

Sazerac requires all team members to act responsibly around alcohol and to responsibly consume alcohol. As such, the Company evaluates alcohol related offenses as part of its background check processes.