Senior Director, Legal Counsel - Environmental, Safety & Sustainability

Location(s):

United States of America

City/Cities:

Atlanta

Travel Required:

00% - 25%

Relocation Provided:

No

Job Posting End Date:

April 4, 2025

Shift:

Job Description Summary:

The Senior Director, Legal Counsel – Environmental, Safety & Sustainability will report directly to the Associate General Counsel for Global Regulatory & Litigation. This role will lead the global environmental and sustainability legal practice and will manage the legal network for these areas. The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting the Company’s regulatory strategy and providing oversight and guidance on all legal matters related to Environmental, Safety & Sustainability. The focus will be on delivering strategic, solution-oriented legal services and practical, expert counsel on compliance, investigations, and enforcement matters. This role requires collaboration with Operating Unit counsels to ensure comprehensive legal support for our global business.

What You’ll Do for Us: 

Environmental & Sustainability:

• Develop and implement the global Environmental and Sustainability strategy, partnering with the Corporate Secretary’s Office to anchor an international Environmental and Sustainability network.

• Collaborate with Operating Unit counsels worldwide to ensure seamless delivery of legal support.

• Provide counsel on environmental, safety, and securities laws and regulations, assessing their impact on our current and future business. Identify and manage significant risks and provide regular status reports to senior legal and business management.

• Offer legal counsel to Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability (PACS), including review of significant global sustainability communications, including internal and external materials, Business & Sustainability Reports, and the annual proxy statement.

• Cooperate with Technical, Supply Chain, Risk Management, and PACS to address regulatory risks and trends.

• Review and advise on draft securities filings, communications related to earnings announcements, annual shareholders’ meetings, audit letters, and US Securities filings.

• Advise on pending legislation and proposed regulations affecting climate, greenhouse emissions, recycling, and other sustainability issues. Collaborate with trade associations and external partners to influence public policy.

• Conduct and oversee environmental due diligence for real estate acquisitions and other transactions.

• Provide legal counsel on packaging, recycling, and technical innovations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Collaborate with the Litigation team to handle environmental litigation and remediation.

• Provide legal counsel, advice, and training on sustainability external communications policy.

• Manage the environmental/sustainability legal budget, maximizing efficiency and controlling costs associated with outside counsel.

Safety:

• Supervise and manage occupational health and safety enforcement and compliance for the North America Operating Unit (NAOU) operations and facilities.

• Provide counsel on implementing and evolving global occupational health & safety compliance policies to ensure adherence to laws, regulations, and best practices.

• Handle investigations and incident responses related to occupational health and safety.

• Advise on EOSH issues from various Company plants and facilities across the US.

• Participate in cross-functional Incident Management & Crisis Response (IMCR) teams as the legal representative to address environmental, safety, and sustainability issues.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education:

• J.D. Degree and a practicing member in good standing of a U.S. state or international bar.

• Excellent academic credentials, including a superior record in law school; participation in law review or advocacy programs is a plus.

Experience:

• 10-15 years of experience in a large national law firm, government, and/or corporate legal department practice, with 7+ years specifically in environmental law and public policy.

• Consumer products, marketing, and/or food and beverage industry experience is a plus, as is prior government service.

• Background in science, engineering, or environmental studies is strongly preferred.

• ·Expertise in multiple federal and state regulatory programs, with litigation and investigations experience in administrative, civil, and criminal enforcement actions.

• Detailed knowledge and experience with federal and state agency compliance and enforcement practices, field operations, and policies.

Skills:

• Demonstrated leadership behaviors and strategic mindset with the ability to develop and execute long-term plans while motivating stakeholders towards organizational goals.

• Exceptional technical skills and subject matter expertise with a practical, solution-oriented mindset.

• Strong organizational skills with an ability to handle, prioritize, and follow through on numerous projects simultaneously.

• Strong management, networking, and execution skills.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence across networks and the overall system.

• Persuasive and effective oral and written communication skills.

• Collaborative, supportive, inclusive, and highly engaged colleague.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape and drive the sustainability and safety initiatives of a global leader in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. If you have a passion for environmental law and a proven track record of strategic leadership, we invite you to apply and join our dedicated team.

Position Details:

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Hybrid work schedule - 3 days per week in person and 2 days virtual

Individual contributor role - no direct reports

Skills:

Environmental Regulations, Environmental Sustainability, Litigation, Risk Management, Sustainability Reports, Sustainability Strategy

Pay Range:

$199,800 - $243,000

Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.

Annual Incentive Reference Value Percentage:

30

Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target.

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards and best practices and in compliance with applicable privacy laws.