Sr. Counsel - Labor & Employment

Title: Sr. Counsel – Labor & Employment 

Department: Corporate Administration 

Reports To: General Counsel 

Redefine Your Legal Career with In-House Balance and Impact. 

Are you an employment law attorney seeking meaningful work with better balance? We’re looking for a dynamic, curious, and confident legal professional ready to embrace the challenge of an in-house role focused on labor relations and employment law while developing broader corporate expertise. This position is ideal for someone who values work-life balance, thrives in a collaborative environment, and is eager to grow beyond specialized practice. If you're proactive, adaptable, and ready to make a direct impact within a purpose-driven organization, we invite you to explore this opportunity. 

About The Mennel Milling Company 

Headquartered in Fostoria, Ohio, The Mennel Milling Company combines progressive innovation with 135 years of rich history. As the 7th largest milling company in the U.S., Mennel currently operates over 30 sites across six states, including six state-of-the-art flour mills, 12 country grain elevators, three trucking companies, and two bakery mix facilities. This growth has been guided by five generations of Mennel family leadership and the dedication of over 900 employees committed to quality and service excellence. 

JOB SUMMARY: In this role, you will help sustain Mennel’s tradition of excellence established in 1886 as well as support our food safety programs and mission to reliably deliver superior quality, uniformity, and service. As Senior Counsel, you will primarily advise on labor relations and employment law matters. You will also support broader corporate and commercial legal needs. As part of a small but growing legal team, you will work directly with the General Counsel and gain experience across a wide variety of corporate legal projects. 

PRIMARY WORK SHIFT: 

Typical business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., working onsite at the corporate office with the potential to be a hybrid schedule. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without accommodation.  

• Provide legal analysis and guidance on food and personal safety rules and regulations, including GMPs, OSHA, HACCP, Global Food Safety Initiative, and US FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Advise on company sanitation guidelines as listed in Corporate Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) and ensure compliance with all required training sessions. Support maintaining the department/facility in an audit- ready condition.
• Lead labor union negotiations and strategy for multiple collective bargaining units across our manufacturing facilities
• Advise on and manage labor disputes, grievances, and arbitrations
• Interpret and negotiate collective bargaining agreements (CBAs)
• Provide legal counsel on employment law compliance, including wage & hour, discrimination, harassment, and leave laws across multiple state jurisdictions
• Support HR with investigations, terminations, and policy development
• Manage outside counsel on employment litigation
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts
• Provide legal support on general corporate matters, including regulatory compliance and risk management
• Support compliance with food safety regulations and FDA requirements
• Assist with risk management related to manufacturing operations
• Other duties may be assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

This position has no supervisory duties. 

QUALIFICATIONS:  

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform this job.  

• J.D. from an accredited law school; licensed to practice in Ohio or eligible for admission within six months
• Five to eight years of legal experience with a strong focus on labor and employment law
• Experience with unionized workforces and collective bargaining in manufacturing environments
• Litigation and dispute resolution experience
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple priorities
• Bonus: Experience in corporate/commercial law, regulatory compliance, or contract law
• Bonus: Experience in food manufacturing, FDA regulations, or similar regulated industries
• Bonus: Familiarity with safety regulations in manufacturing settings

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, memos, procedures and plans. Ability to write, complete checklists and other basic documentation and correspondence. Ability to effectively present information or data in one-on-one and small group situations to co-workers, supervisors, and managers. 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:  

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 

REASONING ABILITY: 

Must use solid judgment when making decisions. Must have ability to quickly recognize and plan for changing work duties and events. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands, and talk or hear. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:   

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to conditions typical of an office environment.