Legal Counsel

Company Description

As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all –while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs.

Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting. From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold.

Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Switzerland.

Job Description

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers’ success. To support this mission, Syngenta’s legal Team is seeking a Legal Counsel in Calgary, Alberta.

As part of the broader Canadian Legal team, you will provide legal advice to ensure compliance with applicable laws and company policies. Your goal will be to support the company in achieving its strategic and business objectives in a compliant manner. You will offer a wide range of legal guidance and advice while working in a fast-paced and efficient legal environment that minimizes risk. This will involve partnering with the business to develop and commercialize products for the market.

In this role, you will also manage legal issues related to complex commercial transactions, research and development activities, licensing (both in- and out-), supply chain operations, marketing agreements, product claims, and data privacy.

Accountabilities:

• Manage complex legal matters day to day for which considerable legal judgment, experience and independent reasoning are required.
• Drafting and negotiating commercial transactions, assisting R&D and commercial staff at Syngenta sites throughout Canada, and supporting line management in resolving client business/legal issues.
• Reviewing and advising on a broad range of legal matters, including, but not limited to: supply & operations, marketing (including advertising copy), sales, real estate, applicable regulatory frameworks e.g. Health Canada’s PMRA, Ministry of Environment, etc.), and legal strategy.
• Effectively work with all levels of management to minimize risk and manage potential legal conflicts.
• Provide legal support to functional groups (e.g., HSE, regulatory affairs, procurement, sales, etc.) to ensure compliance with appropriate laws, policies, and practices.
• Manage outside counsel and internal claims processes in the defense of commercial claims brought against the company.
• Broad knowledge of Canadian legal concepts, including complex commercial transactions, licensing, and real estate. Knowledge of IP, litigation, HSE, employment law, and basic international laws is beneficial.
• Experience working with senior business leaders at a large multinational corporation.
• In-depth understanding of overall business operations and methods to allow efficient and effective handling of associated risks.
• An understanding of business and technology related to agribusiness, including, seeds and biotech operations and federal and provincial regulations would be beneficial.

Qualifications

• Requires a JD degree or Bachelor of Laws & admission to a provincial bar in Canada.
• At least five years’ experience as a practicing lawyer.
• At least four years’ experience in the commercial department at a large law firm.
• Agribusiness, Seeds, and/or Biotech company experience is a plus.
• Experience dealing with federal and provincial regulations is a plus.
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, time management, problem identification/solving, analysis, and project skills.
• Ability to communicate complex issues in a practical, understandable way.
• Ability to apply creative thinking, adaptability and flexibility to changing business conditions.
• Ability to multi-task and to work independently in a self-directed manner and without supervision.
• Evidence of maturity and sound judgment to help analyze and solve complex legal problems & deal with executive clients; ability to drive understanding and meet clients’ needs and find legally compliant business solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, works well with others both inside the department and outside.
• Ability to effectively manage personnel and projects.
• Ability to work across large group projects supporting lawyers and personnel across the company’s global operations.
• Ability to flex between independent work assignments and projects, and team-based activities.

Additional Information

• Willing to travel as needed to support the business and legal activities of the company

What We Offer:

• We offer a competitive base salary and incentive bonus potential, and a company vehicle combined with challenging and meaningful work, learning and career development opportunities and a great team environment.
• A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes personal and professional development and offers flexible work options to meet both your work and personal needs.
• Comprehensive Benefit offering, Pension and Group Retirement program with company match, and Profit Sharing.
• Focus on Wellness and innovative programs that support overall health and wellbeing such as annual Lifestyle Account and free Headspace App.
• Progressive Employee Policies and Programs include a Flexible Work Location approach, and a vacation policy that provides up to 30 days’ vacation for all employees.

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Syngenta Contact Information:

If you need assistance during the Application process, please contact the Service Desk at recruitment.na@syngenta.com

Syngenta Canada welcomes applications from all qualified candidates and can accommodate persons with disabilities. For more information about accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process or if you would like more information on our accommodation policies, please contact recruitment.na@syngenta.com.

WL: 5A

#LI-Onsite

Read Full Description