Job Location: Hershey, PA
Note: Role expectation is to be in office Tuesday-Thursday.
Summary:
The Hershey Company is seeking a highly competent, detail-oriented and proactive leader and team player to serve as Director, Assistant General Counsel SEC, Governance & M&A. This position will be responsible for ensuring compliance with securities laws, rules and regulations, including preparation and filing of Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K, registration statements on Forms S-1 and S-3, annual proxy statements and all related filings. In addition, this position will be responsible for maintaining and updating (as necessary) the Company’s governance policies and practices, including the Company’s Sarbanes-Oxley controls, governance guidelines, committee charters and other governing documents, to ensure compliance with regulatory and NYSE listing requirements, best practices, emerging trends and Board needs.
Under the guidance of the Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, the successful candidate will also serve as a key advisor to the Company’s investor relations, corporate finance, external reporting, internal audit, treasury and executive compensation departments and will be expected to provide practical, business-focused advice and solutions to complex business challenges.
Finally, this position will be responsible for assisting the Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary in setting strategic direction for the M&A function within the Legal Department and supporting all legal-related M&A activities, including drafting and negotiating non-disclosure agreements, asset and stock purchase/sale agreements, joint venture and partnership agreements and other strategic partnership-related documents. Responsibilities also include coordinating and overseeing due diligence activities for the Legal Department globally and working closely with the Company’s M&A team to oversee due diligence on an enterprise-wide scale. This position will also have responsibility for coordinating and completing all SEC/NYSE filings related to M&A activities and for serving as the legal representative to the Company’s integration team, responsible for helping ensure new acquisition ventures are successfully incorporated into the Company’s ongoing business operations.
Candidates must have 10+ years of experience supporting the key securities, corporate governance and finance needs of a global, Fortune 500 company. The successful candidate must have deep familiarity and experience with SEC/NYSE rules and filings, FINRA, HSR (and related international antitrust statutes) and other M&A related rules and regulations. Experience with supporting total rewards, compensation, benefits and other HR-related activities. Experience in all types of negotiated transactions and other business and commercial transactions is needed.
The successful candidate will have strong people leadership skills with passionate commitment to foster a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative culture to deliver high impact legal and business results. Candidates must be exceptional communicators with proven ability to facilitate discussions and issue resolution, as significant interaction with key business leaders – including the VP, Investor Relations, Chief Accounting Officer, and Treasurer, and Chief Development Officer (M&A) is expected. Demonstrated ability to work both cross-functionally and with others within the Legal Department to achieve desired outcomes is a must.
Major Duties/Responsibilities:
Summary of major duties:
Securities and Corporate Governance
Finance, Investor Relations And Executive Compensation
Mergers & Acquisition Activities
Strategic and Financial Planning, Analysis, and Reporting
Initiates, embraces and drives change in a dynamic environment
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania or the ability to obtain a limited corporate counsel license in Pennsylvania
10+ years of relevant experience with a major law firm or public corporation
Experience in supervising and coordinating outside legal counsel and other advisors
Experience negotiating and managing eternal stakeholders including regulators, investors, proxy advisors.
Experience and knowledge in risk management and evaluation.
Experience managing and developing teams/individuals
Experience Supporting Compensation And Benefits.
Experience in regulatory and/or packaged goods environment is preferred.