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The Culture

Zevia is the leading zero calorie, naturally sweetened beverage brand. We were the first to create sodas sweetened with stevia, a plant-based sweetener, and our business is growing at a rapid pace. Our company offers a diverse environment with an entrepreneurial spirit, full of fiercely passionate and talented people determined to work together, have fun and make consumer packaged goods history. Our Team Members are collaborative and supportive, with an insatiable hunger to change the beverage game.

We are seeking a Vice President, Legal & General Counsel who will be a key member of the leadership team. As the only in-house legal counsel, the candidate must be a self-directed, self-starter with proven experience managing a legal function, as well as be able to roll up their sleeves. There is a strong preference for candidates who have been in nimble, lean, fast-paced environments in a VP Legal and/or General Counsel role.

The Job

We are seeking a leader with a proven track record across multiple subject matter areas in corporate law. You will have the primary responsibility of advising on and directing corporate legal matters relating to public company reporting and corporate governance, Environmental, social and governance (ESG), investor relations, international expansion and equity operations. This role additionally involves providing legal support and advice regarding disclosure requirements, 34 Act filings, proxy statement and other matters related to SEC regulation. You will also be called upon to lead all aspects of business expansion activities, including international expansion. You thrive in an environment that requires you to adapt to changing priorities and organizational needs. In addition, you will operate independently in a fast-paced, high growth environment. You are comfortable working collaboratively and proactively across other functional teams and with external partners. You will interact frequently with the executive team, and you should be comfortable doing so.

The Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- Collaborates with executives to provide solutions to legal issues raised in contractual negotiations and on-going programs and develop risk mitigation strategies for the business, as appropriate.

- Prepare the organization to be able to operate as a public company from a legal, compliance and regulatory perspective.

- Provide practical, actionable insight on legal and compliance issues, both from a strategic and tactical perspective with an ability to balance legal and business requirements.

- Play a key role in the creation of board materials.

- Responsible for advising on and directing corporate legal matters relating to public company reporting and corporate governance, ESG, investor relations, international expansion and equity operations.

- Provide legal support and advice regarding disclosure requirements, 34 Act filings, proxy statement and other matters related to SEC regulation.

- Develop and manage scaleable internal and external facing processes for managing legal obligations and risk.

- Manage large corporate initiatives and corporate-level transactions, as well as company disputes.

- Promote thought leadership in matters relating to data security and privacy, intellectual property, risk management, business development and partnerships, international licensing, compliance and other functional areas.

- Other Duties as Assigned

To be successful in this role, you'll need

- A JD degree and actively admitted to the California bar or registering as in-house counsel in California.

- Proven experience (at least 7 years) in a law firm or combined law firm and in-house experience, with significant experience in corporate and transactional matters

- Public company experience a must.

- IPO experience highly preferred.

- Displays initiative in anticipating and exceeding the business demands.

- Exceptional business partner with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong understanding of CPG business processes and applicable law and regulation preferred

- Deep familiarity and demonstrated experience with corporate transactional matters, integration efforts, securities, ESG and investor relations and with managing each of these pieces through significant organizational growth.

- High comfort level with a wide range of legal issues and subject matters.

- Skilled, effective and empathetic leadership style.

- A confirmed ability to effectively influence, lead, collaborate with and empower others at all levels.

- High personal standards of excellence and ethics, as well as the ability to act with discretion, strict confidentiality and sensitivity towards issues and individuals.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no direct supervisory responsibility but will serve in a leadership role as mentor and coach to others in the organization.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

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 employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Some flexibility in hours is allowed, but the employee must be available during the "core" work hours and must work 40 hours each week. On rare occasion, evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Travel

10% travel on occasion

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

None

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

Must be eligible to work in the U.S.

AAP/EEO Statement

Zevia LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.