In-House Counsel
Who We Are
At JonnyPops, our team is empowered to make an impact at work every day — from producing high-quality, innovative frozen novelties to spreading kindness one pop at a time. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Elk River, MN, JonnyPops manufactures in-house at our SQF Certified, peanut-free facility in Elk River and operates corporate offices in Plymouth, MN. Our products are sold across national retail, club, natural and food service channels, including Target, Kroger, Costco, Walmart and Whole Foods. As distribution, product innovation and marketing activity have grown, so has the volume of contracting, labeling and regulatory work that needs a dedicated legal partner inside the business.
We look for bright, ambitious people who seek out challenges, thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments, and align with our core values (Integrity, Masterful Growth, Excellence, Team Work, Fact-Based Decisions, Alignment, and Service and Contribution) — and who want to help us build “A Better Pop for a Better World!”
Job Summary
The In-House Counsel is JonnyPops’ dedicated legal partner, reporting to the CFO. The role handles the day-to-day legal work of a growing food and CPG brand: commercial contracting with vendors and customers, review of labeling, packaging, advertising and creative, consumer affairs matters, and food regulatory compliance. The right person is a practical, business-first lawyer with real food and CPG experience who can turn contracts and reviews quickly, knows where the regulatory lines are, and knows when to bring in outside counsel and how to collaborate with them efficiently.
This role works side by side with Sales, Marketing and Commercialization, Supply Chain and Procurement, FSQA and Consumer Affairs, Finance, and HR. It manages outside counsel relationships and outside legal spend, and keeps the ELT informed on legal risk in plain language. As JonnyPops builds the contracting templates, intake process and shared-service foundation it needs for 2027, this role puts in place the legal infrastructure that lets routine agreements move fast and consistently.
The role is based at our Plymouth, MN corporate office with a hybrid schedule and flexibility. Occasional travel to the Elk River manufacturing facility and to customer or legal meetings is expected as needed.
Cross-Functional Partners
ELT; Sales; Marketing and Commercialization; Supply Chain and Procurement; FSQA and Consumer Affairs; Finance and Accounting; HR and Office; Operations. Outside counsel (corporate, equity, litigation and IP) is managed by this role.
What Success Looks Like
Routine contracts, NDAs and creative reviews move through a simple intake and approval process with fast, consistent turnaround, and the business knows exactly where to send a legal question.
Labels, packaging, on-pack claims and marketing content are cleared before print and launch dates, with no regulatory surprises for the products going to Target, Kroger, Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods and food service customers.
Standard templates and a contract repository are in place and in use, supporting the shared-service and vendor-documentation foundation JonnyPops is building for 2027.
Outside counsel is used deliberately and managed to budget, with clear status reporting; the ELT hears about legal risk early, in plain language, with a recommendation attached.
Consumer complaints, demand letters and disputes are handled with documented, fact-based response strategies in partnership with Consumer Affairs and FSQA.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Contracting
Draft, review and negotiate vendor agreements: ingredient and packaging suppliers, co-manufacturers, logistics and transportation, technology and SaaS, and services.
Draft, review and negotiate sales-related agreements: retailer and club vendor agreements and supplier terms, distributor and broker agreements, trade and promotional program terms, and food service and vending agreements.
Handle other contracting: NDAs, leases, marketing and sponsorship agreements, and licensing.
Build and maintain standard templates, a contract repository and a simple intake and approval workflow so routine agreements move fast and consistently.
Labeling, Packaging, Advertising and Creative Review
Review product labels, packaging, nutrition and ingredient statements, and on-pack claims (organic, allergen, “no sugar added” and similar) for FDA, USDA and FTC compliance, in partnership with Marketing, FSQA and R&D.
Review advertising, social, influencer, sweepstakes and promotional content, website copy, and partner case studies or press materials that name JonnyPops.
Support food service compliance, including USDA Smart Snacks standards.
Consumer Affairs and Product Matters
Advise Consumer Affairs and FSQA on consumer complaints, adverse event reports and demand letters, including response strategy and documentation.
Coordinate with FSQA and Operations on product liability, withdrawals and recalls, and with the CFO on insurance notice and claims.
Regulatory Compliance and Research
Track and advise on food, labeling, advertising, privacy and state law requirements that affect our products, channels and marketing.
Research and answer compliance questions from the business with clear, practical guidance.
Maintain key compliance policies and support training where needed.
Disputes, Terminations and Litigation Management
Handle vendor and customer disputes, contract terminations, chargeback and deduction disputes with legal exposure, and demand letters.
Manage litigation and regulatory inquiries with outside counsel: strategy, budget and status reporting to the ELT.
Intellectual Property
Manage the trademark portfolio across JonnyPops and its affiliates, including clearance, filing, maintenance and monitoring, with outside IP counsel.
Advise on IP for new products, brand assets and partnerships, and on infringement matters.
Employment, Insurance and Corporate Support
Partner with the Chief of Staff and HR on employment matters: offer letters, separation agreements, restrictive covenant and IP assignment agreements, and policy reviews.
Support the CFO on insurance programs and claims, financing documents, lender requests and corporate records, working with outside corporate counsel.
General
Manage outside counsel relationships and outside legal spend efficiently.
Serve as the first point of contact for legal questions across the company and triage what stays in-house and what goes to outside counsel, involving the executive team when required.
May assume additional duties as necessary.
Conduct yourself in a manner consistent with JonnyPops’ mission, values, and code of ethics.
Food Safety Responsibilities
Review labels, allergen statements, ingredient and nutrition panels, and on-pack claims with FSQA so what we say on pack matches what we make in our SQF Certified, peanut-free facility.
Support FSQA and Operations on withdrawals and recalls by advising on legal obligations, customer and regulator communications, and documentation, and by supporting insurance notice and claims with the CFO.
Make sure supplier, co-manufacturer and customer agreements reflect food safety, specification, traceability, audit-access and certification requirements, in partnership with Procurement and FSQA.
Handle consumer complaints, adverse event reports and regulatory inquiries so that records are complete, accurate and retrievable for SQF audits and customer food-safety assessments.
Complete required food-safety and GMP awareness training on schedule and follow GMP and visitor expectations when at the Elk River facility.
Understand this role’s part in maintaining JonnyPops’ SQF certification and be able to speak to Legal’s supporting responsibilities if asked during an audit.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Licensure
J.D. from an accredited law school.
Active bar admission in Minnesota (or eligible for admission).
Experience
5+ years of legal experience.
Hands-on experience with food labeling, packaging and advertising claims review (FDA, USDA and FTC).
High-volume commercial contracting experience, including retailer, distributor, supplier and co-manufacturing agreements.
Skills & Competencies
Business-first legal mindset: gives clear, actionable guidance that helps the business move.
Fast, practical turnaround on contracts and creative reviews without sacrificing judgment on real risk.
Plain-language communicator with the ELT and cross-functional teams.
Organized and independent; comfortable managing a high-volume, fast-moving docket.
Knows when and how to use outside counsel, and manages cost.
Committed to JonnyPops core values: Integrity, Masterful Growth, Excellence, Team Work, Fact-Based Decisions, Alignment, and Service and Contribution.
Preferred Qualifications
In-house experience at a food, beverage or CPG company (strongly preferred).
Admission in additional states.
Experience handling consumer complaints, product liability matters or recalls.
Experience with trademark portfolio management.
Exposure to employment matters, insurance, financing, corporate governance or corporate transactions.
Why This Role Matters
Every new product, retailer, claim and campaign at JonnyPops carries a contract, a label or a piece of creative that has to be right. The In-House Counsel keeps that work moving at the speed of a high-growth brand while protecting what we have built: our products, our brand and our name. By bringing practical food and CPG legal judgment inside the business, this role helps us say yes faster, spot real risk earlier, and keep outside legal spend focused where it counts.
Benefits
JonnyPops offers a competitive benefits package, including:
Medical/Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, HSA, FSA, DCFSA
Life & AD&D Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability
FTO/PTO, Paid Holidays, Sick & Safe Leave
EAP Programs, Employee Referral Program, 401k
JonnyPops offers a competitive benefits package which includes the following:
- Medical/Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- HSA
- FSA
- DCFSA
- Life & AD&D Insurance
- Short & Long Term Disability
- FTO/PTO
- EAP Programs
- Paid Holidays
- Employee Referral Program
- Sick & Safe Leave
- 401k
- Company Sponsored Meal Plan
* Hired candidates may be eligible to receive additional compensation in the form of bonuses and/or commissions.