You are a seasoned legal executive with extensive experience in the CPG and food industry, including leadership roles at private equity-backed and public companies. You bring deep expertise in FDA, USDA Organic, FTC, and Prop 65 compliance, and have successfully led organizations through IPOs, M&A transactions, and the development of strong corporate governance. As a trusted advisor to CEOs and Boards, you excel at balancing legal risk with business strategy. Entrepreneurial and mission-driven, you’re ready to build a high-impact legal function that supports Once Upon a Farm’s growth and future as a public company.

The Corporate General Counsel reports directly to the President & CFO while leading the legal function of the company through its next phase of rapid growth and IPO readiness. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, this role oversees all legal, regulatory, and governance matters, with a focus on food law compliance (FDA, USDA Organic, FTC, Prop 65), corporate governance, M&A, SEC readiness, and risk management. The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of experience in the CPG or food industry, with a proven track record in IPOs, public company transitions, and PE-backed exits. This executive will serve as a strategic advisor to the President & CFO, the CEO,and the Board, build and lead a lean legal team, and ensure legal strategies align with the company’s mission to deliver organic, nutritious food to children and families. This is a unique opportunity to shape the legal foundation of a fast-growing, values-led brand at a pivotal point in its journey.

 •       Serve as chief legal advisor to the President & CFO, the CEO, the executive leadership, and the Board of Directors on all corporate, regulatory, transactional, and strategic matters

 •       Lead legal strategy and execution for IPO readiness, including S-1 preparation, SEC filings, governance structuring, disclosure controls, and compliance frameworks

 •       Ensure full compliance with U.S. and international food industry regulations, including FDA, USDA Organic, FTC, CFIA, California Prop 65, and child-targeted product advertising laws

 •       Oversee substantiation of product claims, packaging, labeling, and advertising to minimize legal risk and support brand trust

 •       Act as Corporate Secretary, managing Board and committee governance, charters, resolutions, meeting logistics, and recordkeeping

 •       Lead and manage all commercial legal matters, including vendor, supply chain, co-manufacturing, distributor, licensing, IP, retail, and influencer agreements

 •       Direct legal support for M&A, strategic partnerships, and equity/debt transactions, including due diligence, negotiation, integration, and post-close governance

 •       Design and implement an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework to proactively identify and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risks

 •       Oversee company response to litigation, product recalls, regulatory actions, and customer concerns

 •       Manage outside counsel relationships to ensure quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness across litigation, regulatory, transactional, and specialty matters

 •       Guide intellectual property strategy, including trademarks and brand protection in domestic and international markets

 •       Provide legal support on employment matters, internal investigations, executive compensation, and equity plan governance

 •       Ensure compliance with evolving data privacy and consumer protection laws (e.g., CCPA, GDPR) across digital, DTC, and marketing platforms

 •       Partner with Finance and ESG leaders on sustainability initiatives, risk disclosures, and regulatory compliance with ESG reporting requirements

 •       Support investor relations and external communications to ensure consistency in legal disclosures during capital events, earnings, and IPO transition

 •       Promote ethical leadership and support company-wide compliance training, DEI initiatives, and values-based decision making

 •       Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing legal and compliance team, fostering a collaborative, mission-aligned legal culture

 •       Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a top-tier law school; member in good standing with the California Bar, or ability to register as In-House Counsel

 •       10-15 years of legal experience, with substantial leadership in CPG, food, or wellness-focused companies, ideally in both public and private environments

 •       Experience as General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, or Corporate Secretary in a high-growth, investor-backed company; IPO experience strongly preferred

 •       Deep understanding of food industry regulations, marketing claim substantiation, supply chain legal frameworks, and ESG governance

 •       Strong track record managing SEC compliance, M&A transactions, litigation, and commercial contracting

 •       Adept at navigating ambiguity, building consensus, and providing pragmatic legal guidance at the pace of growth

 •       Committed to the company’s mission, values, and focus on child health, sustainability, and social impact

 •       Leadership in companies that scaled from private to public, or through PE ownership and strategic exit, preferred

 •       Prior involvement in M&A transactions, or legal support for IPOs and related public company transitions, preferred

 •       Strong relationships with external legal advisors and investor counsel; experience supporting Board of Directors and Audit Committees preferred.

 •       Solid knowledge of Microsoft Suite, Outlook, Slack, and other professional platforms

 •       Up to 10% travel required: Although this role is a remote work-from-home position, we “Farmers” do meet as a company and/or as a department a few times a year. Anticipate possible travel up to a few times each quarter

 •       Genuinely passionate about improving childhood nutrition for a healthier and happier planet

 •       Desire to contribute to a dynamic, high-growth, purpose-driven work environment

 •       Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguity, deeply understand business needs, develop a cohesive strategy, and make decisions requiring a high level of judgment

 •       Previous exposure to cross-functional work between Sustainability and Operations preferred

 •       Must reside in the United States to be considered for this position

 •       Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Compensation: 

 •       Full-Time, Salaried, Exempt

 •       The anticipated salary range for this position is $250,000.00 - $325,000.00. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a few factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Certain positions are eligible for additional forms of compensation such as bonuses, stipends, equity, and role-specific perks. 

    

 •       Remote-first work environment

 •       Annual Bonus

 •       401(k) program + 4% company match after three months

 •       New Hire Remote Life Stipend + annual Nourish and Nurture Allowance

 •       Monthly Cell and Internet Stipend

 •       Quarterly Farm-to-Fridge home deliveries and Employee Discounts

 •       New Parents: Up to 18 weeks of paid Parental Leave, Baby Steps Back To Work, 3 months’ supply of Once Upon a Farm products, and breast milk shipping service and support for those who travel after birth for the duration of your breastfeeding journey

 •       Unlimited Paid Time Off

 •       Paid Volunteer Time

 •       Paid Time Off to fulfill civic responsibilities, including jury duty and voting in local, state, and national elections 

 •       Medical Insurance for the employee is covered at 100% on select plans, with additional plan options at a reduced cost to the employee

 •       Vision and Dental Insurance are covered at 100% for the employee and dependents

 •       Life insurance

 •       Flexible spending account (Medical & Dependent Care) and Health Savings Accounts for applicable plans

 •       Employee assistance program (EAP)

 •       All other benefits, leaves, and insurance as required by law, based on your specific residence

 •       And so much more!