Senior Counsel India

Join our Mission to Lead the Future of Snacking. Make It Matter.

How You Will Contribute

You will develop & ensure the implementation of legal strategies to enable the company to compete aggressively & protect our people, assets & reputation while complying with legal requirements & standards of ethical conduct. You will provide guidance & support to ensure managers are making reasonable & informed decisions regarding legal risks; manage the legal strategy with outside counsel, including spending without compromising financial & reputational risk; & provide in-house & external legal expertise to address the increasingly complex legal environment by partnering with business units, regions & global stakeholders to identify & advise on applicable laws & regulatory changes for a given country and/or across multiple BUs.

What You Will Bring

• Legal experience, ideally in a large matrixed multinational company
• Strong analytical, strategic vision, decision-making & problem-solving skills
• Experience assessing, advising on risk, advising/coaching and dispute resolution in an MNC
• Highest level of integrity and trust
• Excellent written & verbal communication & interpersonal skills
• Resourcefulness, including relevant new technologies & systems
• License to practice law in relevant jurisdiction(s)

More About This Role

This pivotal role offers comprehensive legal support and strategic counsel across our diverse range of biscuits, gum, candy, and savory snacks. You will lead & mentor a dedicated legal team, champion compliance, foster innovation & directly influence business strategy, playing a critical role in enabling sales growth & market expansion across India. If you're ready to make a significant impact, drive compliance, & shape the future of snacking in one of the world's most exciting markets, we invite you to join our world-class legal team.

More About This Role

The Category Head Legal –India is a Senior Legal Counsel who reports to the Chief Counsel, India, within a team of 9+ lawyers. This role is responsible for the delivery of legal support across any or all functions of the India BU. As a progressive, forward-thinking partner, the Head Legal provides strategic thought leadership & superior support to the India Business & is part of the Extended Leadership Council of the Company. The role requires an elevated level of business orientation with a focus on problem-solving & supporting major projects, while upholding strong ethics & integrity across the organization. The role is charged with providing high quality & responsive legal support & guidance to the India BU, as well as contributing to department strategy, establishing collaborative relationships with colleagues both within & outside the local business, & managing external legal resources within budgets as guided by the Chief Counsel

The Opportunity: Shape the Future of Iconic Brands & Drive Market Expansion

As Category Head Legal, you will be an indispensable strategic partner, embedding legal excellence into every facet of our business operations. You will champion compliance, foster innovation & empower our teams to thrive. This role offers unparalleled exposure, direct influence on business strategy, & the chance to lead a dedicated legal function within a global leader. You will play a critical role in enabling our sales growth & market reach by expertly navigating the legal complexities of our route-to-market strategies

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

Lead and manage the legal team responsible for an entire Category portfolio within Mondelēz India, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and professional growth.

Provide leadership, mentorship, & guidance to legal team members, ensuring high performance & development. Deliver expert legal advice and support to senior management & other departments on complex corporate legal issues & strategic initiatives. Develop and implement legal strategies to proactively mitigate risk, ensure robust compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and support business growth objectives.

Commercial & Contracts Excellence

Spearhead the drafting, review, & negotiation of a comprehensive array of critical commercial agreements, including supply chain contracts (e.g., raw material procurement, co-manufacturing), distribution agreements with distributors and retailers, sales agreements, mktg & advertising contracts, licensing agreements, & technology agreements.

Provide expert legal counsel on all aspects of route-to-market strategies, supporting the commercial teams in expanding market presence & driving sales growth through effective & compliant distribution channels. Ensure all commercial arrangements are structured to optimize business opportunities while mitigating legal & reputational risks.

Regulatory & Compliance Stewardship

Deliver authoritative legal advice on food law (FSSAI), product labeling, health & nutrition claims, advertising standards, consumer protection, & other pertinent regulatory matters impacting Category portfolio across various Indian jurisdictions.

Monitor changes in relevant laws & regulations & proactively advise the organization on potential impacts and necessary adaptations.

• Marketing & Advertising Guardian

Rigorously review marketing campaigns, digital content, promotional activities, & product communications to ensure ironclad compliance with Indian advertising laws, intellectual property rights, & company policies. Strategically advise on consumer promotions, sweepstakes, & contests, balancing creativity with compliance.

• Intellectual Property Protection

Provide critical guidance on protection, enforcement, & brand-related intellectual property matters for our cherished brands within India

Support the meticulous management of IP portfolios & adeptly address infringement issues.

• Innovation & Product Development Partner

Act as a trusted legal partner to R&D, innovation, & brand teams, offering insightful guidance on new product development, reformulation, packaging, & robust go-to-market strategies.

Proactively identify & mitigate legal risks associated with novel ingredients, technologies, & product claims

• Risk Management & Dispute Resolution

Champion proactive risk identification & assessment, developing & implementing sophisticated mitigation strategies. Provide practical, business-oriented solutions to support strategic objectives while ensuring unwavering legal compliance. Manage and advise on pre-litigation disputes, consumer complaints & regulatory inquiries, effectively coordinating with external counsel

• Policy, Governance & External Engagement

Significantly contribute to the development & implementation of company policies, robust guidelines & cutting-edge product innovation programs. Collaborate effectively with external counsel as needed, expertly managing legal budgets to optimize value

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

Cultivate strong relationships & collaborate seamlessly with legal colleagues, compliance, marketing, corporate affairs, supply chain, procurement, R&D, and other vital business functions, especially sales and commercial teams, to enable market access and achieve business objectives.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from an accredited institution
• Min of 12 years of post-qualification exp in a leading law firm or an in-house legal department, with significant experience in the FMCG/CPG, food, or retail sector in India
• Proven experience in leading, mentoring, or managing a legal team or specific legal function.
• Demonstrated mastery in commercial contract drafting, negotiation & execution, specifically including distribution & retail agreements within the Indian context
• Deep & practical knowledge of Indian food law (FSSAI), labeling regulations, advertising standards, consumer protection laws, & other relevant regulatory frameworks impacting the category
• Strong understanding of route-to-market legal considerations & strategies in India.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, with a strong commercial mindset
• Superior communication interpersonal, & presentation skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders
• Ability to thrive independently & collaboratively in a high-energy, dynamic, & often ambiguous environment
• Proven ability to expertly manage multiple complex projects & priorities simultaneously.
• Highest level of integrity and professional ethics

Preferred

• Additional qualifications such as CA/CS/MBA, other subject matter expert specializations
• Experience working for a large public /MNC company with operations in India
• Robust understanding of intellectual property matters (trademarks, copyrights) within the Indian context
• Experience advising on e-commerce, digital marketing & data privacy legal issues in India.
• Knowledge of competition law in India
• Experience assessing, advising on risk & managing dispute resolution in a large public/multinational company

Business Unit Summary

Mondelez India Foods Private Ltd has been in India for over 70 years, making sure our mouth-watering & well-loved local & global brands such as Cadbury chocolates, Bournvita & Tang, Oreo & Cadbury Bournvita biscuits, & Halls & Cadbury Choclairs Gold candies get safely into our customers hands & mouths. Headquartered in Mumbai, we have more than 3,300 employees Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata & Chennai; in manufacturing facilities at Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh & Andhra Pradesh, at our global R&D tech center & Global Business Hub in Mumbai. We are also proud to be recognized the 4th time by Avatar as the Best Companies for Women in India in 2019 Mondelēz International is an equal opportunity employer & all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.