Senior Counsel, India at Mondelēz… · Mumbai

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make It Happen at Mondelēz International?

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

You are responsible for the company’s legal activities in a region, business units and /or sub-function areas in the country or across multiple countries. To support commercial and corporate initiatives, you identify business needs and design and implement our legal strategy through the service delivery model. You advise the business on risk, anticipating and addressing internal and external factors and apply your legal specialty area experience to collaborate with other legal colleagues to address legal issues or concerns.

How you will contribute

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

What you will bring

A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career with experience and knowledge in:

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

More about this role

Are you a highly strategic, commercially astute legal leader with a passion for iconic brands and a drive to lead within a dynamic, fast-paced environment? Mondelēz India, a powerhouse in the snacking industry and home to beloved brands, is seeking an exceptional Category Head Legal.

This pivotal role offers comprehensive legal support and strategic counsel across our diverse range of biscuits, gum, candy, and savory snacks. You will lead and mentor a dedicated legal team, champion compliance, foster innovation, and directly influence business strategy, playing a critical role in enabling sales growth and market expansion across India. If you're ready to make a significant impact, drive compliance, and 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 Business Unit (BU). As a progressive, forward-thinking partner, the Head Legal provides strategic thought leadership and superior support to the India Business and is part of the Extended Leadership Council (ELC) of the Company. The role requires an elevated level of business orientation with a focus on problem-solving and supporting major projects, while upholding strong ethics and integrity across the organization. The Head Legal is charged with providing high quality and responsive legal support and guidance to the India BU as part of the Legal team, as well as contributing to department strategy, establishing collaborative relationships with colleagues both within and outside the local business, and managing external legal resources within budgets as guided by the Chief Counsel. Junior members of the Legal Team report into this role, and the incumbent is expected to mentor and coach these members.

Why Join Mondelēz International, India?

Impactful Work: Your work directly supports iconic brands loved by millions across India and fuels our market expansion.

Leadership Opportunity: Take charge of a crucial legal function and mentor a growing team.

Dynamic Environment: Thrive in an innovative, fast-paced culture where new challenges lead to new learning.

Career Growth: Access unparalleled opportunities for professional development and advancement within a global organization.

Culture of Collaboration: Work alongside passionate, talented individuals who value teamwork and mutual respect, especially with our sales and commercial leaders.

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, and empower our teams to thrive. This role offers unparalleled exposure, direct influence on business strategy, and the chance to lead a dedicated legal function within a global leader. You will play a critical role in enabling our sales growth and market reach by expertly navigating the legal complexities of our route-to-market strategies.

Key Responsibilities

1. 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, and guidance to legal team members, ensuring high performance and development.

Deliver expert legal advice and support to senior management and other departments on complex corporate legal issues and strategic initiatives.

Develop and implement legal strategies to proactively mitigate risk, ensure robust compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and support business growth objectives.

2. Commercial & Contracts Excellence:

Spearhead the drafting, review, and 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, marketing and advertising contracts, licensing agreements, and technology agreements.

Provide expert legal counsel on all aspects of route-to-market strategies, supporting the sales and commercial teams in expanding market presence and driving sales growth through effective and compliant distribution channels.

Ensure all commercial arrangements are structured to optimize business opportunities while mitigating legal and reputational risks.

3. Regulatory & Compliance Stewardship:

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

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

4. Marketing & Advertising Guardian:

Rigorously review marketing campaigns, digital content, promotional activities, and product communications to ensure ironclad compliance with Indian advertising laws, intellectual property rights, and company policies.

Strategically advise on consumer promotions, sweepstakes, and contests, balancing creativity with compliance.

5. Intellectual Property Protection:

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

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

6. Innovation & Product Development Partner:

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

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

7. Risk Management & Dispute Resolution:

Champion proactive risk identification and assessment, developing and 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, and regulatory inquiries, effectively coordinating with external counsel where necessary.

8. Policy, Governance & External Engagement:

Significantly contribute to the development and implementation of company policies, robust guidelines, and cutting-edge product innovation programs.

Collaborate effectively with external counsel as needed, expertly managing legal budgets to optimize value.

9. Cross-Functional Collaboration:

Cultivate strong relationships and 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.
• Minimum of 12 years of post-qualification experience 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, and execution, specifically including distribution and retail agreements within the Indian context.
• Deep and practical knowledge of Indian food law (FSSAI), labeling regulations, advertising standards, consumer protection laws, and other relevant regulatory frameworks impacting the category.
• Strong understanding of route-to-market legal considerations and strategies in India.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, with a strong commercial mindset.
• Superior communication (written and verbal), interpersonal, and presentation skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders.
• Ability to thrive independently and collaboratively in a high-energy, dynamic, and often ambiguous environment.
• Proven ability to expertly manage multiple complex projects and 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 /multinational company with significant operations in India.
• Robust understanding of intellectual property matters (trademarks, copyrights) within the Indian context.
• Experience advising on e-commerce, digital marketing, and data privacy legal issues in India.
• Knowledge of competition law in India.
• Experience assessing, advising on risk, and managing dispute resolution in a large public/multinational company.

No Relocation support available

Business Unit Summary

Mondelez India Foods Private Limited (formerly Cadbury India Ltd.) has been in India for over 70 years, making sure our mouth-watering and well-loved local and global brands such as Cadbury chocolates, Bournvita and Tang powdered beverages, Oreo and Cadbury Bournvita biscuits, and Halls and Cadbury Choclairs Gold candies get safely into our customers hands—and mouths*.* Headquartered in Mumbai, the company has more than 3,300 employees proudly working across sales offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and in manufacturing facilities at Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, at our global Research & Development Technical Centre and Global Business Hub in Maharashtra and in a vast distribution network across the country. We are also proud to be recognised by Avatar as the Best Companies for Women in India in 2019 – the fourth time we’ve received this award.

Mondelēz International is an equal opportunity employer and 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.

Job Type

Regular

Legal Business Growth Partners and Services

Legal