Dole Packaged Foods is a purpose led nutrition and wellness organization that “champions a more equitable world.” A world where everyone has the right to nutrition from the goodness of the earth and we reduce these gaps, one action at a time.

The Jr. Corporate Paralegal position will provide paralegal and administrative support to the Corporate Legal department in the areas of commercial contracts, intellectual property (primarily trademark) and related branding and trademark matters, including advertising issues, international transactions, and litigation matter management; handling and processing of trademark watch notices, contract administration; and corporate secretary functions. The position supports Dole Asia Holdings, based in Singapore, including Dole Packaged Foods North America, based in Westlake Village, CA, and other worldwide entities.

This role provides flexibility to work in a hybrid environment of home and our Westlake Village, CA office.

(Hybrid is defined as working 3 - 4 days per week in office.)

Primary Accountabilities:

Corporate Legal Support:

• Input and revise legal documents (principally commercial, supplier and marketing contracts) and carefully proofread.
• Management and maintenance of contracts, contract renewals and amendments, and critical date database.
• Process, revise, and obtain signatures for NDAs and POAs.
• Redline and edit documents to reflect requested changes.
• Use software to compare and carefully track changes in contractual documents.
• Coordinate with team to keep track of successive drafts of the document (electronic versions) during the negotiation process and obtain signatures.
• Manage communications and coordinate with supervisor to prepare timely and appropriate responses.
• Assist with claims and litigation support and administration.
• Support in managing corporate secretary database, draft resolutions, Secretary’s Certificates, and other documents.
• Assist with subpoenas, garnishments and discovery responses and litigation support.
• Support in managing the corporate Code of Conduct reporting database.
• Utilize and, when appropriate, update database information systems (including hCue, Legal Tracker, Serengeti, and CPI trademark database) for maintaining Legal Department information in corporate archives, legal files, and trademark application and registration data and trademark watch notice files and records.

Department Administration:

• Perform general administrative duties as required, such as inputting documents, filing, copying documents, preparing expense reports, organizing/confirming travel plans, ordering supplies, coordinating set-up of meetings and conference calls, managing supervisor’s calendar.
• Assist supervisor(s) in reviewing, managing, handling, and processing invoices received from outside counsel and vendors by:
  • Ensuring legal invoices meet Legal Department Billing guidelines and are processed in a timely manner.
  • Paying invoices in SAP.
  • Monitoring expenditures for outside counsel and vendors relative to Legal Department budget.
• Organize and maintain Legal Department files in compliance with corporate procedures pertaining to legal documents and correspondence, such as corporate document retention policies and procedures.
• Open and track new legal matters handled by supervisor and/or others in the Legal Department.
• Interact and maintain communications with other departments within Dole whose input may be required in connection with Legal matters.
• Secondary System Administrator for Serengeti, Legal Tracker, hCue, MKDenial, EthicsPoint hotline application, MarkMonitor domain name portal, SharePoint legal portal.

Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Knowledge, & Skills You Bring:                                                        

• 3 - 5 years of in-house experience supporting a corporate legal team, preferably at a large, international company.
• Intermediate/Advanced knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Willingness to learn software such as hCue, Legal Tracker, Serengeti, and SAP.
• Experience handling confidential information and documents.
• Experience in litigation support functions.
• Experience in corporate administration functions.
• Preferred experience/skills:
• Experience with drafting and reviewing variety of contracts, including service and vendor agreements, trademark licenses, promotional agreements, and others.
• Experience with labeling regulations and/or food claims.
• Experience with managing domain name portfolio including DNS management.
• Foreign language fluency.

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Passionate about a purpose driven career.
• Superb organizational and work-management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Understands the importance of discretion and diplomacy.
• Capacity to learn and apply new information relevant to the position.

• Proficiency in research, comprehension, and analysis of substantive areas of the law.
• Aptitude to organize/manage projects and processes.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage change, and be flexible.
• Capability to work across operational departments within the organization.
• Team player with the ability to work in cross-functional teams.
• Superb judgment, attention to detail and strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Education & Certification:

• High school diploma or equivalent; college degree preferred.
• California Notary preferred; if not, willingness to obtain within 6 months of hire.
• Professional Paralegal training/certification, with specialization in contracts and intellectual property, is a plus.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit and use the computer for extended periods of time; ability to answer phones and use a variety of office equipment; ability to lift 15 pounds and reach overhead.

Travel Requirements:

• Minimal travel expected.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

FOR JOBS BASED IN CALIFORNIA:

Hiring Pay Scale: $38.00 to $42.00/hr.

Dole Packaged Foods is committed to paying our Associates fairly and equitably. The pay rate offered will consider a wide range of factors, including but not limited to experience, education, accomplishments, and location. Pay scales are subject to review on a regular basis and will be updated as appropriate.