Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate Sustainability

Mars • Full-time • McLean, Virginia, United States • $216k - $297k / year • 6d ago

Job Description:

This position is based in either Chicago, IL or McLean, VA.

We believe the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today, which is the vision at the heart of Mars' Sustainable in a Generation Plan, one where the planet is healthy, people and pets are thriving, and society is inclusive.

The Senior Legal Counsel, Corporate Sustainability will play an important role within the enterprise-level Sustainability Legal team at Mars, Inc. This role provides legal support on a broad range of sustainability-related matters across the Americas region and serves as a trusted advisor to Mars' Sustainability team. The position combines legal support for sustainability regulations, reporting, claims, and governance with cross-segment coordination and enterprise alignment.

Operating within Mars' Sustainability Legal Center of Excellence model, this role provides legal advisory support on material sustainability topics, including sustainability reporting and disclosures, sustainability claims governance, packaging and circularity, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and related environmental and human rights matters. The role helps translate legal requirements into enterprise legal positions and practical, business-oriented guidance - supporting consistent, risk-based approaches across Mars.

In addition to supporting legal compliance and cross-segment alignment, the role serves as a strategic business partner to the enterprise Sustainability team. Working closely with sustainability leaders and subject matter experts, the Senior Legal Counsel helps navigate complex legal and regulatory considerations, supports the development of practical governance processes, and enables solutions that advance Mars' Sustainable in a Generation ambitions while appropriately managing legal risk.

The role requires a high degree of independence and self-direction. The Senior Legal Counsel is expected to build strong relationships with Segments and across Legal, Sustainability, Corporate Affairs, Commercial, Finance, and business teams, using those relationships to drive alignment, influence outcomes, and promote a consistent One-Mars approach to sustainability-related legal issues.

What are we looking for?

Law degree from an accredited university and licensed, admitted, or otherwise qualified to practice law in the United States.
8–12+ years of relevant legal experience, ideally including in-house experience in a multinational or highly matrixed organization.
Experience advising on sustainability-related legal and regulatory matters, including sustainability reporting, disclosures, claims, packaging, environmental compliance, governance, and associated legal risk management.
Familiarity with emerging sustainability regulatory frameworks, including sustainability reporting, environmental disclosures, circularity initiatives, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) regimes.
Exposure to human rights, responsible business conduct, forced labor, supply chain transparency, or related sustainability legal topics is a plus.
Strong grounding in regulatory compliance, legal risk assessment, and governance in complex, multi-jurisdictional environments, with the ability to interpret evolving requirements and provide practical, risk-based advice.
Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted advisor and business partner, balancing legal risk management with commercial and strategic objectives while helping teams develop practical solutions.
Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence outcomes, build alignment, and navigate ambiguity in a complex matrix environment without direct authority.
Ability to work effectively at the intersection of sustainability strategy, regulatory requirements, environmental subject matter expertise, and legal risk.
Ability to operate as a self-directed legal advisor, exercising sound judgment, communicating complex concepts clearly, and working independently while remaining closely aligned with leadership and key stakeholders.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Serve as a trusted legal advisor and business partner to Mars' enterprise Sustainability team, providing practical, solution-oriented legal support on strategic initiatives that advance Mars' Sustainable in a Generation Plan.
Partner closely with sustainability leaders and subject matter experts to navigate legal, regulatory, and governance considerations associated with sustainability programs, disclosures, claims, and business initiatives.
Provide legal advice on sustainability-related regulatory requirements across the Americas region, with a focus on compliance risk, legal interpretation, and coordinated legal approaches.
Advise on packaging and extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations, including emerging legal requirements, compliance risk, and practical implications for Mars' businesses and sustainability initiatives.
Support legal oversight of voluntary and mandatory sustainability reporting, including disclosure governance, legal risk, substantiation, and reporting obligations arising under frameworks such as CSRD, ISSB, California climate disclosure laws, Australia's climate reporting framework (AASB S2), and other emerging sustainability disclosure regimes.
Support legal governance for sustainability claims, including claims substantiation, review processes, escalation frameworks, and consistency of legal approaches across segments and functions.
Partner with sustainability subject matter experts to assess legal risks associated with environmental claims, disclosures, and reporting, translating complex technical and scientific information into practical legal guidance.
Act as a One-Mars legal point of contact for material sustainability regulations and claims-related legal issues in the Americas region, helping build enterprise-wide approaches to sustainability compliance and risk management.
Develop legal guidance, playbooks, templates, presentations, training materials, and governance tools in coordination with the Sustainability Legal Center of Excellence.
Act as a connector between the central Sustainability Legal team, Segment Legal teams, and regional stakeholders to promote a consistent, practical, and risk-based legal approach.
Develop and deliver training, presentations, and practical guidance to legal and business stakeholders across the region on sustainability regulatory requirements, sustainability claims risk, reporting obligations, and legal governance processes.

What can you expect from Mars?

Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

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The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 216,000.00 - USD 297,000.00