Legal Director North America - Princeton, NJ or New York, NY

Legal Director, North America \n\nLocation: Princeton, NJ or New York, NY\n\nAt dsm\u2011firmenich, we bring progress to life. We combine groundbreaking science with passion and purpose to create solutions that nourish, protect, and improve the health and well\u2011being of people and the planet. We\u2019re building our dedicated and passionate Legal team in North America, hiring for Legal Director. You will play a pivotal role in enabling our business to operate with integrity, agility, and confidence. This is an opportunity to join a high\u2011energy, collaborative legal function where your expertise will directly support innovation across our diverse portfolio.\n\nWe are seeking a versatile, business\u2011minded corporate lawyer with strong experience across both private practice and in\u2011house environments. You are a trusted advisor to leaders across the region, operating as a true generalist and helping shape the legal foundation that supports our growth. This role offers significant autonomy, visibility, and the potential to grow into a senior leadership position and reports to VP, Legal Americas \u0026 Regional President NA.\n\nIf you\u2019re energized by the idea of applying your legal expertise to help shape the future of a global science\u2011based company\u2014and you thrive in an environment where no two days look the same\u2014read on.\n\nYour Key Responsibilities\n\n * Draft, negotiate, and review a broad range of commercial agreements, including vendor, supply, purchasing, development, licensing, and distribution contracts. Provide clear, practical legal advice to business stakeholders across multiple functions.\n * Partner with cross\u2011functional teams to proactively identify legal risks and support strategic initiatives.\n\n\n * Advise HR teams on employee relations, wage \u0026 hour matters, compliance, and investigations. Support the development and review of HR policies, guidelines, training, and programs.\n\n\n * Support the management of complex litigation, including product liability, employment, and commercial disputes. Oversee and coordinate outside counsel, ensuring effective strategy and cost management.\n\n\n * Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies. Contribute to the development of legal frameworks, compliance programs, and risk\u2011management protocols.\n\n\n * Assist with M\u0026A, divestments, joint ventures, and strategic alliances.\n * Provide legal support to tax, real estate, treasury, customs, regulatory, safety, environmental, security, and IP teams.\n\n\n\nThe salary scale provided reflects the pay range dsm-firmenich expects to pay the successful candidate for the position. Individual pay offered will be based on the applicant\u2019s job-related skills, experience, relevant education or training, and primary work location. Salary $180,800-$240,000.\n\nIn addition to base salary, we also offer a comprehensive total rewards package, inclusive of annual incentive pay, a retirement savings plan, health care coverage, paid time off, recognition programs and a broad range of other benefits. All benefits and incentives are subject to eligibility requirements.\n\nWe Bring\n\n * A purpose\u2011driven, performance\u2011oriented culture that values curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.\n * The opportunity to work across a diverse, global organization committed to sustainability and innovation.\n * A highly engaged legal team that supports each other, celebrates wins, and tackles challenges together.\n * A platform for professional growth, including the potential to advance into senior leadership.\n\n\n\nYou Bring\n\n * Minimum 10 years of experience at a law firm exposed to multiple practice areas and in\u2011house experience within a multinational or complex business environment; International work experience is a plus.\n * Strong commercial contracting and business advisory experience along with experience managing disputes and litigation.\n * Familiarity with labor \u0026 employment laws and practices and experience supporting compliance, risk management, and internal investigations. Experience presenting to and advising business leaders on dispute strategy.\n * Exposure to M\u0026A, environmental matters, trade issues, or government affairs is a plus.\n * Demonstrated ability to drive results independently and within cross\u2011functional teams and strong business acumen with the ability to translate legal advice into practical solutions while managing multiple priorities in a fast\u2011paced environment.\n * Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited U.S. law school and admission to practice law in New Jersey or New York or eligibility for in-house counsel registration\n\n\n\nOur recruitment process\n\nInterested in this position? Please apply online by uploading your resume in English via our career portal by April 22, 2026.\n\nInclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement\n\nAt dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work \u2013 and that\u2019s exactly the kind of culture we\u2019re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.\n\n \nWe\u2019re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we\u2019re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we\u2019re committed to reflecting the world we serve.\n\nWe welcome candidates from all backgrounds \u2014 no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.\n\nAnd if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we\u2019re here to help \u2013 just let us know what you need, and we\u2019ll do everything we can to make it work.\n\nAbout dsm-firmenich\n\nAs innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, dsm-firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world\u2019s growing population to thrive. With our comprehensive range of solutions, with natural and renewable ingredients and renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. dsm-firmenich is a Swiss-Dutch company, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, with operations in almost 60 countries and revenues of more than \u20ac12 billion. With a diverse, worldwide team of nearly 30,000 employees, we bring progress to life\u2122 every day, everywhere, for billions of people. \n\n \nwww.dsm-firmenich.com \n\nAgency Note\n\nPlease note this is a direct search led by dsm-firmenich. We only accept applications from candidates, not from agencies nor subject to agency\u2019s fees, percentages or similar.\n