Who We Are
At JonnyPops, our team is empowered to make an impact at work every day — from producing high-quality, innovative frozen novelties to spreading kindness one pop at a time. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Elk River, MN, JonnyPops manufactures in-house at our SQF Certified, peanut-free facility in Elk River and operates corporate offices in Plymouth, MN. Our products are sold across national retail, club, natural and food service channels, including Target, Kroger, Costco, Walmart and Whole Foods. As distribution, product innovation and marketing activity have grown, so has the volume of contracting, labeling and regulatory work that needs a dedicated legal partner inside the business.
We look for bright, ambitious people who seek out challenges, thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments, and align with our core values (Integrity, Masterful Growth, Excellence, Team Work, Fact-Based Decisions, Alignment, and Service and Contribution) — and who want to help us build “A Better Pop for a Better World!”
Job Summary
The In-House Counsel is JonnyPops’ dedicated legal partner, reporting to the CFO. The role handles the day-to-day legal work of a growing food and CPG brand: commercial contracting with vendors and customers, review of labeling, packaging, advertising and creative, consumer affairs matters, and food regulatory compliance. The right person is a practical, business-first lawyer with real food and CPG experience who can turn contracts and reviews quickly, knows where the regulatory lines are, and knows when to bring in outside counsel and how to collaborate with them efficiently.
This role works side by side with Sales, Marketing and Commercialization, Supply Chain and Procurement, FSQA and Consumer Affairs, Finance, and HR. It manages outside counsel relationships and outside legal spend, and keeps the ELT informed on legal risk in plain language. As JonnyPops builds the contracting templates, intake process and shared-service foundation it needs for 2027, this role puts in place the legal infrastructure that lets routine agreements move fast and consistently.
The role is based at our Plymouth, MN corporate office with a hybrid schedule and flexibility. Occasional travel to the Elk River manufacturing facility and to customer or legal meetings is expected as needed.
Cross-Functional Partners
ELT; Sales; Marketing and Commercialization; Supply Chain and Procurement; FSQA and Consumer Affairs; Finance and Accounting; HR and Office; Operations. Outside counsel (corporate, equity, litigation and IP) is managed by this role.
What Success Looks Like
Routine contracts, NDAs and creative reviews move through a simple intake and approval process with fast, consistent turnaround, and the business knows exactly where to send a legal question.
Labels, packaging, on-pack claims and marketing content are cleared before print and launch dates, with no regulatory surprises for the products going to Target, Kroger, Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods and food service customers.
Standard templates and a contract repository are in place and in use, supporting the shared-service and vendor-documentation foundation JonnyPops is building for 2027.
Outside counsel is used deliberately and managed to budget, with clear status reporting; the ELT hears about legal risk early, in plain language, with a recommendation attached.
Consumer complaints, demand letters and disputes are handled with documented, fact-based response strategies in partnership with Consumer Affairs and FSQA.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Contracting
Draft, review and negotiate vendor agreements: ingredient and packaging suppliers, co-manufacturers, logistics and transportation, technology and SaaS, and services.
Draft, review and negotiate sales-related agreements: retailer and club vendor agreements and supplier terms, distributor and broker agreements, trade and promotional program terms, and food service and vending agreements.
Handle other contracting: NDAs,…