Director of Legal & Risk Management

ROLE OVERVIEW

Azure Standard is a mission-driven, family-owned organization committed to inspiring healthy and abundant living. We are seeking a Director of Legal & Risk Management to serve as a strategic advisor and steward of legal integrity across the enterprise. This role exists to protect Azure's people, relationships, brand, and long-term sustainability, while enabling responsible growth. The Director of Legal & Risk Management partners closely with Executive Leadership to proactively manage legal risk, compliance, and governance in a way that aligns with Azure's mission, vision, and core values. This is not a reactive legal role. It is a trusted, values-centered leadership position designed to bring clarity, structure, and discernment to complex legal and risk-based decisions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Corporate, Commercial & Contract Law Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts including vendor agreements, distribution agreements, NDAs, licensing agreements, broker agreements, franchise-adjacent documents, technology agreements, and professional services contracts Support Sales, Purchasing, Operations, and Executive teams with practical legal guidance that enables growth while mitigating risk Establish and maintain standardized contract templates and approval workflows Organizational Structure & Corporate Governance Advise Executive Leadership on corporate structure, subsidiaries, affiliates, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships Support governance best practices, including corporate resolutions, board support, and entity compliance Maintain corporate records, filings, and entity documentation across states and jurisdictions Provide legal insight during mergers, acquisitions, expansions, or restructures Intellectual Property & Brand Protection Manage and protect Azure's trademarks, copyrights, and proprietary brand assets Oversee trademark filings, renewals, monitoring, and enforcement Partner with CX, Brand, Marketing, and Product teams to ensure compliant and protected brand usage Support licensing agreements and intellectual property strategy for proprietary brands Employment, HR & Workforce Legal Support Partner with Employee Services (HR) on employment law matters, including policies & investigations, and workers' compensation Advise on wage and hour compliance, multi-state employment laws, and workforce regulations Support response to claims, complaints, audits, or agency inquiries (e.g., EEOC, state labor agencies) Risk Management & Insurance Oversight Identify, assess, and mitigate enterprise-level legal and operational risk Partner with Finance and Operations to oversee insurance programs, including general liability, product liability, workers' compensation, auto, cyber, and D&O insurance Review claims, manage loss trends, and collaborate with brokers and carriers Support incident response and risk mitigation strategies across facilities, logistics, and customer-facing operations Licensing, Permits & Regulatory Compliance Oversee business licenses, permits, and registrations across local, state, and federal jurisdictions Ensure compliance related to food distribution, manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, and e-commerce operations Monitor regulatory changes impacting Azure's business and proactively advise leadership Coordinate with outside counsel or regulatory agencies as needed General Legal Take the lead on legal research for any legal matter that arises across the organization, ensuring accurate, timely, and practical guidance for leadership Identify when specialized legal expertise is required and procure, manage, and coordinate outside specialists as needed, ensuring alignment with Azure's values, risk tolerance, and cost stewardship Privacy, Data Protection & Technology Risk Advise on data privacy, consumer protection, and cybersecurity obligations Partner with Technology, CX, and Marketing teams on privacy policies, terms of service, consent practices, and data governance Support incident response planning for data breaches or technology-related risks Compliance, Ethics & Internal Controls Support development and maintenance of internal policies and compliance frameworks Provide guidance on ethical business practices aligned with Azure's values Assist in internal investigations and risk assessments Support training and education for leaders on legal and compliance topics Litigation & Outside Counsel Management Manage and coordinate outside legal counsel, ensuring cost-effective and values-aligned representation Oversee litigation strategy, settlements, and dispute resolution when necessary Serve as internal point of accountability for legal spend and outcomes Values-Centered Legal Leadership Serve as a strategic advisor to the C-suite, providing clear legal insight, risk assessment, and well-reasoned recommendations that support informed business decisions Enable leaders to move forward confidently by outlining legal considerations, options, and trade-offs; rather than simply identifying constraints Balance legal risk with business opportunity, helping leadership understand what is possible, what is prudent, and what is required Support decision-making that aligns with Azure's mission, vision, and core values while protecting the long-term health of the organization Communicate legal guidance in a practical, grounded, and accessible way that empowers leaders across the company Partner collaboratively with executive leadership to navigate complex or sensitive matters with wisdom, discernment, and integrity Requirements Qualifications Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, Oregon strongly preferred 8+ years of relevant legal experience (in-house and/or law firm), preferably supporting multi-state or regulated operations Strong experience in contracts, employment law, risk management, and corporate governance Demonstrated ability to partner cross-functionally with senior leaders Practical, solutions-oriented approach with sound judgment What Success Looks Like in This Role Legal risks are anticipated and addressed proactively Leaders feel supported, informed, and confident in decision-making Contracts, licenses, and policies are structured, consistent, and aligned Insurance and risk strategies protect the company without over-complication Legal counsel strengthens trust, culture, and long-term sustainability