General Counsel

(NASDAQ-GS: CVGW), is a global leader in the avocado industry and a provider of value-added fresh food. Our expertise in marketing and distributing avocados, prepared avocados, and other perishable foods allows us to deliver a wide array of fresh and prepared food products to retail grocery, foodservice, club stores, mass merchandisers, food distributors and wholesalers on a worldwide basis. We procure avocados from California, Mexico and other growing regions around the world. Through our various operating facilities, we (i) sort, pack, and/or ripen avocados, tomatoes and/or Hawaiian grown papayas, (ii) process and package guacamole and salsa and (iii) create, process and package a portfolio of healthy fresh foods including fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, and prepared foods. Our principal executive offices are located at 1141-A Cummings Road, Santa Paula, California 93060; telephone (805) 525-1245.

Position title: General Counsel

Position overview: Responsible for being the legal advisor for the company and executive leadership team; managing the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of the legal function including creating, reviewing, and maintaining all legal contracts associated with the global business. Formal legal communication with customers. Ownership of relationships with all 3rd party legal counsel. This role is the company’s first in-house counsel position.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following (other duties may be assigned):

Provide expert and strategic legal advice to management and board of directors

Oversee administrative functions related to all legal related matters

Partner with human resources on all ethics reporting

Coordinate with human resources on all internal investigations

Communicate regulatory changes with senior management and staff, as required

Design, implement, and maintain policies and practices that ensure business units are in compliance with Federal, State and Local regulatory requirements and regulations

Ownership of creating, reviewing and maintaining all legal contracts and agreements associated with the global business

Keep current with changes in regulations affecting operations and implements revised practices accordingly

Ownership of due-diligence processing for potential customers

Basic qualifications:

Minimum of 10 years’ experience with initial training at a top tier firm

Proven general counseling experience in business environment

Overall broad legal knowledge (corporate law, litigations, labor law, etc.)

In-depth understanding of how legal issues affect organizations in the food sector

Ability to develop legal strategy and objectives

BSc degree in law or J.D. degree

MBA or BSc in business administration will be considered an asset

Thorough understanding of public company reporting and timetables

Calavo growers is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind: Calavo is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Calavo are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Calavo will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Physical demands:

Customary physical demands for office environment, remote environment during COVID

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

At Calavo, we believe Quality, Teamwork, Good Citizenship, Will to Win, and Respect for our People are foundational for our mission.