Sr. Director, Commercial Transactions & Litigation

Finding the right place to grow your career isn’t (over) easy, so we’re here to help by sharing a few reasons why the grass is greener at Vital Farms. We think you’ll appreciate our focus on Conscious Capitalism, which drives business decisions that benefit all our stakeholders (leading to even better business results). You might be drawn to our innovative approach and refusal to settle for the “way things have always been done.” Or you could find it exciting to grow your skills while working for an industry-leading brand. Whether you’re into our values, our brand, or our egg-cellent puns, we hope you’ll join our Crew and help us change the world 108 square feet at a time! 

At Vital Farms, we’re proud of the diverse communities we serve and the stakeholders who help bring our purpose to life. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment where every crew member feels valued. We see this as one of our greatest strengths - and your role is key to helping us build on it. 

Your Role:

As our Sr. Director of Legal, Commercial Transactions & Litigation, you will serve as a key member of the Legal Leadership Team, reporting to and partnering closely with the General Counsel and advising executives across the enterprise. You will set strategy for our commercial legal function, oversee complex litigation and dispute management, and ensure Vital Farms continues to scale with strong, future-ready legal processes. 

What You'll Do:

• Strategic Leadership: Shape and execute the company’s legal strategy for commercial transactions, litigation, intellectual property, and employment, ensuring alignment with business objectives and long-term growth.
• Enterprise Partnering: Act as primary legal advisor to senior leaders across Sales, Marketing, Operations, Grower Support, and People team, providing pragmatic guidance that enables bold, ethical decision making.
• Commercial Transactions: Oversee negotiation and execution of high-value contracts, strategic partnerships, and enterprise-wide vendor agreements. Establish scalable contracting processes that balance agility with risk mitigation.
• Litigation & Dispute Management: Direct outside counsel and internal resources in managing all facets of litigation, employment disputes, and regulatory matters. Ensure proactive, cost-effective, and reputationally sound outcomes.
• Team Development: Lead and mentor legal staff, fostering a high-performance team culture that is collaborative, innovative, and business-focused.
• Brand Protection: Oversee intellectual property strategy and enforcement to ensure brand health and protection.
• Continuous Improvement: Implement best practices in knowledge management, contract lifecycle management, and legal operations that position Vital Farms as a leader in both legal excellence and ethical business. 

What You Bring to the Table:

• Juris Doctor from a highly regarded law school; active member of at least one U.S. state bar.
• 10+ years of progressive legal experience, including at least 5 years in-house at a growth-oriented, consumer-facing company (food, CPG, or agriculture preferred).
• Ability to travel 10-20% for company meetings, team offsites, onboarding trip, and conferences.
• Demonstrated success leading commercial transactions, litigation strategy, employment matters, and IP protection at a senior level.
• Proven ability to influence and advise senior executives, board members, and cross-functional leaders with sound judgment and business acumen.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing attorneys and/or legal staff.
• Track record of strategic planning and implementation in building scalable legal processes, contract playbooks, and compliance frameworks to set up the enterprise for continued rapid growth and success.
• Excellent negotiation skills and ability to distill complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance.
• A collaborative, humble, and approachable leadership style grounded in empathy, trust, and respect.
• You’re no hero – You know the power of teamwork and celebrate the work of others before your own.
• You give a sh*t – You believe in acting like an owner and making Vital Farms a place to be proud of.
• You raise the standards – You know growth can be hard, but you strive to improve yourself and others each day.
• You can walk in someone else’s boots – You seek to understand other’s viewpoints and think that you get to better answers by sitting on the same side of the table.
• You don’t walk on eggshells – You’re not afraid to leave the bullsh*t behind and have honest conversations.
• We recognize that talent comes in many forms. Even if you don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may have strengths we haven’t yet considered! 

What We Bring to the Table:

• A fast-paced, energetic, remote environment with passionate people who are leading a movement to bring ethically produced food to the table.
• Competitive pay and benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Paid Parental Leave, just to name a few).
• Generous retirement contributions: 401(k) + 3% Contribution from Day 1.
• Free eggs and butter (yes, really!), along with friends and family discounts. 
• Fun team SWAG that will make you the talk of the town.
• Professional development opportunities and an amazing team dedicated to your growth.

At Vital Farms, compensation decisions are dependent upon a variety of factors, which may include, but are not limited to, skill level, experience, education, training, market demands, and business needs. A reasonable estimate of the current starting annual base salary for this position is $250,000 - $270,000. Please keep in mind that hiring at the maximum end of the range would not be typical in order to allow for potential continued future salary growth.