--- title: 'Vice President of Legal/General Counsel at PBI-Gordon Companies, Inc.' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/vice-president-of-legal-general-counsel-pbi-gordon-companies-inc-shawnee-8q953d8vshnc' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-17' --- # Vice President of Legal/General Counsel at PBI-Gordon Companies, Inc. - **Company:** PBI-Gordon Companies, Inc. - **Location:** Shawnee, KS - **Posted:** 2026-09-15 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-17 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/pbigordoncompaniesinc/jobs/5239002007 ## Job description At PBI-Gordon Companies, and our subsidiaries PBI-Gordon Corporation, Pegasus Laboratories, and PetAg, Inc, our priority is people, pets, and the places they go.  As employee owners, we support each other in building our careers as well as our companies.  Our foundation is rooted in integrity, innovation, partnership, and pride. Come grow with us! Reports to: CEO Position Summary The Vice President of Legal / General Counsel serves as the Company's chief legal advisor and a trusted strategic business partner to the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors. This executive provides practical legal counsel that enables business growth, supports informed decision-making, and protects the Company's long-term interests through proactive risk management, sound governance, and regulatory compliance. Beyond providing legal expertise, this leader builds trusted relationships across the enterprise, influences executive decision-making, develops organizational legal capability, and leads a high-performing legal function that supports the Company's evolving business needs. The successful executive will balance legal excellence with commercial acumen, partnering across the organization to enable growth while safeguarding the Company's reputation, values, and long-term interests. ## Compensation & Benefits - Employee Ownership (ESOP): Company-funded retirement contribution of approximately 18% of pay, plus 401(k) - Competitive base salary with performance-based bonus opportunity - Comprehensive benefits package: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, FSA, and Pet Insurance - Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and parental leave - Fitness and tuition reimbursement programs Essential Duties & Responsibilities - Legal Strategy & Leadership - Serve as the Company's chief legal advisor and trusted strategic business partner to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors. - Develop and execute an enterprise legal strategy aligned with organizational priorities, long-term growth, and shareholder interests. - Advise executive leadership on the legal implications of strategic initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, governance, enterprise risk, and organizational transformation. - Provide practical, business-oriented counsel that enables informed decisions while balancing legal risk and commercial opportunity. - Compliance & Enterprise Risk Management - Establish and oversee an enterprise-wide legal and compliance framework that promotes ethical business practices and regulatory compliance. - Identify emerging legal and regulatory risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies that protect the organization while enabling business objectives. - Partner with executive leadership to integrate risk management into strategic and operational decision-making. - Corporate Governance - Serve as legal advisor to the Board of Directors, ensuring sound governance practices, fiduciary compliance, and adherence to legal and ethical standards. - Oversee governance processes, Board materials, corporate records, and legal policies that promote transparency, accountability, and effective governance. - Litigation & Dispute Resolution - Develop litigation strategies that protect organizational interests while minimizing financial, operational, and reputational risk. - Select, manage, and oversee outside counsel, insurance underwriters, investigations, regulatory matters, and legal disputes. - Commercial Contracts & Transactions - Lead the legal review, drafting, negotiation, and execution of significant commercial agreements with customers, vendors, partners, and strategic stakeholders. - Develop practical contract solutions that support business growth while protecting the Company's interests. - Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Transactions - Provide legal leadership for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions, including due diligence, structuring, negotiations, documentation, and integration support. - Intellectual Property - Oversee the protection, enforcement, and strategic management of the Company's intellectual property portfolio, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and licensing. - Executive Partnership - Build trusted relationships across the enterprise by serving as a strategic advisor to executive leaders and cross-functional partners. - Translate complex legal matters into practical business recommendations that support enterprise decision-making. - Leadership & Organizational Capability - Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing legal organization capable of supporting the Company's evolving business needs. - Evaluate organizational capability, succession planning, and long-term legal talent requirements. - Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and ethical leadership. - Ethics & Corporate Responsibility - Champion a culture of integrity, compliance, and ethical decision-making across the organization. - External Relations - Represent the Company with regulatory agencies, government officials, industry organizations, external legal counsel, and strategic partners. - Serve as an ambassador for PBI Gordon Companies, strengthening the Company's reputation through professionalism, integrity, and sound judgment. - Safety Responsibilities - Follow all company safety policies and procedures. - Participate in required safety training. - Report unsafe conditions, near misses, and incidents promptly. Required Qualifications - Education - Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active admission to the applicable state bar. - Experience - 15+ years of progressive legal leadership experience within a corporate or business environment. - Skills & Abilities - Demonstrated success advising CEOs, Executive Leadership Teams, and Boards of Directors. - Expertise in corporate law, commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, employment law, litigation, governance, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property. - Exceptional business acumen with the ability to balance legal risk with commercial priorities. - Executive presence with outstanding communication, negotiation, influence, and relationship-building skills. - Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing legal teams in a growth-oriented environment. - Ability to navigate complex business issues while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professional judgment. Work Environment & Culture PBI-Gordon Companies offers a collaborative, employee-owned environment where accountability, partnership, and continuous improvement are valued. Team members are encouraged to contribute ideas, develop professionally, and grow their careers alongside the business. ## Equal Opportunity Employer PBI-Gordon Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Ready to Apply? If you’re passionate about legal strategy and executive leadership, corporate governance and regulatory compliance, and balancing legal risk with commercial opportunity, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today to join an employee-owned organization where accountability, partnership, and continuous improvement are valued. PBI-Gordon Companies and its subsidiaries are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to eligible, full-time employees who work 30 hours per week or more. Full-time employees will become eligible to participate in benefits on the first of the month following their start date, unless stated otherwise below. (Note: Interns do not qualify for eligibility.) Medical Insurance We are committed to helping you and your dependents maintain health and wellness by offering voluntary, competitive medical insurance and prescription drug plan options. Dental Insurance Choose from two voluntary dental plans that are designed to help protect you and your dependents’ oral health. Vision Insurance Our voluntary vision insurance plan is designed to help protect you and your dependents eye health. Coverage is available for eye exams, frames, lenses, and contact lenses. Employee owners are responsible for 100% of the cost of this plan. Life Insurance with Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) We offer a company-paid $50,000 life insurance policy with AD&D. You also have the opportunity to purchase additional life and AD&D insurance for yourself, your spouse and/or your dependent children. The cost for this coverage is based on the amount you elect and your age. Short- and Long-term Disability Our company-paid short-term and long-term disability plans to provide income replacement in the event you are not able to work due to illness or injury. Short-term disability will provide 70% income replacement up to $1,350 per week and long-term disability will provide 60% income replacement up to $5,000 per month. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) EAP Services are company paid to benefit all employee-owners and their families. EAP provides up to six free counseling sessions to help you and your family members manage life stressors, solve personal or relationship concerns, and achieve your goals. Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Flexible Spending Plans offer employee-owners the option to set aside pre-tax monies into a medical reimbursement or dependent care account to help pay for out-of-pocket medical, dental or vision expenses or day care costs. The maximum contributions are determined by the IRS and adjusted annually. This is a use-it-or-lose-it account, meaning any funds remaining in the account following the close of the plan year will be forfeited. Pet Insurance We love our pets! Pet insurance options for your furry friends is offered through the ASPCA. Employee-owners can enroll and pay premiums directly to ASPCA. Paid Holidays & Paid Time Off (PTO) Everyone needs time off to rest and recharge! Paid time off includes Regular PTO, Personal PTO, and specified paid company holidays. *The amount of paid time off (PTO) depends upon the employee's position and years of service. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) We act like we own the company because we do! An ESOP provides employees with an ownership stake in the company. It’s an additional form of compensation directly tied to PBI-Gordon Companies financial success. All regular employees are eligible to participate in the ESOP the first of the month following 30 days of service. PBI-Gordon Companies contributes approximately 18% of total compensation annually with a six-year vesting schedule. Our ESOP is more than a benefit, it is a key part of a culture, and it can provide significant rewards in retirement! 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan Saving for retirement is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. We offer a 401(k)-retirement savings plan to assist employees with this important financial goal. New employee owners are eligible to participate the first of the month following 30 days of employment. We provide a company match of 100% up to 3% deferral with a three-year vesting schedule. Fitness Reimbursement We believe regular exercise helps improve overall health and job performance. PBI-Gordon will reimburse up to a maximum of $300 annually for gym/fitness memberships. William Everett & Mary Ellen Mealman Scholarship Fund Children or grandchildren of employee-owners may apply for a scholarship under the William Everett & Mary Ellen Mealman scholarship fund. Applicants are awarded based on financial need, academic achievement, and involvement in extracurricular/community activities. Tuition Reimbursement After one full year of employment, employee-owners are eligible for tuition reimbursement for bachelor’s level coursework related to their current job or any future job offered at PBI-Gordon Companies. Parental Leave Company paid parental leave is offered to employee-owners following the birth of a child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption, foster care, or surrogacy. This policy will run concurrently with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, as applicable. If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Please see our [CCPA disclosure](https://www.pbigordon.com/california-privacy-notice/) for more information. Employment is contingent upon and may not begin until the successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug screen. PBI-Gordon and its subsidiaries participate in E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit the [E-Verify Website.](https://www.e-verify.gov/employees/e-verify-overview)https://www.e-verify.gov/employees/e-verify-overview ## About PBI-Gordon Companies, Inc. ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: PBI-Gordon Companies is a 100% employee-owned holding company that delivers innovative solutions for green spaces, pets, and people through its subsidiaries in professional turf, ornamental, animal health, and pet care. - **Entity Type**: Private (100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan – ESOP) - **Headquarters**: Shawnee, Kansas, USA - **Founded**: 1947 - **Founders**: John H. Mueller, Robert M. Mueller, John S. Mathias, Roy E. Boxmeyer ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Agriculture (turf & ornamental), Animal Health, Pet Care, Specialty Chemicals - **Target customers**: B2B (professional turf managers, golf courses, veterinarians, animal health distributors) and B2C (pet owners through branded consumer products) - **Mission / Vision**: “Inspired Innovations for green spaces, pets, and people.” ## Products & Services - **PBI-Gordon Corporation** – Professional turf & ornamental products, including the proprietary Trimec® broadleaf herbicide line (more than 40 products for golf courses and landscape managers). - **Pegasus Laboratories, Inc.** – Animal health products (pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements) under the PRN® Pharmacal brand for veterinarians and livestock. - **Pet-Ag®, Inc.** – Companion animal milk replacers and nutritional/healthcare products for pets (e.g., Lambert Kay® brand). - **Trivium Vet** – Research and development company focused on innovative treatments for cats and dogs. ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (private, employee-owned) - **Key Metric**: Over 400 employee-owners as of 2024; 100% ESOP since 2002 - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not applicable (no external equity investors; fully employee-owned). Strategic partnerships with suppliers and customers in turf and animal health. - **Growth Signals**: Restructured into a holding company in 2020 to support continued growth; completed acquisitions of Pet-Ag (2013), Lambert Kay (2010), and Pegasus Laboratories (1999); relocated to a new corporate headquarters in Shawnee, Kansas. ## Competitive Advantages - **100% Employee-Owned (ESOP)**: All regular employees receive an ownership stake, creating a culture of shared success and long-term thinking. - **Diversified Portfolio**: Spans professional turf, animal health, and pet care – reducing dependence on any single market. - **Proprietary Products**: Trimec® herbicide is a well-known brand in the turf industry; Pet-Ag’s milk replacers are trusted by veterinarians and pet owners. - **Long History & Stability**: Founded in 1947, with deep relationships in agricultural and veterinary channels. ## Strategic Focus - **Innovation & R&D**: Continued investment in new product development across all subsidiaries, including Trivium Vet for veterinary therapeutics. - **Operational Excellence**: Leveraging the holding company structure to drive growth and efficiency across businesses. - **Talent & Culture**: Attracting and retaining employee-owners who align with core values of integrity, partnership, innovation, and pride. ## Why Work Here - **Employee Ownership**: Every employee becomes an owner through the ESOP – partially vested after two years, fully vested after six years. The ESOP is a significant retirement benefit tied to company performance. - **Benefits Package**: Medical, dental, vision insurance; paid time off; short- and long-term disability; life insurance; 401(k) retirement savings plan; tuition reimbursement. - **Culture**: High-performing, collaborative environment with a focus on putting people and customers first. Core values: integrity, partnership, innovation, pride. - **Work Location**: Corporate headquarters in Shawnee, Kansas (Kansas City metro area). Current open roles (e.g., Market & Competitive Intelligence Analyst) are listed as on-site in Shawnee. No explicit remote/hybrid policy mentioned. - **Growth Opportunities**: Opportunities to work across multiple business units and functions; emphasis on professional development and internal mobility. ## Sources 1. [PBI-Gordon Companies Home](https://www.pbigordon.com/) 2. [Careers Page](https://www.pbigordon.com/careers/) 3. [Company History](https://www.pbigordon.com/about/company-history/) 4. [Executive Leadership](https://www.pbigordon.com/about/executive-leadership/) 5. [Greenhouse Job Board](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/pbigordoncompaniesinc) ## Other roles at PBI-Gordon Companies, Inc. - [Senior Corporate Program Administrator](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-corporate-program-administrator-pbi-gordon-companies-inc-shawnee-ygkzz9kwpenp) — Shawnee, KS - [Senior Tax Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-tax-manager-pbi-gordon-companies-inc-shawnee-p2qe07d4cs46) — Shawnee, KS - [Senior Copywriter](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-copywriter-pbi-gordon-companies-inc-shawnee-dbnk3v81nm4q) — Shawnee, KS - [HRIS Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/hris-manager-pbi-gordon-companies-inc-shawnee-ccvxmexcpzn1) — Shawnee, KS - [IT Functional Engineer- Finance](https://feeny.ai/job/it-functional-engineer-finance-pbi-gordon-companies-inc-shawnee-ks-fewq6ymxp3dv) — Shawnee KS, OR - [Director of Financial Planning & Analysis](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-financial-planning-analysis-pbi-gordon-companies-inc-shawnee-jtby47mvg1bh) — Shawnee, KS