Managing Counsel

About the role

The Legal team plays a crucial role in ALDI's strategic direction and manages a broad range of legal matters impacting the business. This role provides strategic legal guidance on labor and employment matters, focusing on labor relations, while supervising the Labor and Employment team and supporting the direct leader.

Responsibilities

• Establishes, communicates, and evaluates job responsibilities and performance expectations to direct reports.
• Identifies training and development opportunities for direct reports to enhance performance.
• Understands and communicates the company's strategy and core values to foster a sense of teamwork and membership among employees.
• Consults with leadership, Human Resources, operations, and other business partners on labor and employment strategy, including labor relations, workplace compliance, and risk mitigation.
• Analyzes current working procedures and proposes improvements.
• Assists in managing internal and external relationships with business partners and outside counsel.
• Communicates effectively and informs the direct leader of issues, status, and results of assigned tasks.
• Identifies labor and employment legal issues and recommends responsive actions, with emphasis on labor relations and risk mitigation.
• Engages with executive leadership, various business units, and external parties involved in the legal process.
• PARTNERS WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL ON EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY CHARGES, LABOR DISPUTES, ARBITRATION, AND OTHER LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT MATTERS.
• Collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to integrate legal considerations into business operations and initiatives.
• Evaluates and analyzes legal issues in multiple jurisdictions and nationwide and reports findings, as well as recommendations, to the direct leader.
• Provides input to the direct leader on hiring for positions reporting to them.
• Informs management of major team milestones, developments, and concerns.
• PROVIDES STRATEGIC LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSEL TO LEADERSHIP, INTERNAL TEAM MEMBERS, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND RELEVANT AREAS OF THE BUSINESS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT OVERSIGHT TO MINIMIZE RISK AND POTENTIAL LEGAL LIABILITY.
• Leverages legal expertise, experience, and business acumen to proactively support the company in achieving its objectives.
• PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE ON SPECIAL PROJECTS INVOLVING LABOR RELATIONS, WORKPLACE COMPLIANCE, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, EMPLOYMENT POLICIES, LITIGATION STRATEGY, AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS.
• ENSURES COMPLETION OF TASKS, PROJECTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS AS ASSIGNED BY THEIR DIRECT LEADER.
• OPERATES AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT AND ESCALATION POINT TO RESOLVE QUESTIONS AND ISSUES.
• RESEARCHES, MONITORS, ANDASSESSES EMERGING LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LEGAL TRENDS, LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS, AGENCY GUIDANCE, AND COURT DECISIONS; IDENTIFIES AND COMMUNICATES IMPACTFUL UPDATES TO RELEVANT BUSINESS UNITS.
• MANAGES COMPLEX LEGAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS WHILE COLLABORATING WITH VARIOUS CROSS-FUNCTIONAL BUSINESS TEAMS.
• DRAFTS LEGAL MEMORANDA, CASE ASSESSMENTS, REPORTS, ATTORNEY CORRESPONDENCE, POSITION STATEMENTS, LABOR RELATIONS GUIDANCE, AND OTHER WORK PRODUCT TO IDENTIFY EXPOSURE AND RISK.
• PERFORMS PRE-LITIGATION AND PRE-DISPUTE WORK TO MINIMIZE LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT RISKS AND POTENTIAL LEGAL LIABILITY.
• MANAGES OUTSIDE COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO COMPLEX LEGAL MATTERS.
• PARTNERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND/OR REVIEW OF LABOR RELATIONS STRATEGIES, EMPLOYMENT POLICIES, WORKPLACE PRACTICES, PROCEDURES, AGREEMENTS, MANAGER GUIDANCE, AND TRAINING TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE, CONSISTENCY, AND RISK MITIGATION.
• MANAGES STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING COSTS AND TRANSFERRING RISK.
• DIRECTS THE TEAM’S COMPLETION OF TASKS, PROJECTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS IN A TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE MANNER TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE BUSINESS.
• OPERATES AS AN ESCALATION POINT FOR TEAM MEMBERS TO RESOLVE QUESTIONS AND ISSUES.
• OVERSEES THE TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, AND GOAL SETTING FOR DIRECT REPORTS.
• SUPERVISES THE DAY-TIME OPERATIONS OF THEIR TEAM, ESCALATING ISSUES TO THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF SUPPORT AND/OR LEADERSHIP WHEN NECESSARY.
• ENSURES DIRECT REPORTS COMPLETE ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITIES IN A TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE MANNER TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE BUSINESS.
• COMPLIES WITH ALDI PRIVACY AND SECURITY REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES IF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE POSSIBLE ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR SENSITIVE INFORMATION.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in a legal environment required, preferably in a combination of law firm and corporate or in-house experience.
• J.D. from an ABA accredited law school required.
• Experience in a law firm, corporate legal department or in-house legal counsel required.
• Licensed to practice in Illinois (or immediate ability to become licensed) required.
• Significant experience advising on labor and employment law matters required, including labor relations, union-related issues, employee relations, workplace investigations, wage and hour compliance, employment litigation, and administrative agency matters.

Qualifications

• Consistently demonstrates the Mindsets, ALDI Acts Competencies and Professional Skills (M.A.P.) as outlined for the role.
• Gives attention to detail and follows instruction.
• Ability to develop rapport, trust, and open communication that enhances the growth and performance of direct reports.
• Conflict management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Understands the history, strategy, organizational authority, interdependence of job duties, products, systems, and services of the company.
• Demonstrated skills in the areas of time management, interpersonal skills, relationship building, collaboration, presentation, and problem solving.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and customer service skills, including the ability to professionally communicate with a wide variety of individuals and respond to inquiries in a timely, professional manner.
• Strong legal analysis, drafting, research, and presentation skills.
• Advanced knowledge of United States labor and employment law, including labor relations, collective bargaining, union organizing, grievance and arbitration matters, wage and hour compliance, workplace investigations, employee relations, accommodations, leaves of absence, and employment litigation.
• Working knowledge of related contract, regulatory, commercial, and data privacy issues preferred.
• Knowledge of how legal issues affect organizations and the ability to develop strategies to coordinate legal considerations to business objectives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to analyze and present complex data.
• Ability to anticipate legal risks as well as utilize excellent judgment and analytical skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply company policies and procedures.
• Ability to multi-task and independently prioritize and work under strict deadlines.
• Knowledge of retail industry standards and practices.
• Negotiation skills.
• Ability to plan and organize workflow and embrace new challenges.
• Ability to apply creative solutions.
• Proficient in assessing data to determine accuracy and completeness.

Skills

• Consistently demonstrates the Mindsets, ALDI Acts Competencies and Professional Skills (M.A.P.) as outlined for the role.
• Gives attention to detail and follows instruction.
• Ability to develop rapport, trust, and open communication that enhances the growth and performance of direct reports.
• Conflict management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Understands the history, strategy, organizational authority, interdependence of job duties, products, systems, and services of the company.
• Demonstrated skills in the areas of time management, interpersonal skills, relationship building, collaboration, presentation, and problem solving.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and customer service skills, including the ability to professionally communicate with a wide variety of individuals and respond to inquiries in a timely, professional manner.
• Strong legal analysis, drafting, research, and presentation skills.
• Advanced knowledge of United States labor and employment law, including labor relations, collective bargaining, union organizing, grievance and arbitration matters, wage and hour compliance, workplace investigations, employee relations, accommodations, leaves of absence, and employment litigation.
• Working knowledge of related contract, regulatory, commercial, and data privacy issues preferred.
• Knowledge of how legal issues affect organizations and the ability to develop strategies to coordinate legal considerations to business objectives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to analyze and present complex data.
• Ability to anticipate legal risks as well as utilize excellent judgment and analytical skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply company policies and procedures.
• Ability to multi-task and independently prioritize and work under strict deadlines.
• Knowledge of retail industry standards and practices.
• Negotiation skills.
• Ability to plan and organize workflow and embrace new challenges.
• Ability to apply creative solutions.
• Proficient in assessing data to determine accuracy and completeness.

Benefits

• 401(k) Plan
• Company 401(k) Matching Contributions
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• PerkSpot National Discount Program
• Medical, Prescription, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Generous Vacation Time & 7 Paid Holidays
• Up to 6 Weeks Paid Parental Leave at 100% of pay
• Up to 2 Weeks Paid Caregiver Leave at 100% of pay
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life, Dependent Life and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• Compliance with ALDI privacy and security requirements and policies if job responsibilities include possible access to confidential and/or sensitive information.