General Counsel

ALDI is one of the fastest-growing retailers in the nation, on a bold path to expand with plans for nearly 3,200 locations by 2028. We are seeking a strategic and experienced General Counsel to lead and elevate our Legal and Compliance programs. In this role, you will provide expert legal counsel, guide compliance initiatives, and influence company-wide governance to support ALDI's continued growth and success.

Join our team and make a significant impact as a trusted advisor to our executive leadership team while upholding ALDI’s core values.

Position Type: Full-Time

Starting Salary: $410,000

Salary Increases: Year 2 - $422,000 | Year 3 - $447,500

Work Location: Aurora, IL

This role is eligible to participate in ALDI’s Hybrid Work Program, which allows remote work up to 2 days per week (i.e., work remotely up to 2 days per week; work in-office at least 3 days per week).

Must be able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Recruits, relocates, and recommends qualified employees for their team; determines the appropriate training methods/courses for new hires.
• Determines the salary levels for newly-hired or transferred employees reporting to them according to the established company wage structure.
• Understands the overarching company strategy while communicating and modeling the core values of the organization to create a sense of teamwork and membership among employees.
• Establishes, communicates and evaluates job responsibilities and performance expectations to their team to ensure mutual understanding of desired results.
• Recommends best practices in relation to legal and compliance processes and programs.
• Advises on compliance with legal documentation and company policies.
• Manages and liaises with outside counsel on legal matters and litigation from inception to trial.
• Counsels on employment/labor law, employee relations, ethics, privacy, transparency, data collection and storage, regulatory and governmental changes, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and artificial intelligence matters.
• Forms collaborative relationships with leaders and employees in order to execute strategies and efforts to support the growth/strategic objectives of the company.
• Provides expert and strategic counsel on various legal topics to leaders as requested.
• Consults with executives on the development of their team's strategy.
• Makes recommendations to executives on how to improve, design, and streamline applicable policies, procedures, and practices.
• Manages external consultants accordingly.
• Liaises with directors in other ALDI countries to facilitate the sharing of best practices.
• Evaluates and analyzes any legal cases on behalf of the company, working to provide guidance to all areas of the company's operations.
• Manages litigation and disputes, working with external counsel as needed to resolve legal matters efficiently and effectively. Works to mediate escalated employment matters as appropriate.
• Evaluates and establishes internal governance policies, weighing multiple inputs and impacts, anticipating issues, and estimating risks strategically.
• Identifies proactive and cost-effective solutions that will eliminate and/or mitigate legal and business risks as well as performing pre-litigation work to minimize risks and maximize legal rights.
• Reviews contracts and agreements, negotiating and creating agreements and/or contracts on behalf of the company as appropriate.
• Reviews and coordinates the necessary legal review of advertising, marketing and other collaterals to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
• Oversees legal aspects of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, contracts, joint ventures.
• Leads the compliance function, including internal frameworks, policies, monitoring systems and training programs.
• Monitors compliance activities and conducts risk assessments within all business units, identifying trends and potential areas of compliance vulnerability and reporting accordingly to the CEO.
• Manages the ALDI Alert Line system, including investigations into reports of potential compliance violations, and ensures appropriate action is taken.
• Monitors changes in laws, regulations, and industry best practices, and advises executive leadership accordingly.
• Manages and maintains all company corporate records and related filings ensuring the company meets legal and statutory obligations.
• Develops and monitors department budget, including internal and external counsel.
• Directs their team by ensuring that all projects and tasks meet business needs as well as expectations for quality and service.
• Establishes team objectives that align with the overall company strategy.
• Participates in international, National and Specialist Committees as required to establish best practice and business consistency.
• Identifies and develops company-wide and individual initiatives for their team.
• Complies with ALDI privacy and security requirements and policies if job responsibilities include possible…