Managing Counsel - Labor & Employment

ALDI•Aurora, IL

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

ALDI is seeking a Managing Counsel - Labor & Employment to provide strategic legal guidance on labor and employment matters, with an emphasis on labor relations. The role supervises the Labor and Employment team and supports its direct leader. The position advises leadership, Human Resources, internal teams, and business partners on legal strategy, workplace compliance, labor relations, and risk mitigation, and serves as a subject matter expert and escalation point on complex issues. The Managing Counsel works with executive leadership, business units, outside counsel, and cross-functional teams on litigation, administrative agency charges, labor disputes, arbitration, negotiations, policies, workplace practices, and special projects. The role monitors legal developments, assesses risks across multiple jurisdictions, prepares legal work product, and partners with business stakeholders to integrate legal considerations into operations. It also oversees team operations, training, development, performance management, and goal setting for direct reports. This is a full-time position based in Aurora, Illinois. It is eligible for ALDI’s Legal Hybrid Work Program, which requires at least one in-office day per week. Domestic travel is required, up to 10%. Starting salary is $207,000, with stated increases to $220,000 in Year 2 and $233,000 in Year 3.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, or a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge.
At least 7 years of progressive experience in a legal environment; preferably a combination of law firm and corporate or in-house experience.
Experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, or in-house legal counsel required.
J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school required.
Licensed to practice in Illinois, or have the immediate ability to become licensed, required.
Significant experience advising on employment law, including employee relations, workplace investigations, wage and hour compliance, employment litigation, and administrative agency matters.
Extensive knowledge of federal and state anti-discrimination, harassment, and retaliation laws, as well as employment-related laws concerning leaves, accommodations, and safety and health issues.
Significant experience advising on labor law, including labor relations, union-related issues, and union avoidance.
Extensive knowledge of the NLRB and other state-related labor laws.
Advanced knowledge of and experience advising on U.S. labor and employment law, including labor relations, collective bargaining, union organizing, grievance and arbitration matters, wage and hour compliance, investigations, employee relations, accommodations, leaves, and employment litigation.
Strong legal analysis, drafting, research, and presentation skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, judgment, and ability to anticipate legal risks.
Ability to lead and direct a team of attorneys and professionals.
Ability to develop rapport, trust, and open communication that supports direct reports’ growth and performance; conflict management skills.
Demonstrated time management, interpersonal, relationship-building, collaboration, presentation, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication and customer service skills, including professional, timely responses to inquiries.
Ability to understand how legal issues affect organizations and coordinate legal considerations with business objectives.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and able to analyze and present complex data.
Ability to interpret and apply company policies and procedures.
Ability to multitask, prioritize independently, and work under strict deadlines.
Knowledge of retail industry standards and practices.
Negotiation skills; ability to plan and organize workflow, embrace new challenges, and apply creative solutions.
Proficient in assessing data for accuracy and completeness.
Able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Regularly able to sit, reach, grasp, stand, and move between areas; constantly and repeatedly use a keyboard and mouse; occasionally push, pull, bend, lift, and move up to 25 pounds.
Domestic travel required, up to 10%.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of and experience with contract, regulatory, commercial, and data privacy issues.
Experience managing others and/or leading a team.
Experience implementing and managing change initiatives within a team or organization.
Preferably a combination of law firm and corporate or in-house legal experience.

Responsibilities

Establish, communicate, and evaluate direct reports’ job responsibilities and performance expectations.
Identify training and development opportunities for direct reports and oversee their training, development, performance management, and goal setting.
Communicate and model company strategy and core values to support teamwork and employee engagement.
Consult with leadership, Human Resources, operations, and business partners on labor and employment strategy, labor relations, workplace compliance, and risk mitigation.
Analyze current working procedures and propose improvements.
Manage relationships with business partners and outside counsel.
Keep the direct leader informed of issues, status, and results of assigned work; report major team milestones, developments, and concerns.
Identify labor and employment legal issues and recommend responsive actions, emphasizing labor relations and risk mitigation.
Engage with executive leadership, business units, and external parties involved in legal matters.
Partner with outside counsel on employment litigation, agency charges, labor disputes, arbitration, and other labor and employment matters.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate legal considerations into business operations and initiatives.
Evaluate legal issues across multiple jurisdictions and nationwide and report findings and recommendations to the direct leader.
Provide input to the direct leader on hiring for positions reporting to the role.
Provide subject matter expertise in labor and employment law, with emphasis on labor relations.
Give strategic labor and employment advice to leadership, internal team members, Human Resources, and relevant business areas to minimize risk and potential liability.
Provide legal advice on projects involving labor relations, workplace compliance, employee relations, policies, litigation strategy, and operational needs.
Ensure assigned tasks, projects, presentations, and reports are completed; direct the team’s work to provide effective service to the business.
Serve as a subject matter expert and escalation point for questions and issues.
Monitor legal trends, legislation, regulations, agency guidance, and court decisions, and communicate impactful updates to relevant business units.
Manage complex legal negotiations with key stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
Analyze current projects and review reported results.
Draft legal memorandums, case assessments, reports, attorney correspondence, position statements, labor relations guidance, and other work product identifying exposure and risk.
Perform pre-litigation and pre-dispute work to reduce labor and employment risks and potential liability.
Manage outside counsel on complex legal matters.
Partner in developing and reviewing labor relations strategies, employment policies, workplace practices, procedures, agreements, manager guidance, and training for compliance, consistency, and risk mitigation.
Manage strategies for reducing costs and transferring risk.
Supervise the team’s day-to-day operations and escalate issues when necessary.
Ensure direct reports complete assigned responsibilities on time and effectively.
Comply with ALDI privacy and security requirements and policies when responsibilities may involve confidential or sensitive information.