Senior Licensing Specialist (Retail, Alcohol & Business Licensing)
About The Position
Join Sutherland as a Senior Retail Licensing & Regulatory Specialist and become the subject matter expert supporting the licensing authority for a large-scale retail operation. Your expertise will help shape licensing strategy, reduce regulatory risk, and keep thousands of retail locations compliant across multiple jurisdictions. We're looking for someone with 5+ years of hands-on experience managing multi-jurisdiction business licenses, permits, and renewals for a national retailer, restaurant, or quick-service organization. As the project's licensing authority, you'll interpret complex regulatory requirements, guide best practices for high-risk licensing—including alcohol and health permits—and help build compliant, scalable processes that support operations across the country.
Requirements
- 5+ years of hands-on experience managing multi-jurisdiction business license and permit renewals for a large national retailer, restaurant, or quick-service organization.
- Deep expertise with high-risk licensing, including Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), Health Department permits, Hazardous Materials, and other complex regulatory requirements.
- A proven ability to interpret statutes, municipal codes, and regulatory requirements and translate them into clear, practical business processes.
- Strong knowledge of the full licensing lifecycle—from new applications and renewals through approvals, closeout, and record retention.
- Experience managing licensing across multiple states and local jurisdictions, balancing competing deadlines while maintaining compliance.
- Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to identify compliance risks before they become business issues.
- Willingness to travel to client sites as needed.
- Ability to work onsite in Chesapeake, VA.
Responsibilities
- Interpret complex regulatory requirements.
- Guide best practices for high-risk licensing, including alcohol and health permits.
- Help build compliant, scalable processes that support operations across the country.
- Manage multi-jurisdiction business license and permit renewals.
- Manage licensing across multiple states and local jurisdictions, balancing competing deadlines while maintaining compliance.
- Identify compliance risks before they become business issues.
Benefits
- Relocation assistance is available.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
