Senior Counsel - Corporate Contracts

Category/Area of Expertise: Legal
Job Requisition: 447065
Address: USA-IL-Chicago-300 South Riverside Plaza
Store Code: Legal (5157450)
Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands - Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.
Primary Purpose
The primary purpose of this position is to deliver business & contractual legal support in connection with commercial contracts and other transactional business matters. This position supports Ahold Delhaize USA and its local brands in connection with commercial negotiations, including contract creation, compliance and review.
The companies of Ahold Delhaize USA include two service companies and five grocery retailers (Food Lion, The Giant Company, Giant Food, Hannaford and Stop & Shop) in 18 states and the District of Columbia. As an integral part of the business, you will need to be comfortable providing counsel directly to business colleagues on legal and business issues and support business strategies and initiatives.
The Senior Counsel will report to the Senior Associate General Counsel for the Strategic Transactions & Technology practice team and will work collaboratively and with minimal supervision as part of a fast-paced and specialized legal team.
Our flexible/ hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations include Salisbury, NC , Chicago, IL, Quincy, MA, Carlisle, PA, and Scarborough, ME.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Duties and Responsibilities
1) Contract Negotiations & Management - Provide leadership and support for technology and commercial contract negotiations, regulatory matters and business disputes

• Prepare, review and negotiate complex and standard commercial agreements, 3rd party vendor and supplier agreements including without limitation, service agreements, monetization agreements, consulting agreements, supply chain and transportation agreements, supply agreements and marketing agreements. Familiarity with data privacy laws is a plus.
• Review and approve agreements prepared by business teams before agreements are presented for executive approval.
• Support the Companies in negotiating, developing and maintaining contractual relationships with key suppliers and vendors.
• Assistance with Vendor Information Security Agreement negotiations.
• Review agreements and advise on risks related to emerging and changing retail laws.
• Create risk assesments and advise on risk mitigation.
• Manage technology outside counsel resources.

2) Transactional Law Strategy - Provide subject area legal advice to retail, corporate and related business teams in support of business projects, commercial contracts and other business matters. Work with business leaders to define risks and benefits of legal recommendations to develop the appropriate strategy for the business and collaborate with business leaders to develop solutions and strategies that effectively manage risk while delivering business strategies and initiatives.

• Support the development and management of the legal strategy for the varied commercial practice areas.
• Engage with legal and business leaders across the U.S. Companies to provide legal support, strategic advice, and guidance.
• Manage the development and continuous improvement of commercial contracts management programs.
• Identify and resolve emerging compliance risks in laws affecting retail and the supply chain industries.
• Engage with the global legal team to develop partnership strategies to increase efficiencies across business teams.
• Assist in the development of efficient and cost-effective legal processes and systems related to the practice area.

3) Training and Compliance - Provide communication and training on evolving legal issues and requirements

• Proactively monitor industry, legislative and regulatory developments related to transactional law and developing
• Develop and implement appropriate legal initiatives for the practice area to meet current trends and changing business needs.
• Promote communication and awareness of legal developments, compliance issues and requirements, and best practices.
• Conduct training for business teams on relevant company processes and contract compliance.
• Draft and continually update templates, training materials and processes.

4) Other responsibilities

• Provide support to other practice groups in the Legal Department (Employment, Labor & Benefits; Litigation, Regulatory, Privacy, & Omnichannel Services) as needed, to manage demand, build experience across the business, and develop attorneys.
• Manage special projects and serve on cross-functional teams.
• Support development and management of junior team members.
• Provide input on proposed legislation, potential impacts, and implementation.
• This role also may serve as lead Brand or Functional counsel responsible for coordinating legal advice on matters involving Brand or Function strategy, risk, and other issues as may arise, and participating in the Brand or Function leadership meetings.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree
• State bar license
• 8-10+ years relevant experience practicing law

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to collaborate and innovative problem solving skills
• Ability to spot legal issues in complex business deals
• Collegiality, teamwork, and cooperation with teams based in multiple geographies
• Advocacy, persuasion, and consensus-building
• Integrity
• Negotiation Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Professional judgment
• Emotional intelligence
• Customer-focused orientation
• Organization and attention to detail
• Initiative
• Organizational awareness
• Sense of humor

ME/NC/PA/SC Salary Range: $120,960 - $181,440
IL/MA/MD Salary Range: $139,120 - $208,680
All ADUSA job offers take multiple factors into consideration including, but not limited to salary range, internal equity, a candidate's qualifications, geographic region, job-related knowledge and skills.
This position is eligible for an incentive bonus based on company performance as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
#LI-LL1 #LI-Hybrid
At Ahold Delhaize USA, we provide services to one of the largest portfolios of grocery companies in the nation, and we're actively seeking top talent.
Our team shares a common motivation to drive change, take ownership and enable our brands to better care for their customers. We thrive on supporting great local grocery brands and their strategies.
Our associates are the heartbeat of our organization. We are committed to offering a welcoming work environment where all associates can succeed and thrive. Guided by our values of courage, care, teamwork, integrity (and even a little humor), we are dedicated to being a great place to work.
We believe in collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning in all that we think, create and do. While building a culture where personal and professional growth are just as important as business growth, we invest in our people, empowering them to learn, grow and deliver at all levels of the business.