Legal/Risk Management

Job Description

Big Y Foods has an excellent opportunity for a General Counsel to join our company. The General Counsel is an integral member of the Company's senior leadership team, who provides counsel and strategic legal advice to management and the Board of Directors on a wide range of legal, compliance, and governance issues across the entire enterprise.

The General Counsel will have a strong understanding of the Company's strategic priorities and business objectives. They will develop and implement legal strategies to protect and support the Company's interests and mitigate risks, while ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards. The role acts as an advisor to the Board of Directors and the business on a wide range of legal issues, including: compliance and risk management, corporate governance, contract management, litigation management, intellectual property, employment matters, real estate leasing and entity-level and business transactions.

As a senior leader, the General Counsel is also responsible for developing the legal organization with a focus on providing the business with timely legal counsel that contributes to business success. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this position works collaboratively with management throughout the organization.

Requirements

Duties:

• Develop and implement legal strategies to protect the Company's interests and support its business objectives
• Provide legal counsel to the executive team and Board of Directors on a wide range of legal issues
• Advise on legal implications of business decisions and transactions
• Advise and counsel on real estate leasing and transactions
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts with vendors, suppliers, customers, and third parties
• Manage existing contracts and ensure compliance with their terms
• Manage contract disputes
• Manage, engage, mentor, and develop the Legal team and team members
• Manage internal and external legal counsel on all matters and projects requiring legal advice
• Provide legal guidance on employment-related matters, ensuring compliance with labor laws and regulations
• Advise on intellectual property matters
• Oversee litigation matters, and seek to resolve them efficiently and effectively
• Stay abreast of and ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards
• Identify proactive legal strategies that will eliminate or mitigate risks
• Oversee internal compliance programs
• Manage licenses necessary for business operations
• Participate in national and state associations, to be informed of and advocate for legislative priorities that impact the industry and the Company
• Maintain corporate records, including minutes of meetings, resolutions, and other legal documents
• Provide advice and guidance to the Board of Directors on corporate governance matters
• Assist with the development and implementation of corporate governance policies and procedures at both the Board and management levels
• Support the Board of Directors and Board/Management Committees in fulfilling their fiduciary duties
• Act as a liaison between the Board, management, and shareholders
• Provide support and counsel to shareholders/family members
• Promote the Company's culture and values
• Support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Partner with leadership and staff across the organization to ensure that the Legal Department is fulfilling its role as a support function

Requirements:

• JD degree from an accredited law school
• Current member of a state bar, preferably MA or CT
• At least 10 year's experience at law firm or as in-house counsel, including managing other lawyers
• Retail company experience a plus
• Proven leadership, independence and negotiation skills
• Comfortable anticipating legal and business risks and making high stakes decisions
• Ability to maintain high degree of ethics, integrity and confidentiality
• Team player with a positive attitude and businesslike conduct
• Possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Independent worker and self-starter
• Ability to operate within company policies, procedures, and standards
• Ability to interact and communicate with individuals at all levels of the organization
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks
• Attention to detail, accuracy, ability to prioritize and follow-through
• Possess strategic, analytical and problem-solving skills
• The applicant must be willing to work at the company's office in Springfield, MA

Big Y Foods, Inc. is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Big Y operates over 90 locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut including 75 supermarkets, Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors and Big Y Express gas and convenience locations, with over 10,000 employees. Founded in 1936, Big Y continues to be family owned and operated and has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-in-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and in 2023 for both Newsweek's America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and for Women.