Corporate Counsel I - Data Privacy

Are you a privacy-focused attorney with expertise in global data protection laws like the GDPR and CCPA? ALDI is seeking a skilled and forward-thinking Corporate Counsel to join our Legal team. In this role, you’ll provide strategic counsel on privacy compliance across our U.S. operations, partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure responsible data handling, mitigate regulatory risk, and support innovation in a privacy-conscious way. You’ll play a key role in shaping and operationalizing ALDI’s privacy program, advising on data governance, vendor management, incident response, and evolving legal obligations. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact in a fast-paced retail environment while championing privacy rights and regulatory excellence, we encourage you to apply.

Position Type: Full-Time
Starting Salary: $127,500
Salary Increases: Year 2 - $135,000 | Year 3 - $142,500 
Work Location: Naperville, IL
This role is eligible to participate in ALDI’s Hybrid Work Program, which requires work in-office at least 2 days per month.

Duties and Responsibilities: 
Must be able to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Communicates effectively and informs direct leader of issues, status, and results of assigned tasks.
• Works proactively and reliably under tight deadlines at the direction of the direct leader and/or independently.
• Engages with various business units and external parties involved in the legal process.
• Partners and liaises with outside counsel on legal matters and manages relevant external consultants.
• Assists in identifying best practices in relation to legal and compliance processes and programs.
• Forms collaborative relationships with leaders and various areas of the business to execute strategies and efforts to support the growth/strategic objectives of the Company.
• Evaluates and analyzes legal issues in multiple jurisdictions and nationwide and reports findings to direct leader.
• Recommends process improvements for area of responsibility.
• Provides day-to-day strategic counsel to assigned business units on a wide range of legal issues.
• Researches, monitors, and assesses the impact of emergent employment law trends, new legal issues and laws, legislation, regulations, and court decisions on the business; identifies and communicates impactful updates to relevant business units.
• Identifies and analyzes unique legal issues impacting the organization by identifying applicable statutes, judicial decisions and codes.
• Drafts legal memorandums, case assessments, attorney correspondence, reports, and other work product to identify exposures and risks then reports findings to direct leader.
• Performs pre-litigation work to minimize risks and potential liability, at the instruction of the direct leader.
• Partners with outside counsel with respect to complex legal matters.
• Identifies proactive, cost-effective solutions that will eliminate and/or mitigate legal and business risks. 
• Ensures effective implementation and communication of Legal programs, providing visibility of key milestones and progress. 
• Assists in implementing and driving process improvements and infrastructure solutions to enhance the department’s ability to assist the Company and function efficiently.
• Ensures compliance with legal documentation and Company policies.
• Assists with preparation and analysis of data to identify legal exposures and risks.
• Assists on special projects, as requested.
• Manages multiple projects and initiatives with various deadlines. 
• Collaborates with team members and communicates relevant information to leadership.
• Complies with ALDI privacy and security requirements and policies if job responsibilities include possible access to confidential and/or sensitive information.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job-specific Competencies: 
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Consistently demonstrates the Mindsets, ALDI Acts Competencies and Professional Skills (M.A.P.) as outlined for the role.
• Gives attention to detail and follows instruction.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and customer service skills, including the ability to communicate with a wide variety of individuals and respond to inquiries in a timely, professional manner.
• Effective time management; maximizes productivity.
• Prepares written materials to meet purpose and audience.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with internal and external parties.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
• Demonstrated skills in the areas of time management, relationship building, collaboration, and problem solving.
• Knowledge of relevant United States data privacy laws and ability to assist in defending the company against various areas of litigation.
• Conducts privacy impact assessments and data protection impact assessments.
• Knowledge of how legal issues affect organizations and the ability to develop strategies to coordinate legal considerations to business objectives.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including creativity and ability to communicate information accurately and proficiently to non-lawyers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to stay organized, multi-task, and prioritize in a professional and efficient manner while working under strict deadlines.
• Ability to anticipate legal risks as well as utilize excellent judgment and analytical skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply company policies and procedures.
• Ability to apply creative solutions. 
• Knowledge of retail industry standards and practices preferred. 

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• A minimum of 1 year of progressive privacy experience in a legal environment required. 
• J.D. from an ABA accredited law school required. 
• Licensed to practice in Illinois (or immediate ability to become licensed) required.
• Strong understanding of data governance, data security, and privacy by design principles.
• In-depth knowledge of CCPA, VCDPA and other global data protection laws and regulations.
• Proficiency in OneTrust is a plus.
• CIPP/US, or other relevant privacy certification is a plus.
• Or, a combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge. 

Physical Requirements:

• Work may be performed in an office, remote office or a combination of both where a computer and office equipment may be used as needed to perform duties.
• Regularly required to sit, reach, grasp, stand and move from one area to another.
• Constantly and repeatedly use keyboard/mouse.
• Occasionally required to push, pull, bend, lift and move up to 25 lbs. 

Travel:

• Domestic travel required.
• Up to 10%.