Sr. Counsel, Commercial Transactions & Marketing

About the Team

The Legal & Corporate Affairs team is responsible for safeguarding the company’s reputation, ensuring we are operating with integrity and in line with our strategic initiatives. The Legal team provides high-quality legal services, ensures legal compliance and mitigates risks. The Corporate Communications team works to execute strategic and effective communication efforts that drive brand awareness, preference and reputation with internal and external stakeholders. The Corporate Social Responsibility & Belonging teams support the company’s environmental and social commitments with a strong focus on pets, people and the planet. The collective team supports the overall success and positive reputation of the company.

About the Location

Collaborative Work Environment: At PetSmart, teamwork and connection are core to how we thrive. This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.

About the Job

SUMMARY

PetSmart is seeking an experienced and business-oriented attorney to serve as the primary legal support for the company's commercial transactions and key commercial business partners, including Marketing, Digital, Loyalty, and Proprietary Brands.

This role will be responsible for negotiating, drafting, and advising on a broad range of commercial agreements across the company and providing day-to-day counseling on advertising and promotional activities, customer communications, digital experiences, privacy matters, loyalty programs, product claims, and other customer-facing initiatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary legal resource for the drafting, review, negotiation, and management of commercial agreements across the company.
• Draft, review, negotiate and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including agency, ad tech, martech, technology and SaaS agreements (including AI-enabled technologies), media and sponsorship agreements, influencer agreements, agreements involving the sharing or processing of customer data, and other agreements supporting PetSmart's commercial operations.
• Provide day-to-day legal support to PetSmart's Marketing, Digital, Loyalty, and Proprietary Brands teams, including advising on advertising and promotional campaigns, customer communications, marketing materials, sweepstakes and contests, influencer partnerships, social media campaigns, product claims and claims substantiation, disclosures, promotional practices, and other customer-facing initiatives.
• Advise on privacy and data governance matters impacting marketing, digital, and loyalty initiatives, including disclosures, consent requirements, data governance practices, and the collection, use, sharing, retention, and protection of customer and consumer information.
• Develop and deliver training and educational materials regarding legal and compliance requirements.
• Monitor and advise on emerging litigation, regulatory, and enforcement trends relating to advertising, consumer protection, privacy, website technologies, and digital marketing practices, and partner with business teams to develop scalable processes, controls, and guidance designed to mitigate legal risk.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar; ability to register as in-house in Arizona.
• Minimum of 5-8 years of related and relevant experience, preferably with larger business clients. In-house legal experience is a plus.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements and advising commercial business teams.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• None

SKILLS

• Must have excellent commercial judgment and the ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice.
• Must have proven communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex legal concepts and risks to non-legal professionals.
• Must have proven drafting and negotiation skills.
• Must have effective interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across business functions and levels of the organization.
• Must have the ability to independently manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be adaptable, solutions-oriented, and capable of balancing legal risk with business objectives.
• Must have the ability to build trust and credibility with internal business stakeholders.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment are characteristic of those found in a typical office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable those with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Additional Job Considerations

• This role requires collaboration, teamwork, and face-to-face interaction with colleagues, leaders, and/or clients.
• Being in the office ensures access to leaders, cross-functional partners, and resources necessary to make timely decisions and drive results.
• On-site presence in accordance with our FlexSmart policy supports our culture of innovation, mentorship, and engagement, which is integral to our success in developing the best team.

This is not intended to be an all-inclusive, exhaustive list of all essential job functions for this position. PetSmart retains the right to change or assign other required job duties to this position.

PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.