Vice President & Assistant General Counsel

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At the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) , we convene decision-makers, advocate for the retail industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is bold but simple: to elevate a dynamic industry by transforming the environment in which retailers operate. 

 

We are a dynamic, collaborative, team-oriented trade association in Washington, DC. Our employees are passionate about customer service and supporting our members and each other, and we are adding to the team!

 

Position Summary:

The Vice President & Assistant General Counsel reports directly to the RILA’s General Counsel and is key to RILA’s success, supporting our members’ in-house legal teams. The role’s primary focus is to partner with senior in-house legal leaders at retail companies on SEC compliance, corporate finance, internal audit, enterprise risk, and CSR/ESG, drawing on deep knowledge of federal regulatory frameworks and public company governance. The ideal candidate brings experience advising sophisticated, multi-state or global consumer-facing businesses and is eager to apply that background in a trade association setting supporting the retail industry. In exchange, we will show you how rewarding trade association life can be when you work with smart corporate and outside counsel and with a collegial staff representing the retail industry while solving some of its most complex legal problems.

 

The ideal candidate will have experience in two or more of the following areas:

 

• SEC - including corporate disclosures/filings, investor protection areas, insider trading policies, acting as corporate secretary or assistant corporate secretary
• Corporate Finance and Payments – including retail financing structures, payments, related privacy and data security requirements
• Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk—including controls used to support board and management oversight of enterprise-wide risk.
• ESG/CSR – including California Climate Disclosure obligations and corporate rating systems, including MSCI, Sustainalytics, ISS ESG, CDP, and S&P Global.

Experience in-house on a national retail or retail-adjacent (CPG manufacturer, national restaurant chain, customer-facing businesses) legal team is required. We are looking for lawyers with experience leading teams within a legal department at the deputy general counsel, assistant general counsel, or equivalent level. This role requires working cross-functionally across RILA committees on topics that reach beyond the legal team, so a genuine interest in collaboration and an ability to bring people together in productive discussions are essential.

RILA is a dynamic, collaborative, team-oriented organization with a fast-paced environment. RILA’s Core Values:

 

• Integrity – Operate with the highest integrity and respect for each other and the brands we represent
• Service – Delight members with service beyond their expectations
• Change – Learn from experiences, adapt, and constantly improve
• Team – Collaborate with one another to achieve more and celebrate wins together 

General Responsibilities:

• Convene and work directly with in-house counsel at the country’s leading retailers to address newly emerging and intractable issues targeting the retail and other consumer-facing industries regarding the SEC, Corporate Finance & Payments, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk, and ESG/CSR.
• Lead the Legal Direct Reports (L2) Committee and engage with deputy GCs and senior legal in-house counsel.
• Lead the Internal Audit Committee and engage with internal audit teams from retail members.
• Develop materials and programming for the benefit of in-house retail members, including working with RILA colleagues to plan and execute the annual best-in-class Retail Law Conference.
• Collaborate with RILA’s Federal and State Government Affairs teams to develop and execute persuasive written and oral advocacy on key cross-functional issues (e.g., SEC regulations impacting public company retailers, proposed SEC climate disclosures, CA climate disclosures, regulations addressing retail financing or payments, etc.).
• Build strategic partnerships and relationships, including with other trade associations, legal networks, and retail stakeholders, to build industry coalitions.
• Work with internal partners and external experts to provide excellent member service, advice, and counsel to RILA members, including effectively managing outside counsel.
• Perform other tasks and assist with special projects as assigned by RILA’s President & CEO, Sr EVP/General Counsel, and RILA executive staff.
• Support RILA’s Sr EVP/General Counsel in ensuring the legal integrity of the association by providing high-quality, practical, reliable legal, business, and policy advice and counsel to the RILA staff, Board of Directors, and its members.
• Work with RILA senior leadership and RILA’s Business Development Team to recruit committee sponsors and manage sponsor relationships to provide value to members and sponsors. 
• Co-manage, mentor, assist with professional development, and oversee the work quality of assigned support staff.

 

Required Skills & Experience:

• J.D. from an accredited law school and membership in at least one state bar.
• At least 7 years of experience practicing law, with substantial time spent in-house with a legal department in a national retail, consumer product/goods, or consumer-facing business.
• Experienced with facilitating and leading group discussions of sophisticated legal peers toward productive outcomes.
• Enjoyment from finding connections and building bridges, thinking creatively, and finding business-friendly solutions to emerging retail issues.
• Willingness to learn, lean in, recommend, and help implement solutions across the organization, even “outside your lane.”
• Excellent legal analytical, organizational and writing skills, with a special talent for concise messaging.
• A self-starter with strong project management skills.
• Self-sufficient on a PC and with Microsoft technology. Bonus points for early-adopter tendencies with AI applications in a business or legal environment.
• Bonus points for experience with federal regulatory and/or administrative bodies.
• Bonus points for aptitude with the press and social media.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation:
$180,000 - $200,000

Benefits:

• Unlimited PTO + 12 federal holidays.
• Generous family and parental leave policies.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage (FSA/HSA options available).
• Employer-sponsored life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and mental wellness options.
• 401(k) retirement plan with potential employer match.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Team outings/gatherings.
• Flexibility (including hybrid office schedule).

RILA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of all backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, abilities, and sexual orientations to apply. We are committed to being an inclusive place to work, while maintaining a workforce that represents the communities we serve.

Application Instructions:
Apply via our recruiting portal here:
Learn more about us here:

In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter that explains the opportunities you see in this position, as well as your specific experience in the following: (1) leading executives to productive business solutions; (2) distilling complex legal issues into short, client-friendly summaries; and (3) leading/producing weekly or monthly updates – bonus points for including examples. We look forward to reviewing your information. Thank you!