General Counsel

Are you interested in a role where you will have direct influence on the future of the company? Where you will be an integral member of the executive leadership team taking the company through a corporate transformation. Petco is seeking a General Counsel to lead all aspects of our legal function. As one of the key executive leaders you will be instrumental to the success of Petco’s future by overseeing the legal strategic and operational activities. Petco is currently on a high growth path with an emphasis on continuing to move the business to the next stage of development. The General Counsel will provide guidance across the organization to support this growth by determining and guiding the legal posture and interests of the company. You will also ensure that business practices, policies, and dealings meet legal and regulatory requirements to protect Petco from legal action and manage the organization’s defense and the interpretation and preparation of legal documents. You will provide counsel to corporate management on legal matters and build and run a world class and contemporary legal organization.

Responsibilities:

Establish, direct and execute overall legal strategies and provide sound legal counsel and advice that maximize opportunities and mitigate risk and exposure in all matters affecting the company.

Oversee the development of litigation management strategies that impact overall company results.

Direct the conduct of all legal proceedings involving the company, including administrative proceedings, negotiations and arbitration. Manage the company’s defense.

Act in the role of corporate secretary for key meetings such as Board of Directors, Advisors Council, and Weekly Sponsor meetings including action item capture and follow up.

Hire and direct outside legal counsel including their management of all Petco legal proceedings to ensure the best interests of the company are protected. Directly manage sensitive and highly visible investigations and litigation.

As a member of the senior management team, participate in the initiation, development and execution of strategic planning and corporate policies.

Direct the development of reporting departments’ budgets and business plans to ensure alignment with overall Petco strategy.

Lead and direct a high caliber team, providing oversight and leadership to reporting departments. hire, mentor and coach and develop direct reports to ensure the highest competency and skill set necessary to meet and exceed company objectives. Ensure continuation of excellence in Petco’s workforce through frequent discussions of high potential partners and initiating developmental opportunities. Actively pursue the development of bench strength.

Initiate, evaluate and execute Petco’s total reward strategy to motivate and retain partners by ensuring objective performance management, equitable compensation treatment, access to job related training, assistance with career development/planning, appropriate rewards and recognition and communication of strategy to reporting departments.

Oversee the implementation and management of organized functional responsibilities throughout reporting departments including the establishment of clear lines of accountability and responsibility within and between departments.

Establish and promote an organization culture that encourages leaders to seek and formulate ideas and opportunities that increase sales, profitability, and efficiency/productivity; and that improve cost control, loss prevention, customer satisfaction, company image and the quality of Petco’s workforce. Ensure a culture that values and promotes collaboration between all stakeholders and business partners.

Set the overall direction for the development and implementation of process systems tools and protocols to monitor company performance against the strategic plan including business goals and initiatives and objectives. Assist in removing barriers that impede the progress toward these and committee strategy with clarity to reporting department.

Model leadership behaviors to management, staff and partners. Ensure partners in management positions are proven leaders who can successfully execute Petco’s strategic plan, meet operational objectives and manage an engaged workforce. Take initiative to consistently assess and move up or down or out of the organization with appropriate timing, those that are impeding progress.

Assure initiation, monitoring and maintenance of systems and policies necessary to safeguard the physical, financial and human capital of the organization and customers.

Ensure all programs, policies, procedures, processes and ongoing activities within reporting departments comply with federal, state and local laws, regulations, and ordinances to include appropriate ethical behaviors.

Represent Petco to significant stakeholders. Prepare information and make presentations to various audiences including the Board of Directors, the executive management team, shareholders and Petco partners.

Provide legal advice on general legal matters, including contracts, agency relationships, insurance, real estate, and any other matter involving legal issues that may affect the company.

Prepare, interpret, review and approve all company legal documents for form, content and sufficiency.

May participate on committees with other executives such as the Compensation Committee, Real Estate Committee, Companion Animal Strategic Committee, Risk Committee, Ethics Committee, Petco Foundation Board of Directors, Marketing and Advertising Committee, and Senior Officer Meeting.

Education/Experience:

Possess a Juris Doctorate and be a member of the California State Bar Association.

A minimum of 12 years progressively responsible management experience with a minimum 10 years of experience at the senior or mid management level of a $2B+ public organization.

Must have demonstrated significant strategic leadership experience in all areas of legal matters. Previous executive leadership position in a multi-state retail organization is highly preferred.

Knowledge of the law and experience to analyze data and situations to determine appropriate course of legal action in the best interest of the Company.

High-level strategic and operational judgment and decision making in the areas of reporting departments is required.

Travel to domestic and international meetings, conferences, etc. to meet with vendors, partners, customers, investors and other stakeholders required.