Legal Counsel Director

Aldi UK; Atherstone; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent contract

Hybrid work—2 days remote

6 weeks’ annual leave + Bank Holidays

Private medical insurance after 6 mo.

Paternity/maternity leave and long‑svc

Employee benefits & well‑being program

Job summary

Aldi UK is seeking an experienced Head of Legal to lead our National Legal and Compliance function. You will oversee governance, risk management and regulatory compliance across the organisation, acting as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.

You will build a high-performing Legal and Compliance team, shaping strategies and translating business priorities into practical solutions while ensuring integrity and best practice throughout the business.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with SRA practising certificate (England & Wales).
• Strategic thinker with strong leadership and governance experience.
• Proven ability to translate business priorities into practical legal/compliance actions.
• Experience advising on consumer protection, pricing, marketing compliance, and related regulations.
• Experience managing IP matters and coordinating with external counsel.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal and compliance counsel to executive leaders and stakeholders.
• Lead management of legal risk with commercially focused solutions.
• Oversee delivery and improvement of legal/compliance programmes aligning with regulation.
• Develop policies and best practices to strengthen governance and compliance.
• Monitor regulatory developments and advise on actions and risks.
• Lead compliance risk assessments, investigations and reporting processes.
• Manage external counsel and control outsourcing scope and costs.
• Coordinate with international colleagues on best practices and global initiatives.
• Represent Legal and Compliance in senior leadership discussions and decisions.
• Coach and develop the team to sustain high performance and growth.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Commercially pragmatic advice

Governance & risk management

Regulatory compliance

Education

Solicitor qualification (England & Wales) with SRA practising certificate

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Legal to lead and oversee our National Legal and Compliance function. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring robust governance, effective risk management, and regulatory compliance across the organisation.

As a trusted advisor to the senior leadership team, you will provide expert legal and compliance guidance that supports commercial objectives, enables sustainable growth, and protects the organisation's interests. You will play a key role in shaping and implementing legal and compliance strategies, translating business priorities into practical, commercially focused solutions.

You will champion a culture of integrity, ethics, and accountability, ensuring compliance is embedded throughout the business while safeguarding our reputation and promoting best practice. In addition, you will lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing Legal and Compliance team, driving exceptional service delivery, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Your New Role

• Provide strategic legal and compliance counsel to executive leaders and key stakeholders across the business.
• Lead the management of legal risk, identifying proactive and commercially focused solutions to support operational and strategic objectives.
• Oversee the delivery and continuous improvement of legal and compliance programmes, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and business needs.
• Develop and implement policies, processes and best practices that strengthen governance and compliance standards.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments, advising business leaders on emerging risks, opportunities and required actions.
• Lead compliance risk assessments, investigations and monitoring activities, ensuring appropriate controls and accountability are in place.
• Manage whistleblowing and other compliance reporting processes, ensuring matters are handled effectively and confidentially.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external legal advisors and other key stakeholders, ensuring efficient and cost-effective support where required.
• Collaborate with international legal and compliance colleagues, sharing best practice and supporting cross-functional initiatives.
• Represent the Legal and Compliance function in senior leadership forums and contribute to organisational decision-making.
• Lead, coach and develop team members, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration and professional growth.
• Early identification of legal risks and managing these appropriately (e.g. new laws, litigation trends or business model changes resulting in new legal risk profiles).
• Active management of external counsel, incl. deciding on the involvement and exact scope of work outsourced, challenging advice, challenging scopes and risk calls to challenging fee arrangements.
• Contract template creation (or overview if outsourced), contract review and advice.
• Corporate law matters, incl. corporate housekeeping.
• Advice on existing and new regulations and respective implementation.
• Advice on legal questions related to product safety (recalls, labelling, etc.).
• Advice on consumer protection matters incl. pricing strategies and communication/advertising.
• Advice on claims (green claims).
• Steering advice or providing advice on IP infringement allegations raised by third parties.
• Managing litigation by or against ALDI.
• Legal counterpart for global legal on implementation of centrally steered projects, policies, programs, contracting/templates, etc.
• Holds the National Compliance Officer role, which entails specific responsibilities, including to report defined matters to the national CEO and/or the Group Compliance Officer directly.

About You

• Qualified solicitor of England and Wales holding a current, valid SRA practising certificate.
• Legal generalist with strong professional skills and expertise in compliance.
• Experience advising on consumer protection legislation, pricing strategies, marketing communications, and advertising compliance.
• Demonstrable experience advising on environmental and sustainability claims, including the assessment and management of "green claims" risk.
• Experience managing intellectual property matters, including responding to and resolving third-party infringement allegations.
• Proven track record of managing litigation and dispute resolution matters, including coordinating legal strategy and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience supporting the implementation of group-wide legal policies, programmes, projects, and contractual frameworks in partnership with international or central legal functions.
• Ability to provide commercially pragmatic legal advice to senior stakeholders, balancing legal risk with business objectives.
• Knows how to navigate an organisational matrix and works collaboratively within country and on global level.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Able to work independently, "hands-on" and proactively with high intrinsic motivation.
• Convinces with sound business-oriented solutions and takes clear and pragmatic positions whilst ensuring integrity.
• Understands the overarching company strategy while communicating and modelling the core values of the organisation to create a sense of teamwork and membership among employees.

What You’ll get in Return

• Permanent contract
• Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with the opportunity of 2 days remote working
• 6 weeks’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• In office flexi-time
• Full training provided
• Private employee medical insurance after 6 months
• Company maternity and adoption leave from commencement and paternity leave pay after 1 year
• Long service rewards
• Access to MyBenefits, where you can find a wide range of benefits, including our bike to work scheme, shopping and cinema discounts, health cash plan, a FREE will, travel and discounted gym memberships, as well as a host of benefits to support your financial and wellbeing needs.
• Access to a free,24/7, confidential virtual GP service for all Aldi Colleagues and their children (under the age of 16)

*You’ll need to live within 90 minutes of your main working location

**Please be aware that this role does not fulfil the requirements for visa sponsorship.

Aldi is an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive

workforce and are dedicated to promoting a culture of inclusion, providing an environment in which collaboration, respect and fairness are essential. We value diversity and are dedicated to treating all of our colleagues and prospective colleagues fairly and with respect.