Specialist, Licensing & Permitting

Family Dollar; Chesapeake (VA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Family Dollar, based in Chesapeake, VA, seeks a Licensing and Regulatory Compliance Specialist to independently manage complex licensing obligations across jurisdictions. You will prioritize work by regulatory risk, coordinate with authorities, and ensure timely filings for store operations.

You will serve as an internal expert on alcohol and tobacco licensing, assess timelines, and lead special projects involving evolving licensing requirements.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or equivalent experience; additional education or training preferred.
• Ability to analyze and apply regulatory requirements to complex, fact-specific situations.
• Experience exercising discretion to work independently and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Significant experience in regulatory compliance, licensing, governance support, or paralegal-adjacent roles.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel) and web-based systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with regulatory agencies.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to identify issues, evaluate options, and make timely decisions with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Independently interpret and apply licensing and permitting requirements across varied jurisdictions.
• Manage a high-volume portfolio of license renewals and assess renewal risk to prevent disruptions.
• Analyze licensing requirements for complex business entities (LLCs, DBAs, ownership changes).
• Assess licensing eligibility and determine feasibility for existing and new stores.
• Serve as internal expert for alcohol and tobacco licensing and zoning considerations.
• Lead projects involving new licensing requirements and coordinate cross-functional inputs.
• Advise stakeholders on regulatory requirements and risk considerations.
• Identify compliance issues early and determine mitigation or escalation actions.
• Oversee preparation and submission of licensing applications with documentation and attestations.
• Coordinate licensing payments with accounts payable and ensure audit readiness.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Licensing expertise

Risk assessment

Project management

Regulatory communication

Education

Associates degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Web-based systems

Job description

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future visa sponsorship.

Licensing and Regulatory Compliance Specialist

About Us

Based in Chesapeake, VA, Family Dollar operates more than 7,000 stores across the 48 contiguous states, supported by a coast-to-coast logistics network and more than 80,000 Associates. Family Dollar is a leading value retailer serving large and small communities across the country. Come help us grow!

The Opportunity

In this role, you will serve as a subject-matter expert responsible for independently managing complex, high-volume licensing and permitting obligations across multiple jurisdictions. This role requires the application of professional judgment to interpret regulatory requirements, assess eligibility risks and make time-sensitive decisions that directly affect store operations and regulatory exposure.

The specialist operates with limited supervision, prioritizing work based on regulatory risk, renewal deadlines, and jurisdictional complexity. The Specialist serves as the principal point of contact between Family Dollar and state, county, and municipal licensing authorities.

• Independently interpret and apply licensing and permitting requirements across varied jurisdictions, accounting for differences in statutory, regulatory, and agency‑specific practices.
• Manage and prioritize a high-volume portfolio of license renewals, exercising independent judgment to assess risk, ensure timely readiness, and make time-sensitive decisions to prevent fines, penalties, or operational disruptions.
• Analyze licensing requirements as they apply to complex business entity structures, including Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), assumed or trade names, registered agents, general agents, designated licensees, ownership changes, and jurisdiction‑specific entity disclosures.
• Assess licensing eligibility, renewal risk, and regulatory feasibility for existing and new store operations; make recommendations and determinations on whether licensing should proceed.
• Serve as an internal expert for alcohol and tobacco licensing, evaluating timelines, compliance history, zoning considerations, prior enforcement actions, and jurisdiction‑specific restrictions.
• Lead and support special projects involving new or evolving licensing requirements, including the introduction of newly regulated products, changes to corporate officer or entity structures, and expansion into new jurisdictions; analyze regulatory implications, coordinate cross‑functional inputs, and determine appropriate licensing strategies and requirements.
• Advise internal stakeholders on regulatory requirements and risk considerations associated with licensing decisions.
• Identify potential compliance issues early and determine appropriate mitigation, escalation, or corrective action.
• Oversee preparation and submission of highly variable and often complex licensing and renewal applications, which may require extensive supporting documentation, attestations, notarization, and coordination with store‑level or corporate stakeholders.
• Exercise judgment to sequence and prioritize work based on regulatory risk, business impact, and jurisdictional deadlines rather than volume alone.
• Troubleshoot non‑standard or problematic applications that fall outside routine processing.
• Communicate directly with issuing authorities to clarify regulatory interpretations; resolve discrepancies or deficiencies; research jurisdiction‑specific requirements; remediate issues that could otherwise result in fines, penalties, or operational disruption.
• Build working relationships with regulatory agencies to support timely issue resolution.
• Identify recurring regulatory issues, compliance gaps, or inefficiencies and recommend process improvements or controls.
• Serve as a knowledge resource to other licensing staff and third party resources performing licensing work on behalf of Family Dollar, sharing best practices and guidance on complex or unusual scenarios.
• Escalate novel or high‑risk legal issues to Legal leadership and works directly with outside counsel as appropriate.
• Ensure accurate and compliant maintenance of licensing records in document management systems.
• Coordinate licensing payments with accounts payable systems, ensuring accuracy, documentation, and audit readiness.

Minimum Requirements / Qualifications

• Associates degree or equivalent experience; additional education or specialized training strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and apply regulatory requirements to complex, fact‑specific situations.
• Proven experience exercising discretion and independent judgment to work independently, make decisions, and exercise sound judgment in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Significant experience in regulatory compliance, licensing, corporate governance support, legal operations, or paralegal‑adjacent roles involving business entities and regulatory filings.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel) and web‑based systems.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including professional interaction with regulatory agencies.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, contributors, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to identify issues, evaluate options, and make timely, accurate decisions with minimal supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with government agencies, regulatory compliance, or licensing.
• Experience working with multi‑entity corporate structures (e.g., LLCs, subsidiaries, DBAs).
• Background in finance, accounts payable/receivable, or tax‑related functions.
• Direct experience supporting alcohol and tobacco licensing.
• Prior work involving regulatory research, licensing feasibility assessments, or compliance risk analysis.
• Experience serving as a subject‑matter resource or informal lead within a licensing or compliance function.

Projected Salary Range: $56,000-$65,000

Family Dollar is an equal opportunity employer and committed to recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status. We are committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Full time

510 Volvo Parkway,Chesapeake,Virginia 23320

Compliance

Family Dollar