Sr. Counsel, Proprietary Brands & Operations

PetSmart Store Support Group, Inc.; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pet-friendly environment

On-site dog park

On-site gym and wellness spaces

On-site childcare

Job summary

PetSmart is seeking an experienced, business‑oriented attorney to serve as the primary legal advisor supporting the Company's Proprietary Brands, Global Sourcing, Product Quality & Compliance, and Store Operations teams.

This role provides strategic legal counsel on sourcing, development, marketing, quality, safety, and regulatory compliance of PetSmart products, partnering with business leaders to deliver practical, scalable solutions while managing risk.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
• Active state bar membership; ability to register as in-house in Arizona.
• 7–10 years of related experience, preferably supporting consumer products, retail, manufacturing, or other highly regulated businesses.
• In-house experience is a plus.
• Experience advising business clients on product, regulatory, consumer protection, operational, or commercial legal matters.
• Experience interacting with regulatory agencies or supporting compliance programs is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advise Proprietary Brands, Global Sourcing, Product Quality & Compliance, and Store Operations.
• Provide strategic legal counsel on product lifecycle, regulatory compliance, and related matters.
• Develop and deliver policies, playbooks, training, and scalable compliance resources.
• Monitor regulatory developments and provide practical guidance to impacted functions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver risk-based legal advice.
• May supervise a legal support professional as assigned.

Skills

Commercial judgment

Adaptable

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Trust building

Multitasking

Tech savvy

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Arizona in-house eligibility

Job description

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. In addition, 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, business-oriented attorney to serve as the primary legal advisor supporting the Company's Proprietary Brands, Global Sourcing, Product Quality & Compliance, and Store Operations business teams.

This role provides strategic legal counsel regarding the sourcing, development, marketing, sale, quality, safety, and regulatory compliance of PetSmart products, as well as regulatory and operational matters affecting stores. The successful candidate will partner closely with business leaders to develop practical, scalable solutions that support business objectives while appropriately managing legal and regulatory risk.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary legal advisor supporting Proprietary Brands, Global Sourcing, Product Quality & Compliance, and Store Operations.
• Advise business partners on legal and regulatory issues affecting the sourcing, development, marketing, sale, quality, safety, and ongoing compliance of PetSmart’s Proprietary Brand products throughout the product lifecycle.
• Provide legal guidance to support the development, implementation, and ongoing management of product-related compliance programs and processes, including responsible sourcing and social responsibility programs, environmental and sustainability-related product requirements (including Extended Producer Responsibility), and other regulatory compliance programs affecting the product lifecycle.
• Advise on complex or escalated matters, including product claims and substantiation, labeling, recalls, product registrations, country-of-origin and customs issues, regulatory inquiries, enforcement matters, and other significant legal or regulatory issues.
• Provide legal support relating to regulatory inspections, investigations, enforcement matters, and interactions with governmental agencies affecting supported business areas.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments and provide practical, business-oriented guidance regarding their impact on supported business functions.
• Develop and deliver policies, playbooks, training, guidance materials, and other scalable resources that enable business teams to operate efficiently and compliantly, including through the use of technology, automation, and self-service tools.
• Build trusted relationships across supported business teams and collaborate with colleagues across the Legal Department to provide practical, risk-based legal advice that advances business objectives.

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 7-10 years of related and relevant experience, preferably supporting consumer products, retail, manufacturing, or other highly regulated businesses. In-house legal experience is a plus.
• Significant experience advising business clients on product, regulatory, consumer protection, operational, or commercial legal matters, with the ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance.
• Experience interacting with regulatory agencies, advising on regulatory compliance matters, or supporting the development and implementation of compliance programs is preferred.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• May supervise a legal support professional, as assigned.

SKILLS

• Must have excellent commercial judgment and the ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice.
• Must be adaptable, solutions-oriented, and capable of balancing legal risk with business objectives.
• Must be comfortable advising on emerging or ambiguous legal and regulatory issues and partnering with cross-functional teams to develop practical solutions.
• Must have effective communication skills, including the ability to clearly convey complex legal concepts and risks to non-legal professionals.
• Must have effective interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across business functions and levels of the organization.
• Must have the ability to build trust and credibility with internal business stakeholders.
• Must have the ability to independently manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be comfortable leveraging technology and automation to improve the delivery of legal services and enable business self-service where appropriate.

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.

About the Culture

At PetSmart, Anything for Pets begins with our people. Every associate plays a vital role in creating meaningful experiences for pets and their families, and we empower our teams with the tools, resources, and opportunities to grow and succeed.

We’re more than a workplace, we’re Team PetSmart. Together, we grow, collaborate, and challenge ourselves to be the best in all we do. Our culture is built on belonging and shared purpose, where every voice and experience matters. Guided by our values, we strive to do what’s right, lead responsibly, and bring our passion for pets to life every day.

Our home office offers outstanding amenities in a fun and rewarding workplace including:

• Pet-friendly environment, bring your pets to work and enjoy the on-site dog park!
• On-Site Events & Adoptions, enjoy community-building opportunities, including pet adoption days, seasonal celebrations, family events, art events, & holiday festivals
• “Top Dog” gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists, personal trainers, and wellness spaces
• “Sit & Stay” Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options, snacks, & more
• “Lil Paws” NAEYC-accredited onsite childcare facility providing high-quality early education
• Paid Volunteer Opportunities to spend time doing good for causes close to heart
• Print Center and Business Services, Dry Cleaning, Mother's Rooms, Sustainable Infrastructure & more

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.