SVP, Deputy General Counsel

Total Wine & More; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health care plans

401(k)

Life insurance

Career development

Job summary

Total Wine & More in Bethesda, MD seeks a senior legal executive to serve as SVP, Deputy General Counsel. The role leads the Legal and Loss Prevention teams, guiding enterprise risk, regulatory compliance, and strategic growth initiatives.

You will act for the General Counsel and manage budget, talent, and governance across the organization. Ideal candidates bring 15+ years of senior legal experience, JD, bar admission in MD/DC/VA, and a proven track record advising executives on complex

Qualifications

• 15+ years progressive legal leadership experience advising executive leadership on enterprise matters.
• Experience in commercial transactions, governance, licensing, employment law, and litigation management.
• Bar admission in MD, DC, or VA in good standing.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations, priorities, and performance of Legal and Loss Prevention.
• Oversee the legal portfolio including contracts, licensing, and investigations.
• Advise senior leaders on risks and provide business-ready recommendations.
• Direct enterprise litigation, regulatory compliance, and outside counsel.
• Support growth initiatives including acquisitions and partnerships.
• Oversee Loss Prevention and safety strategies across the organization.
• Develop a high-performing Legal and Loss Prevention organization.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic advisory

Regulatory compliance

Litigation management

M&A experience

Executive communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

About The Role

Total Wine & More is seeking a SVP, Deputy General Counsel, to join our Legal team in Bethesda, MD. This role serves as the second-in-command of the Legal organization and is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, management, and execution of enterprise legal and Loss Prevention functions. Acting on behalf of the General Counsel when appropriate, this role ensures the effective delivery of legal services, compliance programs, litigation management, licensing activities, contract support, employment legal guidance, and enterprise risk mitigation initiatives. This role directly or indirectly leads approximately 30 team members across Legal and Loss Prevention, including Associate General Counsels, Paralegals, and Loss Prevention leadership, with accountability for organizational effectiveness, talent strategy, succession planning, budget stewardship, and operational execution. This role serves as a strategic advisor to senior leaders while escalating the Company’s most significant legal, regulatory, and reputational risks to the General Counsel. This role reports to the General Counsel.

You will

• Lead the day-to-day operations, priorities, and performance of the Legal and Loss Prevention organizations, ensuring effective execution of legal strategy, resource allocation, talent management, and service delivery across the enterprise.
• Oversee the Company’s legal portfolio, including commercial contracts, licensing, employment legal support, litigation management, regulatory compliance activities, investigations, and governance matters, ensuring consistent and practical legal guidance across all functions.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leaders by identifying and assessing legal, operational, financial, and reputational risks and recommending balanced business solutions that align with enterprise objectives.
• Direct enterprise litigation, regulatory compliance, and exception management efforts through internal teams and outside counsel, ensuring effective risk mitigation, cost management, and timely resolution of matters.
• Lead Legal support for business growth initiatives, including acquisitions, strategic partnerships, new operating models, store expansion, tier-system evolution, licensing strategies, and other transformational opportunities.
• Oversee enterprise Loss Prevention and Safety strategies, ensuring effective asset protection, workplace safety, regulatory compliance, investigations, incident response, and risk management practices across the organization.
• Develop a high-performing Legal and Loss Prevention organization through workforce planning, succession management, leadership development, coaching, performance management, and organizational capability building.

You will come with

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (or equivalent experience)
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school required
• 15+ years Progressive legal experience leading teams and advising executive leadership on enterprise legal, compliance, risk, and operational matters, including commercial transactions, governance, licensing, employment law, litigation management, and M&A or other strategic growth initiatives. Strong analytical skills (forecasting, financial models, and variance analysis) preferred
• ATT-JD – Attorney Active and in good standing with bar admission in Maryland, D.C., or Virginia required
• Strong people leadership and team management capability, including performance coaching, prioritization, succession planning, workforce planning, and leadership development
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into business-ready recommendations
• Deep business judgment, analytical rigor, intellectual curiosity, and intellectual agility to spot issues across multiple legal, operational, and commercial disciplines
• Expertise in commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, licensing, litigation management, employment law, corporate governance, M&A, antitrust, Loss Prevention/Safety, and risk assessment and avoidance
• Ability to facilitate transactions and business expansion while balancing smart risk taking, compliance expectations, and enterprise priorities
• Emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and listening skills to build trust and alignment across Legal, Loss Prevention, Operations, Finance, HR, Store Development, and executive stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple high-stakes priorities in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment while maintaining sound judgment, confidentiality, and composure

We offer

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Generous store discounts
• Health care plans (medical, prescription, dental, vision)
• 401(k), HSA, FSA, Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Disability & life insurance coverage
• Paid parental leave
• Pet insurance
• Critical illness and accident insurance
• Discounted home and auto insurance
• College tuition assistance
• Career development & product training
• Consumer classes
• & More!

Crafted for you

We recognize our team members are our biggest asset, and we value the critical role each play in contributing to the company’s success. It is our commitment to support and provide access to the resources needed to take care of their health and wellbeing. That is why we offer a variety of benefits, tools, and resources to support through our Total Rewards program. To view our full career page, click here: https://careers.totalwine.com/!

Total Wine & More considers several factors when establishing compensation. Compensation may vary based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, market location, job-related knowledge, skills and/or experience. The actual hourly rate will equal or exceed the required minimum wage applicable to the job location. Estimated salaries determined by third parties have not been validated by Total Wine & More.

Total Wine & More is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Total Wine & More makes reasonable accommodations during all aspects of the employment process, including during the interview process. Total Wine & More is a Drug Free Workplace.

The information provided above indicates the general nature and level of work required of the position and is not a comprehensive list of all responsibilities or qualifications. Benefits list is only a highlight of some of the benefits offered to team members; eligibility for certain benefits apply.

The anticipated close date of this posting is 120 days from the posted date indicated above.