Legal Counsel

We’ve been proudly serving Australian communities since 1914 and have grown to become a top 30-listed company on the ASX with a portfolio of iconic homegrown brands. At the heart of our continued success is over 115,000 team members working across the country, all contributing to bringing our customers smiles. You’ll not only get to see your work make a difference, you’ll be part of a team working together to help Australians eat and live better every day.

About the team

Because of our size, who we are and what we do, each day brings with it a lot of complexity that our legal team make simple. With a deep understanding of Coles Group’s goals and values, we’re able to provide practical and commercial advice that helps us all win.

About the Role

As one of Australia’s largest retailers, Coles touches the lives of nearly every Australian. In this role, you’ll see your work make a real impact on how Australians eat and live, while advising on complex, high-value matters and critical issues that shape the future direction of the business.

As part of our Group Legal team, you’ll provide expert legal counsel and strategic guidance across a broad range of matters, including procurement, corporate governance, and M&A. You’ll work autonomously on simpler matters and collaborate with senior lawyers on complex issues, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations while mitigating legal risks.

You’ll also:

• Provide strategic and commercially minded legal advice to stakeholders across the business, supporting the implementation of policy, projects, change initiatives, and mitigating risk
• Provide strategic legal support by advising, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements to align with business goals and compliance, supporting the management of the legal budget and external legal relationships to ensure cost-effective services
• Support building and maintaining strategic relationships both internally and externally with key stakeholders and legal partners
• Provide legal support across commercial, procurement, corporate governance, and M&A matters, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations, internal standards, and risk frameworks, proactively identifying legal risks and developing mitigation strategies where needed

About you and your skills

Our ideal candidate is a highly autonomous and resilient legal professional who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. With a strong understanding of commercial and regulatory issues, you can demonstrate exceptional strategic thinking and the ability to deliver high-quality and commercially focussed legal advice and influence a diverse range of stakeholders. You are adept at identifying and implementing process improvements to enhance legal service delivery, while motivating high-performing teams and driving continuous improvement initiatives. You have experience in corporate or commercial law, ideally with exposure to procurement, governance, or M&A. You thrive on complexity, think strategically, and communicate with clarity and influence.

You’ll also ideally have:

• Current legal practising certificate
• Previous in-house or private practice experience with exposure to corporate or commercial matters
• Experience working on procurement, corporate governance or M&A matters will be highly regarded
• Strong understanding of commercial and regulatory legal issues
• Superior legal acumen and ability to provide accurate, commercially focused advice

What’s in it for you?

• Flexible working options: We know that work is only one part of your life, so we actively encourage a positive work-life balance and provide hybrid working options to help you achieve it.
• Office perks: Take advantage of our gym facility and fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub where you can sample new products before they hit the shelves, school holiday program and so much more when you come in.
• Discounts: Eligible team members receive 5% discount all year round on your Supermarket and Liquor online and in-store purchases. We also offer additional periods of double discount (10%) at various times throughout the year. As well as hotdeals exclusive to team members that translate into additional savings.
• Reward through recognition: Give and receive recognition, linked to our Coles values, through our digital recognition platform ‘mythanks’. You can accumulate points to redeem in the online shop for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards from an extensive range of retailers.
• Opportunities for learning and development: No matter where you start within our diverse business, you’ll have experiences, exposure, and education to satisfy you. Discover and explore a variety of career development programs and job-specific training.
• Paid parental leave: We understand how important your life outside work is and offer permanent team members paid parental leave to support you in balancing work and family.
• Investment in your future: Our annual team member share plan offer allows eligible team members to make regular pre-tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares.

About the recruitment process

We’re continuing to build a gender equitable team, and a culture that is just as diverse, inclusive and welcoming as the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe and respectful for our team. We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to support candidates with disability. For further information and additional contact details visit the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ section of our careers site or email inclusionrecruitment@coles.com.au

Job ID: 174818

Employment Type: Full time

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