Head of Legal Services

Summary

From our Head Office to the shop floor and everywhere in between our primary goal is to create and deliver a fantastic customer journey for everyone who shops at Lidl. 

With over 7,000 colleagues across our stores, warehouses and offices in Ireland and Northern Ireland we are a big and ambitious team. We know our people are our greatest asset and our success is down to the commitment and dedication of our team.

What you'll do

Leadership & Departmental Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Legal Services team, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring the efficient delivery of day-to-day legal support.
• As one of the four core functions reporting directly to the Director of Legal and Compliance, support the strategic development of the department and act as a role model in championing company values.
• Collaborate closely within this leadership peer group, actively providing mutual surge capacity and cross-functional support during peak periods.

Commercial Legal Advisory & Contract Law

• Act as a primary legal business partner, providing pragmatic, end-to-end advice across a wide spectrum of commercial operations, primarily focusing on Purchasing (Food & Non-Food), Real Estate & Construction, Indirect Procurement, Marketing (Advertising & Unfair Competition), and Company Law.

Ensure overall legal coverage by handling all general legal matters as they arise, covering topics that are not explicitly assigned to specialized functions (such as Employment or Tax).

• Take comprehensive ownership of contract law across the business: draft, review, and advise on standard and non-standard commercial contracts, while actively guiding business units through complex negotiations.

Standards & Legal Innovation

• Develop, maintain, and optimize sample contracts, legal templates, and operational standards for various business functions to efficiency and risk mitigation by consistency.
• Proactively explore and leverage AI opportunities to modernize these standards, streamline workflows, and enhance the overall efficiency of daily operations.
• Oversee general contract administration, including the accurate recording and lifecycle management of contracts on the company’s central contract management database.

Employer Representation

• Represent the employer (Lidl Ireland GmbH) in court proceedings where appropriate. 

What you'll need

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in Ireland.
• 3-5 years PQE in a legal role (in-house commercial experience preferential)
• A "hands-on" mentality with the ability to seamlessly switch between high-level strategic projects and day-to-day operational queries.
• Strong commercial acumen, assertiveness, and the ability to communicate complex legal concepts in a clear, business-friendly manner.
• Previous experience managing a team is highly advantageous.
• Prior industry experience in retail or FMCG an advantage.
• Experience also in the Northern Ireland would be advantageous.
• German is an advantage, but not a necessity.

What you'll receive

We offer a competitive and transparent salary system, that ensures pay equality across all positions at Lidl

• €85,000 rising to €111,000 after 4 years
• Company car or car allowance
• 25 days holidays per annum
• Private employee medical insurance
• Company pension
• Flexible start and finish times
• Initial training and on-going development from an experienced team member
• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Individuals recognised as high performing will be invited to join our Leadership Academy as part of your on-going development
• Dynamic work environment
• Modern office facility with free parking
• On-site gym and canteen
• Maternity & Paternity Leave top up, Marriage Leave, Employee Assistance Programme
• Hybrid working model - up to 2 days remote working per week
• Mobile and broadband discounts with Three network

Lidl is an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements, we will ensure any reasonable accommodations are implemented as part of the recruitment and selection process. We value diversity and inclusion in our workplace and want to ensure that all applicants have the same opportunity regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, religious belief, political opinion or membership of the traveller community.