DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL

Job Summary

Compass Group is the world’s largest contract food and support services company, operating in dozens of countries, with 550,000 employees worldwide and generating revenues of over $40 billion for the 2023 fiscal year.

The North American division of Compass Group, which represents 65% of the global organization, is offering an exciting and pivotal opportunity within its Legal Department at its U.S. headquarters in Charlotte, NC, reporting directly to the EVP, General Counsel. We are seeking a visionary and results-oriented Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel to provide leadership and strategic direction across critical corporate legal functions. In this high-impact role, you will lead a team of experienced professionals overseeing the core legal support areas of mergers and acquisitions, dispute and litigation management, technology and data privacy/governance, compliance, and legal operations. These areas collectively support our line of industry-specific Managing Legal Counsels, who also report to the EVP, General Counsel. These industry- specific Managing Legal Counsels and their teams support a significant and growing number of client and supplier-facing relationships in Healthcare, Education, Business & Industry, Sports & Leisure, and Procurement each year.

As the Deputy General Counsel, you will act as a trusted advisor to the General Counsel and Managing Legal Counsels, providing proactive, innovative and business-focused legal solutions to support the growth of the enterprise and increasing contract volume. You will be instrumental in driving innovative legal strategies that mitigate risk, align with business objectives, provide future-oriented solutions to growing volume needs, and foster a culture of legal excellence. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned legal professional with tenured experience as a General Counsel, Divisional General Counsel (or equivalent) or Deputy General Counsel. This role demands exceptional leadership, strategic foresight, and the ability to balance legal imperatives with the dynamic needs of a large-scale and growing organization.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Legal Leadership: Provide comprehensive legal oversight, partnering with senior leadership across corporate functions to deliver actionable legal counsel that supports the company's strategic, growth-focused initiatives. In its support of our various lines of business, the position will specifically oversee a team of experienced legal professionals in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, dispute and litigation management, technology and data privacy/governance, compliance, and legal operations.
• Risk Mitigation & Compliance: Identify and proactively address legal risks inherent in a large-scale, rapidly evolving business environment. Ensure continued development and implementation of risk management strategies that adhere to regulatory requirements and best practices.
• Operational Excellence: Continuously assess and enhance efficiencies, optimize workflows, and drive operational improvements to support company goals and increasing volume across all legal functions. Identify, implement and leverage technology to streamline legal processes.
• Leadership & Team Development: Lead, inspire, and mentor a high-performing team of legal professionals. Cultivate a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and professional growth within the Legal Team.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with key internal stakeholders such as executives, Managing Legal Counsels, and corporate department heads to provide timely, pragmatic, and solution-oriented legal advice. Represent our North American Legal Team on the Company’s Global General Counsel forum.
• Regulatory & Compliance Initiatives: Stay abreast of evolving legal and regulatory frameworks that could impact the Company, particularly in corporate governance, compliance, and global business operations. Lead compliance initiatives and implement strategies to ensure regulatory adherence.
• External Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships where appropriate with external legal counsel, regulators, government agencies, and industry associations to stay ahead of legal developments and advocate on behalf of the Company’s interests.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing from any state.
• A minimum of 15 years of legal experience, with a proven track record in corporate law, preferably within a large multinational organization.
• Demonstrated experience in a General Counsel, Divisional General Counsel (or equivalent) or Deputy General Counsel role, overseeing diverse legal functions and advising senior leadership on complex legal matters.
• Strategic thinker with a solution-oriented approach to legal challenges, adept at balancing risks and opportunities.
• Extensive experience in a cross-section of mergers and acquisitions, dispute and litigation management, technology and data privacy/governance, compliance, and legal operations.
• Proven leadership skills, with a history of effectively managing, mentoring, and developing high-performing legal teams.
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to align legal strategies with broader business goals.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills, capable of articulating complex legal concepts in clear terms to a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with a high degree of professionalism and ethical integrity.