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Overview

Realize new levels of autonomy and professional ownership. At Ulta Beauty, our Legal, Risk & Governance team provides clarity and continuity in ways that have made our growth a seamless venture, with keen insights that have opened up new and previously unexplored areas of opportunity. Through superior leadership and work that continually challenges, you’ll have the chance to help set strategic direction through ethical and collaborative thought and practice.

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE

• Six in-office days per month for individuals living within a commutable distance from Bolingbrook, IL (three in-office days per month for others); occasional travel to additional locations, including stores and distribution centers, as needed*

Ulta Beauty has an exciting opportunity for an experienced attorney with 10+ years of deep technical expertise in employment law to join our growing Legal, Risk & Governance Services team. As Senior Counsel – Employment this director level position will report to the Associate General Counsel – Employment and will serve as a critical link between People Success, business partners and the Legal, Risk & Governance Services team. This Senior Counsel – Employment will be dedicated to developing strategies and identifying solutions on a wide variety of matters involving our associates including, but not limited to, day-to-day employment counseling, development of policies and procedures, litigation and risk management guidance. The Senior Counsel – Employment will also be responsible for managing outside counsel, budgets, reporting and other projects as assigned.

The ability to develop and maintain positive and effective relationships with business partners at all levels across the enterprise as well as with colleagues on the People Success and Legal, Risk & Governance Services team is a must. Ideal candidates for this role will have in-house experience supporting retail and/or consumer businesses, additional law firm experience is a plus, as well as strong business acumen, excellent counseling skills, the ability to take a strategic and business-focused approach to complex employment issues and an entrepreneurial mindset. The Senior Counsel – Employment will also be called upon to support the Associate General Counsel – Employment on corporate initiatives and projects designed to advance the Company’s and the Legal, Risk & Governance Services team’s overall objectives. This is a unique opportunity to join an outstanding in-house legal, risk & governance solutions team and work at the nation’s largest specialty beauty retailer.

This is a headquarters-based position (Bolingbrook, IL), that will participate in FlexWork at Ulta Beauty. Candidates who live outside IL will be considered and are encouraged to apply. FlexWork at Ulta Beauty allows for hybrid work arrangements and monthly scheduled Office Days in our corporate headquarters locations.

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Deliver high-quality, cost-effective employment-related legal solutions to key stakeholders across the enterprise in support of the Company’s strategic imperatives and in accordance with Ulta Beauty’s mission, vision and values
• Contribute deep functional employment law expertise to support business objectives and collaborate with business partners, including People Success and Legal, Risk & Governance Services colleagues to manage risks
• Monitor and assess the impact of constantly changing federal and state labor and employment laws and regulatory developments throughout the country to produce strategic compliance and operational recommendations
• Provide practical, business-focused counseling designed to support employment-related compliance while advancing our business on a variety of subjects including wage and hour, leaves of absence and accommodations, compensation, benefits, investigations, labor relations, and all aspects of the associate relationship with Ulta Beauty
• Create policies and guidelines in partnership with People Success and other business units
• Provide accurate and timely guidance on a wide range of employment-related issues, including the use of technology and data in a manner which promotes compliance and supports business strategies
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide variety of employment-related agreements, policies and related documents
• Manage and participate in the resolution of employment-related claims, litigation and related matters including retaining, managing and strategizing with outside counsel and other experts
• Participate in and attend agency hearings, mediations, settlement conferences, and trials, as needed

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with cross-functional teams, including People Success, Compensation, Benefits, Loss Prevention, Store Operations and Supply Chain, to manage complex cross-functional projects and support company initiatives from inception through resolution and implementation
• Deliver all legal services using a consultative approach and model accountability and responsiveness by communicating proactively and meeting service commitments timely
• Develop relationships across the Company and externally that enable you to be a true strategic partner to Ulta Beauty’s business teams – become a “go-to” Legal, Risk & Governance Services team member
• Maintain a focus on cost control and operational excellence in implementation of specific objectives supporting strategic imperatives; provide services within established budgets and communicate project costs to business partners for transparency
• Proactively identify litigation risks and seek solutions to streamline compliance and reduce potential liability
• Provide guidance on emerging risks in the DEI and talent acquisition spaces

The Essentials For Success

• JD and license to practice law in the State of Illinois or acceptable alternate state bar licensure; willingness to consider Illinois State Bar admission also preferred.
• 10+ years of employment law experience in retail and/or consumer businesses, with a history of success, preferably in-house; additional law firm experience preferred
• Demonstrated functional and technical expertise in employment law, including wage and hour, discrimination and harassment, leave and accommodations, all aspects of employee relations such as recruiting, hiring, performance management and terminations, policy compliance, internal investigations and other areas related to the business and employees of a large national retailer
• Significant prior experience counseling business clients with respect to all federal employment laws (e.g., Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, WARN) and state and local counterparts
• Experience drafting, negotiating and implementing employment-related agreements, policies, guidelines and related documents
• Demonstrated understanding of the impact of technology and use of data in the retail environment including identification of employment-related issues and development of solutions
• Proven ability to effectively manage multiple large-scale matters simultaneously and flexibility to shift focus and priority as business needs change while also consistently maintaining strong attention to detail, accuracy and quality and meeting service commitments
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise outstanding judgment, meet concurrent deadlines and manage time effectively
• Positive energy, enthusiasm, flexibility, confidence, and ability to work collaboratively and cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment are a must
• Ability to establish relationships and build credibility and trust with business partners and Legal, Risk & Governance Services team members and participate in and influence the decision-making process while maintaining firm adherence to the law and company policy
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact with leaders and peers in a collaborative and effective manner
• Business minded and strategic thinking with an enterprise view considering impacts across the Company

SPECIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Employment law experience with public companies preferred
• Six in-office days per month for individuals living within a commutable distance from Bolingbrook, IL (three in-office days per month for others); occasional travel to additional locations, including stores and distribution centers, as needed
• High-level of proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, and the ability and willingness to master and use supporting applications and data bases
• Project Management, Operational Excellence/Lean Six Sigma or other process improvement experience preferred

The pay range for this position is $163,300.00 - $220,800.00 / Year with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company’s bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, shift, geographic location, and business and organizational needs. Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits, visit our Benefits and Career Development page:https://careers.ulta.com/careers/about-us/benefits-and-career-development

About

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful . Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.

_We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.

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