About this role
*This role can be based at either Kohl’s Corporate Headquarters in Menomonee Falls, WI, or in Washington, DC, with travel as needed.
About the Role
As Vice President, Government Affairs, you will act as the company’s political strategist and architect of our legislative and regulatory agenda. You will also ensure our commercial interests are prioritized within major industry bodies like the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).
What You’ll Do
- Execute a multi-year roadmap to address legislative threats and opportunities (e.g., AI, pricing, interchange fees, organized retail crime, data privacy, and trade tariffs)
- Act as the principal liaison to NRF, RILA and other key trade associations. Secure and maintain leadership positions to ensure the company’s specific voice drives broader industry mandates
- Provide leadership with real-time briefings on political shifts that could impact business, operational freedom, or global supply chain stability
- Maintain a deep and continuous partnership with the Legal and Risk Departments to ensure legislative advocacy is fully integrated with the company's broader legal strategy and risk appetite
- Ensure positions do not create legal exposure or contradict defense strategies in areas like antitrust or consumer protection
- Collaborate with the Compliance team to translate new statutes into actionable internal controls and provide early visibility into the rulemaking phase of legislation
- Partner with Human Resources to influence labor relations, wage and hour policy (FLSA), and emerging regulatory issues affecting the associate experience, such as workplace safety standards, predictive scheduling, and employee privacy
- Partner on "Extended Producer Responsibility" (EPR) and supply chain transparency (e.g., UFLPA)
- Translate regulatory changes into operational impacts for distribution centers and last-mile delivery
- Align advocacy efforts with brand "purpose" to mitigate reputational risk
- Additional tasks may be assigned
What Skills You Have
Required
- 10+ years in government relations, preferably with significant tenure in-house at a Fortune 500 retailer or as a senior strategist within a major retail trade association
- Deep understanding of the global retail ecosystem, including stores, supply chain, technology and risk management
- Proven ability to know when to lead a solo advocacy charge and when to leverage a trade association
- Ability to navigate conflicting internal priorities to find a unified corporate voice
Preferred
- Master’s in Public Policy
- Deep understanding of how federal, state, and local regulations directly affect our business and the daily work and safety of our associates at both the store and supply chain levels