Vice President - Government Affairs

Role Specific Information

Job Description

*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

Essential Functions

The requirements listed below are representative of functions you will be required to perform, however you may be required to perform additional functions. Kohl’s may revise this job description from time to time. To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, absent undue hardship.

• Ability to perform the accountabilities listed in the “What You’ll Do” Section
• Ability to maintain prompt and regular attendance as set by the company 
• Ability to work at least 8 hours per day, occasionally longer when necessary to meet business needs, 5 days per week
• Ability to comply with dress code requirements
• Ability to learn and comply with all company policies, procedures, standards and guidelines
• Ability to give direction and receive, understand and proactively respond to direction from leadership and other company personnel
• Ability to work as part of a team and interact effectively and appropriately with others
• Ability to maintain composure and work in a fast paced environment while accomplishing multiple tasks within established timeframes
• Ability to satisfactorily complete company training programs
• Perform work in accordance with the Physical/Cognitive Requirements section

Physical/Cognitive Requirements 

• Ability to use a personal computer for tasks such as communicating, preparing reports, etc.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and monitor activities across business units
• Ability to complete or oversee the completion of assigned projects in a timely manner
• Ability to comply with health and safety standards