Job Description: The Counsel, Employment will report to the Sr. Counsel, Labor and Employment and collaborate closely with the VP, Head of Global Ethics and Compliance. The Counsel will provide compliance counseling to the Company on all aspects of the employee life cycle, immigration, workplace safety, and workers compensation matters. Additionally, the Counsel will manage and lead internal investigations and administrate the Company's anonymous hotline system and its related processes in close collaboration with a cross-functional oversight team. The Counsel will proactively identify key trends and provide training to relevant parts of the Company. This role requires a detail-oriented professional with strong analytical skills and the ability to handle sensitive matters with discretion and integrity.
Responsibilities:- Provide legal counsel on employment-related matters, including hiring, termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour issues, and employee benefits.
- Draft, review, and update employment contracts, policies, and handbooks to ensure compliance with current laws and regulations.
- Assist with managing outside counsel on employment-related legal matters.
- Collaborate with HR to develop and deliver training programs on employment law and company policies.
- Assist in the development and implementation of HR strategies and initiatives aligned with the overall business strategy.
- Oversee and/or conduct thorough and impartial investigations into employee relations issues, including but not limited to employee misconduct, discrimination, harassment, and policy violations.
- Oversee and administer the Company's EthicsPoint hotline database, using analytics tools to proactively manage risk, and developing processes to ensure proper triaging of complaints and timely investigations.
- Provide legal advice and guidance on investigation processes, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
- Prepare detailed investigation reports and present findings to senior management and other stakeholders.
- Develop and implement investigation protocols and best practices to ensure consistency and fairness in the investigative process.
- Assist in the development and delivery of training programs related to investigations.
- Stay current with changes in laws and regulations affecting HR and compliance investigations and advise the company accordingly.
- Support the legal team in other areas as needed, including litigation support and risk management.
- Periodically travel (10-25% of the time) to attend Company functions, or to conduct investigations or trainings.
Qualifications:- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
- Active bar membership in good standing.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience practicing labor and employment law at a law firm or in a corporate/in-house setting.
- Demonstrated experience conducting investigations and working with hotline systems.
- Strong knowledge of employment law and investigative techniques.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.
- High ethical standards and a commitment to integrity and professionalism.
- Fluency in Spanish is not required, but a plus.
