The Head of Employment Law, North America ("NA"), is a Law and Compliance position responsible for partnering with the People Organization, setting and executing Aon's NA employment law strategy in line with Aon's people risk management strategy.
The position serves as the company's senior legal advisor on all NA employment law matters for the enterprise. The role provides strategic counsel for NA executive leadership and the People Organization, oversees complex and sensitive internal investigations, and ensures the company's employment practices align with legal requirements, ethical standards, and business objectives across the jurisdictions in which Aon operates. The role also plays a critical role in protecting the company's reputation, culture, and workforce.
The role will lead a NA team of employment lawyers and specialists, working closely with functional law support where necessary, ensuring that Aon's People Organization supports business objectives, reinforces Aon's values, and complies with applicable laws and regulations worldwide.
This is a hybrid role, based in Chicago or New York, with an expectation of at least three days per week in the office to enable close collaboration with senior stakeholders and key functional partners.
What The Day Will Look LikeEmployment Law Leadership, Strategic Advisory and Governance- Lead North America employment law strategy in partnership with the NA People Organization, aligned to business priorities, risk appetite, and enterprise transformation goals.
- Advise on all aspects of employment law, including hiring, performance management, discipline, executive and other terminations, compensation and benefits, incentives, equity plans, accommodations, wage and hour compliance, workplace safety, wellbeing, equal employment obligations, cross border mobility, expatriate arrangements and employee relations.
- Oversee the development, implementation, and periodic review of NA employment policies, handbooks, and training programs, ensuring compliance across jurisdictions.
- Advise on the use of AI in talent-related initiatives, ensuring compliance with employment laws and ethical guidelines.
- Support the People Organization on workforce strategy, organizational design, and change-management initiatives (e.g., restructurings, global capability centers, reductions-in-force, M&A integration).
- Support employment, restrictive covenant and trade-secret-related litigation, claims, and agency matters, including strategy, budgeting, and oversight of outside counsel.
- Serve as a trusted adviser to senior leadership and the People Organization on complex, high-impact employment law issues affecting NA.
- Design and maintain NA employment law governance frameworks (policies, standards, escalation protocols).
- Support and maintain risk assessment and monitoring processes with the People Organization to identify, evaluate, and mitigate employment law risks in NA.
People Leadership & Team Management- Lead, develop, inspire and mentor a NA team of employment lawyers and professionals across multiple jurisdictions.
- Build a high-performing, collaborative culture that emphasizes practical, business-oriented advice and accountability.
- Set team objectives, manage budgets, allocate resources effectively and efficiently, while ensuring that the NA employment law team operates in line with the Global Law and Compliance operating model.
- Drive continuous improvement and an innovative culture around employment law practices including utilization of AI tools.
Training, Culture & Capability Building- Design and deliver training in NA for the People Organization, managers, and leaders on key employment law topics and emerging risks.
- Partner with the People Organization and Compliance to embed a strong culture of respect and ethical conduct in the NA workplace.
- Lead horizon-scanning and internal briefings on new legislation, case law, and regulatory expectations affecting employment in NA.
- Foster an AI-centric culture within the NA Employment law team, staying on top of emerging AI applications, adopting AI to automate routine tasks, boosting productivity and effectiveness of the team.
Experience That Will Lead To Success- Law degree (JD or equivalent) and admission to practice in at least one key Aon jurisdiction.
- 12+ years of post-qualification experience in employment law, including significant in-house experience with a highly regulated organization, or top-tier law firm experience with multinational clients.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex employment issues.
- Demonstrated understanding of key NA employment markets
- Experience with:
- M&A and other strategic transactions, including employment aspects of due diligence and integration.
- Restructurings and reorganization projects
- Restrictive covenant disputes and/or litigation
- Senior executive employment and compensation matters
- Discrimination, harassment, and whistleblowing claims
Skills & Competencies- Strategic mindset - Translates legal and regulatory developments into clear business implications and strategies that support Aon's priorities. Proven ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed, and highly regulated environment.
- Business acumen - Understands commercial drivers, critical markets, and the broader risk and regulatory landscape.
- Executive communication - Communicates complex legal issues clearly and concisely to senior, non-legal stakeholders.
- Decision-making & judgment - Balances legal risk with commercial objectives; comfortable making recommendations under uncertainty.
- Influence & collaboration - Builds strong relationships with the People Organization, business leaders, and functional partners across regions.
- Change leadership - Supports and enables major firm and functional strategic initiatives (including M&A and transformation) and drives change in policies, processes, and culture.
- Cultural agility - Operates effectively across multiple cultures, legal systems, and time zones.
- Integrity & confidentiality - Demonstrates the highest ethical standards, discretion and sound professional judgment.
- Inspirational and Collaborative leader- experience managing and inspiring high performing teams and influencing senior leaders. Calm under pressure, especially when handling sensitive or high-stakes matters. Empathetic and skilled at building trust across diverse teams.
How We Support Our ColleaguesIn addition to our comprehensive benefits package, we encourage an inclusive workforce. Plus, our agile environment allows you to manage your wellbeing and work/life balance, ensuring you can be your best self at Aon. Furthermore, all colleagues enjoy two "Global Wellbeing Days" each year, encouraging you to take time to focus on yourself. We offer a variety of working style solutions for our colleagues as well.
Our continuous learning culture inspires and equips you to learn, share and grow, helping you achieve your fullest potential. As a result, at Aon, you are more connected, more relevant, and more valued.
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