Associate Director and Senior Counsel - Employment

Overview

The organization’s Legal team partners with internal stakeholders to develop practical, proactive solutions that support business objectives while managing risk and protecting organizational interests. This role focuses on employment and labor law matters and partners closely with Human Resources professionals and business leaders.

This position is an Associate Director and Senior Counsel responsible for advising on employment strategy, counseling HR on complex matters, and managing employment disputes and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Advise senior HR leaders and executive business stakeholders on complex and high-impact employment matters.
• Provide employment law advice and counseling on HR issues including:
  • Workplace investigations
  • Leaves of absence and accommodation of disabilities
  • Performance management and discipline
  • Terminations
  • Wage and hour
  • Hiring and recruitment
  • Workforce restructuring
• Manage and resolve employment disputes through negotiation and other mechanisms, including:
  • Representing the organization before administrative agencies
  • Managing outside counsel in employment litigation and other general business litigation
• Assess compliance requirements and legal risk under federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
  • Proactively monitor legal developments, industry and regulatory trends, and legislative initiatives
  • Advise HR of new developments and requirements
• Partner with international HR professionals and local counsel globally regarding employment and labor issues.
• Develop and periodically update HR policies.
• Develop and conduct training for HR professionals on employment law compliance and HR best practices.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an ABA accredited law school and admission to at least one U.S. state bar required.
• 8+ years of experience in a broad, sophisticated management-side employment law practice (in-house or law firm). Combination of big law firm and in-house experience is a plus.
• Experience managing issues in the international/global context and/or experience managing general litigation.
• Excellent analytical ability and professional judgment with a practical orientation, including experience balancing business needs with potential compliance risks; ability to develop creative solutions to advance business objectives.
• Ability to collaborate to proactively push for results and deliver outcomes across a broad range of projects and initiatives.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks to deliver timely, high-quality work.
• Judgment, objectivity, professionalism, and integrity necessary for addressing sensitive, confidential, complex personnel issues.
• Responsiveness with a customer-focused orientation.
• Ability to influence business leaders at every level of the organization.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Willingness to learn new things and take on challenges outside one’s comfort zone.
• Common sense and a good sense of humor.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hiring range for the primary work location of Framingham, Massachusetts: $177,600–$244,200.
• Hiring range for other work locations may vary.
• Competitive base pay plus rewards including bonus programs, comprehensive health and welfare benefits, a 401(k) plan, and employee discount.

Location

Primary work location: Framingham, Massachusetts.