Director, Global Employment Law, EMEA

Overview

The organization is seeking a motivated, experienced lawyer specializing in Employment Law to join its Global Employment Law team. This role will support the continued growth across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and reports to the Senior Director, Global Employment Law.

This position provides legal counsel and partnership to the Global People Organization and other key internal stakeholders globally on employment law matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide business-oriented, risk-based legal advice and counsel across the full range of employment law topics, including:
  • Hiring, separations, and dismissals
  • Employee relations matters
  • Restructurings
  • Works councils and collective consultation
  • Compensation and benefits
  • Leaves of absence
  • Workplace investigations and employee relations
  • Employee privacy matters
• Partner with the Global People Organization to create and revise global and locally compliant policies and procedures.
• Work with the Ethics & Compliance, Employee Relations, and Global People teams to conduct prompt, thorough investigations into employee concerns.
• Lead strategy and advise on works council, trade union, and collective employee relations matters across EMEA, partnering with the Global People Organization and senior leadership on information and consultation processes.
• Advise and collaborate with the Global People Organization to develop and implement global programs and initiatives.
• Develop and deliver employee-related trainings.
• Manage employment claims and litigation matters across EMEA, including selecting and managing outside counsel.
• Collaborate with members of the Global Employment Law team on global projects and issues.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to EMEA senior leadership on complex, high-risk employment matters, including multi-country restructurings, M&A and M&A integration, workforce transformation, and executive matters.
• Provide strategic advice on the development and deployment of AI tools in the employment lifecycle, including works council consultations and agreements.
• Contribute to the development of Legal Services Delivery applications by envisioning, creating, and deploying workflows on the ServiceNow Platform.
• Monitor and maintain knowledge of changes in EMEA employment laws and regulations and industry practices affecting the business, and provide practical guidance to stakeholders.

Requirements

• Experience leveraging and critically thinking about integrating AI into work processes, decision-making, and problem-solving (including the use of AI-powered tools, automation of workflows, analysis of AI-driven insights, and/or exploration of AI’s impact on the function or industry).
• Strong work ethic, exceptional judgment, and uncompromising integrity.
• Law degree with strong academic credentials.
• Fully qualified lawyer in good standing in a relevant European jurisdiction (preferably France, Germany, Ireland or the UK).
• Minimum of 12+ years of relevant legal experience practicing employment law at a top law firm and/or in-house legal department of a multi-national company; high tech experience a plus. In-house experience at a global employer strongly desirable.
• Deep employment law experience across a variety of EMEA jurisdictions, including leading works council and collective consultation processes, with a desire to develop and expand expertise.
• Proven track record leading complex EMEA employment litigation and multi-country restructurings, including management of outside counsel.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, good sense of humor, and proven ability to build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders across multiple geographical locations.
• Ability to understand complex issues, assess risk, and provide concise, business-focused legal and risk mitigation advice and counsel.
• Practical, proactive, collaborative, and solution-oriented approach; ability to make sound decisions and exercise good judgment.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure; manage multiple competing tasks simultaneously and thoroughly to closure in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated global mindset and cultural sensitivity.
• Fluency in English; working knowledge of additional language(s) a plus.
• Ability to travel throughout the world and within EMEA as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• High tech experience.
• In-house experience at a global employer.

Compensation & Benefits

• Not specified in the provided job description.

Location

• Region: EMEA – Europe, Middle East and Africa
• Work Persona: Flexible or Remote
• Employee Type: Regular

Additional Information

• Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. Applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with legal requirements.
• Accommodations: If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, assistance is available.
• Export Control Regulations: For roles requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, employment may be contingent upon obtaining required export control approval/licensing from government authorities.