Senior Labor & Employment Counsel, USA

Overview

This role is for a Senior Labor & Employment Counsel based in the USA, reporting to the Head of Labor & Employment and Corporate Governance. The position involves providing strategic legal counsel on labor and employment matters to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The role supports multiple business areas and contributes to the Motion, Electrification & Automation Business legal function.

This position is open to remote candidates located within the United States, preferably in the Eastern or Central Time Zones to facilitate collaboration with domestic and international teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage all employment-related litigation, including advisory and strategic involvement, settlement negotiations, selection and oversight of outside counsel, and liaison with business units.
• Develop strategies for union contracts and participate directly in union negotiations when necessary.
• Handle union-related issues such as union avoidance, organizing campaigns, and labor arbitrations.
• Provide legal advice to human resources and management on employment matters to minimize legal risks, including severance, separation agreements, employee performance, termination decisions, compliance with employment laws, and drafting/reviewing employment agreements.
• Interpret and provide guidance on employment restrictive covenants such as non-competes and trade secrets.
• Conduct labor and employment due diligence related to acquisitions.
• Oversee legal administrative charges from federal or state agencies (e.g., EEOC, NLRB) and manage mediations arising from external claims.
• Deliver employment-related compliance training, develop "train the trainer" programs, and coordinate with appropriate training sources.
• Identify potential risks and exposures through audits, training, and policy reviews, and take appropriate actions to mitigate them.
• Ensure good corporate governance in labor and employment matters related to mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in U.S. Employment and Labor Law.
• Prior litigation experience or extensive experience managing litigation as in-house counsel.
• Ability to research, interpret, and apply local, state, and federal employment laws.
• Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with all levels of stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Strong organizational, collaborative, and follow-up skills.
• Experience working in a multinational environment and advising on multi-jurisdictional or cross-border projects.
• Willingness to work flexible hours to coordinate with international colleagues.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Must have authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business or Human Resources is preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $163,500 to $261,600 annually, dependent on qualifications and experience.
• Eligibility for a short-term incentive plan/annual bonus.

Health, Life & Disability Benefits:

• Choice of two medical plans: PPO Copay Plan or High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account.
• Two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus.
• Vision benefits.
• Company-paid life insurance (2x base pay) and accidental death & dismemberment insurance (1x base pay).
• Voluntary life and AD&D insurance (employee-paid).
• Company-paid short-term disability (up to 26 weeks) and long-term disability (60% of pay) with option to buy up to 66 2/3%.
• Supplemental benefits including accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, and pet insurance (employee-paid).
• Paid parental leave.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Health Advocate support for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation, virtual health, and infertility/adoption.
• Employee discount program.

Retirement Benefits:

• 401(k) Savings Plan with company contributions.
• Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP).

Time Off:

• 11 paid holidays.
• Vacation provided under a permissive time away policy for salaried exempt employees.

Location

Remote within the United States, preferably Eastern or Central Time Zones.

The organization is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to protected characteristics under federal and state law.