Associate Legal Director

About the role

The Associate Director- Labor & Employment reports to the Executive Director for Labor & Employment, Americas. The role is part of JCI’s Global Law & Policy Team and focuses on providing proactive, strategic, efficient, and cost-effective advice and counseling on a broad array of labor and employment related issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, business-savvy legal advice with respect to a wide range of labor and employment matters, including employee relations, recruitment and hiring, restrictive covenants, wage and hour, equal pay, leaves of absence, performance management, disciplinary actions, terminations, workplace safety, reorganizations, reductions in force, executive compensation, international assignments, employment agreements and employee benefits.
• In conjunction with HR, develop, revise and implement US and global employment-related policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all laws, regulations and legal standards.
• Support compliance and investigations processes. Independently manage sensitive investigations. First-Chair responsibility for responding to charges, audits, compliance reviews, and investigations pending before EEOC, NLRB, DOL and/or corresponding state or local agencies. Independently manage single plaintiff and class action employment litigation, developing strategy, facilitating discovery, driving performance, ensuring efficiency and being responsible and accountable for the results.
• Provide strategic advice regarding reorganizations to assist the business in meeting operational goals while mitigating legal risk.
• Draft, review, interpret and negotiate employment related agreements, including employment agreements, separation agreements, restrictive covenants, confidentiality agreements, retention bonuses.
• Prepare regular communications and updates to human resources and business leaders on labor and employment-related topics, including new laws that impact the workplace.
• Provide legal advice and counsel on global mergers and acquisitions.
• Serve as work stream leader on employment and labor related topics.

Requirements

• JD Degree; must be a member in good standing of a U.S. state bar
• Minimum 5 years of labor and employment experience in a law firm or in-house counsel role, or both
• Experience litigating single plaintiff and class action employment independently, including first chairing mediations and case resolution efforts
• Independent client counseling experience on L&E legal issues, including leaves of absences, accommodations, discrimination, retaliation, employment terminations, wage-and-hour compliance, and background checks
• Experience with traditional labor preferred, including collective bargaining negotiations, union campaigns, and labor arbitrations
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Able to make sound judgment calls under pressure
• Strong leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with others in a matrixed management structure
• Ability to drive process changes, resource efficiencies, and change management in the provision of legal services
• Exceptional and demonstrated project management skills
• Ability to build positive relationships with senior management, the business, and other members of the legal team and to influence outcomes positively

Qualifications

• Must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree
• Must have a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience
• Must have a valid driver's license
• Must be able to travel up to 20% of the time

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Benefits

• Competitive salary range: $145,000 - $185,000 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data)
• On the job/cross training opportunities
• Comprehensive benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, and vision care
• Encouraging and collaborative team environment
• Dedication to safety through our Zero Harm policy

Pay

Hiring Salary Range: $145,000 - $185,000 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.)

Schedule

Full-time position