Counsel - Labor & Employment

About the Role

Eaton’s legal organization is seeking an exceptional employment and labor lawyer to join the Labor, Employment & Benefits practice group. This high-impact, hands-on role offers frequent exposure to senior HR and business leaders, providing a platform to shape how a growing global enterprise scales its workforce and attracts, engages, protects, and inspires its people. The role involves strategic leadership, working closely with others to bring a connected perspective across multiple businesses, spotting geographic and site trends, and sharing lessons learned with key stakeholders.

The preferred location is Beachwood, Ohio (Eaton’s US HQ), though remote talent with travel as needed will be considered. Reporting to the Vice President and Chief Employment Counsel, this role helps solve consequential workforce questions, counseling across the full employee lifecycle and serving as a trusted partner in labor relations and collective bargaining.

Responsibilities

• Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining
  • Prepare for and conduct collective bargaining negotiations, shaping strategy, drafting and pressure-testing contract proposals and CBA language, analyzing legal impacts, and advising the bargaining team to reach agreements that support operational continuity and employee well-being.
  • Provide legal counsel on grievances, arbitrations, NLRB proceedings, union organizing activity, and works council matters to mitigate risk and avoid disputes.
  • Partner with the Employee & Labor Relations Center of Excellence and HR business partners to proactively address risks and maintain operational momentum.
• Employment Counsel
  • Provide practical, business-aligned counsel to HR and business leaders on hiring, investigations, discipline, terminations, reorganizations, reductions in force, accommodations, leaves, and scalable policies.
  • Address EEOC and other agency charges, attorney demands, and investigations, identifying trends and root causes to implement corrective and preventive solutions.
  • Direct outside counsel effectively and champion lessons learned across the enterprise.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school; active license to practice law in at least one U.S. state; eligibility to practice in or register as in-house counsel in Ohio.
• Minimum of 10 years of employment law experience, including meaningful labor relations experience.
• Direct experience supporting collective bargaining negotiations, grievance arbitration, and NLRB/unfair labor practice matters is strongly preferred.
• Combination of law firm and in-house experience is ideal.

Skills

• Command of federal and state employment law (e.g., Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, and state equivalents) and the National Labor Relations Act, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, and union organizing. Works councils experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability in negotiation, strategic thinking, drafting, and persuasive presenting.
• Proactive issue-spotting and creative problem-solving.
• Attention to detail, follow-through, and execution.
• Managing competing priorities and limited resources to drive results.
• Leads with courage, emotional intelligence, and accountability; stays curious.
• Balances sound risk management with business realities to drive practical, business-minded decisions.
• Effectively builds relationships at all organizational levels and across diverse stakeholders.
• Works collaboratively in a team environment to advance enterprise success.
• Communicates clearly and effectively in spoken, written, and platform settings, adapting messages to influence stakeholders at all levels and remaining steady under pressure.

Pay

The expected annual salary range for this role is $165,000 – $242,000. This role is also eligible for a variable incentive program. Salaries are based on candidate skills, experience, qualifications, market, and business considerations.

Benefits

Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits, Retirement benefits, and programs for paid and unpaid time away from work. Specific programs and options may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and collective bargaining agreements. Eaton Benefits Overview.