Senior Corporate Counsel - Labor and Employment

About the role

This role serves as a trusted advisor, delivering practical, business-focused counsel on a broad range of employment-related issues while helping the company manage risk and achieve its objectives.

Responsibilities

• Deliver legal counsel and support of Caterpillar’s U.S. business operations on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including issues involving the FMLA, FLSA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, OFCCP, NLRA and HR policy compliance
• Establish and maintain relationships, credibility, and trust with human resources and business leadership, stakeholders, and legal colleagues across a global organization
• Collaborate with colleagues to provide strategic employment and labor law counsel and drive successful outcomes in complex and highly sensitive matters
• Handle inquiries, audits, investigations, and actions from government officials or agencies responsible for labor and employment regulation
• Identify and assess legal risks and new developments and advise internal business partners and leadership on development and implementation of new laws, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Provide legal training based on risk assessment, strategic objectives, and legal developments

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
• Licensed to practice law in at least one state and ability to practice as in-house counsel in Texas or Illinois, as applicable
• Minimum of 5 years of law firm and/or in-house experience in labor and employment matters

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with a commitment to integrity, professionalism, collegiality, and keeping stakeholders appropriately informed
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues and to influence others inside and outside the legal department
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams within legal, HR and business units
• Demonstrated business acumen, ability to learn Caterpillar’s business and experience developing and recommending practical and strategic approaches to legal challenges facing business clients

Skills

• Significant client counseling experience, including experience directly advising HR professionals and business leaders on employment law matters, including employee discipline and discharge, performance management, employee separation agreements, reductions in force, leaves of absence, wage & hour, EEO charge proceedings and employment litigation
• Experience representing employers in traditional labor relations matters, including collective bargaining, contract administration, labor arbitration, union organizing, union representation elections and defense of unfair labor practice claims
• Flexibility and eagerness to work on broad range of legal matters
• Ability to effectively navigate and work efficiently in a matrix organization

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)
• 401(k) savings plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Health Lifestyle Programs
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts
• Career Development
• Incentive bonus
• Disability benefits
• Life Insurance
• Parental leave
• Adoption benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement