Senior Principal Counsel - Employment Practices

Discover. A brighter future.

With us, you’ll do meaningful work from Day 1. Our collaborative culture is built on three core behaviors: We Play to Win, We Get Better Every Day & We Succeed Together. And we mean it — we want you to grow and make a difference at one of the world's leading digital banking and payments companies. We value what makes you unique so that you have an opportunity to shine.

Come build your future, while being the reason millions of people find a brighter financial future with Discover.

Job Description:

Under the direction of a Director, this role involves handling moderately complex legal matters, including providing advice, direction and support to internal business clients, including risk, compliance, risk and operations, governance, government relations, and/or provides legal advice, as applicable to role, on new initiatives, business processes, contract review and analysis, training, corrective actions, compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures, litigation risk and issues raised in governance committees. Typically, the role is that of an individual contributor, but in some circumstances, it may functionally lead work group(s) or small teams to deliver desired work output in a direct or indirect manner. The role provides coaching as necessary to increase the effectiveness of others. Actively manages and escalates risk and customer-impacting issues within the day-to-day role to management.

Responsibilities:

• Exercises prudent discretion and decision-making capabilities to provide advice, direction and support to internal business clients, including risk, compliance, governance, government relations, and/or legal advice, as applicable to role, on new initiatives, business processes, contract review and analysis, training, corrective actions, compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures, litigation risk and issues raised in governance committees.

• Identifies, assesses, communicates information to business clients related to emerging regulatory topics and best practices, and provides oversight and strategic guidance on new or proposed legal and regulatory requirements, emerging legal and regulatory risks and trends. Communicates effectively with clients, customers, leadership, committees, regulators and counterparties as applicable.

• Manages resources, if assigned, including overhead, outside counsel and other budgets to achieve Law’s financial goals. Develops and supports others by communicating, fostering respect, providing coaching and feedback, recognizing achievements, and effectively managing employee concerns.

• Continuously improves and adheres to required standards and processes to promote a risk aware culture and ensure efficient and effective risk management.

• Monitoring federal, state, and municipal legal developments, providing weekly briefings to the employment law team on new developments, issuing memoranda to stakeholders, and partner with Compliance and HR to support business goals.

• Conduct legal research and provide written analyses related to various employment and benefits matters, including but not limited to, Title VII, ADA, FMLA, Affirmative Action, ERISA, FLSA, and Immigration.

• Partner with stakeholders to provide legal review and advise on investigations.

• Provide legal advice, in partnership with outside legal counsel, to HR and other business partners at international locations (e.g., EMEA, APAC, Americas)

• Respond to demand letters, wage claims, and employment-related charges filed with municipal, state or federal enforcement agencies (e.g., EEOC, DOL, DOJ, OSHA).

• Represent the company before various employment agencies (e.g., EEOC, DOL, DOJ, OSHA), and courts and oversee the defense of matters by outside counsel.

• Consult with and advise business unit management on matters regarding EEO, FMLA, FLSA, ADAAA, ADEA, Equal Pay, OSHA, Employee Privacy, Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion, Affirmative Action, Performance Management and Terminations. 

• Assist in the development of company policies, procedures, guidelines, standards and other practices designed to ensure compliance with applicable employment-related laws and regulations affecting employees in the U.S. and in international locations. 

• Develop and provide preventative training to HR teams and other internal clients on personnel policies and procedures and applicable state and federal laws.  

• Perform other duties as assigned to support the department and company, as well as to develop skills and abilities for succession in the department.

Minimum Qualifications

At a minimum, here’s what we need from you:

• J.D. in Law

• 3+ years