Sr Director, Corporate Counsel, Employment & Litigation

Sr Director, Corporate Counsel, Employment & Litigation

The Sr. Director, Corporate Counsel, Employment & Litigation is a collaborative and results oriented senior attorney who has strong communications, and interpersonal skills, works effectively in a fast paced and growth-oriented business environment with numerous business stakeholders.

Location: Newton/Hybrid

Key Responsibilities:

Litigation & Case Management:

• Represent the company in employment-related litigation for field level employees, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, wage and hour disputes, and other employment law claims.
• Work closely with the Chief Legal Officer and external counsel to develop and implement litigation strategies to achieve favorable outcomes and day to day management of all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, mediation, arbitration, and trial.

EEOC & Government Investigations:

• Respond to charges of discrimination and employment-related complaints filed by field level employees with the EEOC and other government agencies.
• Work with regulatory agencies to resolve EEOC charges and minimize exposure.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Advise on federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, FMLA, and other applicable laws.

Internal Investigations:

• Conduct and oversee internal investigations related to non-executive field level employee complaints and ethics and compliance violations, including harassment, discrimination, ADA compliance and other code of conduct matters.
• Provide guidance and recommendations based on investigation findings and mitigate potential risks.

Employee Relations:

• Provide legal counsel on employee relations matters, including discipline, terminations, grievances, and contract disputes for field level employees.
• Partner with HR to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risks in handling employee relations.

Wage & Hour Compliance:

• Handle wage and hour disputes, including classification issues, overtime disputes, and payroll compliance.

Collaboration & Leadership: 

• Collaborate with internal departments (Finance, Operations, Risk Management, etc.) to align HR legal strategies with business goals.
• Provide leadership to paralegals and associate relations professionals.
• Mentor and develop team members to enhance the overall legal department’s capabilities.

Qualifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials.  Current membership with state bar in good standing.  Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in employment law and litigation, with a focus on EEOC charges, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, and other employee-related lawsuits.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex employment litigation and internal investigations.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Outstanding organizational skills to handle multiple projects simultaneously and effectively prioritize deadlines.
• Highly proactive, responsive, adaptable, and team oriented.
• Experience selecting and managing outside counsel as appropriate; effectively evaluating the quality and cost of services of outside counsel.
• Ability to work collaboratively with HR, management, and external counsel.
• Experience managing a team.
• Demonstrated ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice in a fast-paced environment.

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