Director, Senior Attorney

Intro

Are you ready to explore a world of possibilities, both at work and during your time off? Join our American Airlines family, and you’ll travel the world, grow your expertise and become the best version of you. As you embark on a new journey, you’ll tackle challenges with flexibility and grace, learning new skills and advancing your career while having the time of your life. Feel free to enrich both your personal and work life and hop on board!

Why you'll love this job

As a member of the American Airlines in house legal team, the Director, Senior Attorney – Labor and Employment will provide counsel, advice, and legal support on employment and labor law issues that arise from the day-to-day operations of American Airlines.

What you'll do

This list is intended to reflect the current job but there may be additional essential functions (and certainly non-essential job functions) that are not referenced.

• Provides practical, compliant, and strategic legal support and counsel to Company leaders to ensure compliance with employment and labor laws 
• Functions as a labor and employment subject matter expert, including staying current in all applicable legal areas such as Railway Labor Act, Title VII, ADA, FMLA and state and local employment laws, including state and local wage and hour laws  
• Provides practical, compliant, and strategic legal advice and counsel to Labor Relations, People Business Partners, and Operations leadership on a full range of Railway Labor Act issues, including on administration of multiple collective bargaining agreements
• Works closely with Labor Relations, People Business Partners, and Operations leadership on issues related to contract interpretation, grievances and arbitrations, and performance management, and assists the business with developing legally compliant, yet practical solutions to employment-related issues
• Supports labor agreement negotiations
• Serves as lead counsel in labor arbitrations 
• Strategically and in a cost-effective manner, manages and partners with outside counsel in litigation matters. 
• Oversees and manages outside counsel on some matters requiring external representation, ensuring alignment with AA legal strategy and cost effective performance

All you'll need for success

Minimum Qualifications – Education & Prior Job Experience

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, excellent academic record, and active member in good standing in at least one State bar
• 7 years of successful experience practicing labor and/or employment law, preferably at a national law firm and/or in-house 
• Strong command of employment and labor laws, regulations, and best practices, including experience with collective bargaining agreements

Preferred Qualifications – Education & Prior Job Experience

• Experience in collaborating with company executives, including People Business Partners, Labor Relations, and union leadership, in the context of a unionized workforce preferred 
• Experience handling or advising on grievance and arbitrations, first chair arbitration experience and experience with Railway Labor Act preferred

Skills, Licenses, and Certifications

• Demonstrates the highest standards of ethics and integrity
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear and actionable guidance for non‑lawyer clients
• Ability to thrive under pressure in a fast-paced, changing, and complex environment
• Ability to render persuasive, diplomatic, practical, and legally compliant advice in a timely fashion
• Superior problem solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills, with ability to be highly meticulous and detail-oriented
• Ability to influence through outstanding interpersonal skills, collaboration, and negotiation skills
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible in rapidly changing conditions and priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with ability to handle complex topics comfortably and to interact effectively with all levels and colleagues across internal departments
• Ability to travel independently, including overnight trips of varying duration
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion and the ability to build and facilitate long-term relationships at all levels, both internally and externally
• Ability to relocate, if not currently residing in the Dallas/Fort Worth area

What you'll get<