Assistant General Counsel

Smithfield Foods•Smithfield, VA

56d•$200,000 - $242,500

About The Position

This position provides legal advice to the Company and generally assists the Legal Department and individual business units with a wide range of labor and employment matters. The attorney reports to the Company’s Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment and works closely with other members of the Legal Department and individual business units to achieve business objectives within acceptable risk profiles. The attorney performs duties consistent with legal and ethical requirements as well as Company values, standards, culture and business practices.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school and 10+ years of relevant experience required.
Must be admitted to practice in at least one U.S. state.
Minimum 5+ years of substantive business law experience with a corporate legal department or a well regarded law firm.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple matters, balance shifting priorities, and provide sound risk-based counsel while delivering timely, accurate results.
Excellent oral and written communication, organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills with the ability to simplify complex concepts for diverse audiences.
Sound judgment; ability to clearly make reasoned recommendations and determine who should be kept informed.
Performance-driven with good business sense, strong ownership, urgency, honesty, fairness, and the ability to inspire confidence.
Team-oriented with a collaborative, respectful, and approachable style that fosters trust and positive working relationships.
Calm under pressure with the self-confidence to serve as an engaged partner to internal clients in a highly dynamic environment.
Willingness to travel occasionally in support of business and legal needs.

Responsibilities

Stay abreast of labor and employment laws, regulatory developments, and industry trends, and partner with the Associate General Counsel and business leaders to develop proactive workforce risk, compliance, and litigation-avoidance strategies.
Advise Human Resources and business leaders on all labor and employment matters, including wage and hour, workplace safety, discrimination, privacy, labor-management relations, and immigration.
Conduct EEO and ethics hotline investigations, and assist Chief Legal Officer and Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment with government investigations, including fact-finding, response preparation, and coordination with internal stakeholders.
Engage in all aspects of labor and employment litigation, including risk assessment, case strategy, litigation holds, pleadings review, e-discovery compliance, and partnership with outside counsel.
Manage the Company's response to discovery requests, subpoenas, third-party information requests, and other legal document production requirements.
Manage outside labor and employment counsel, managing performance, legal spending, budgets, and overall case costs.
Assist in preparing witnesses for depositions and trial testimony, prepare for and attend mediations and settlement conferences, and draft and or review settlement agreements, confidentiality agreements, and protective orders.
Support the Chief Legal Officer and Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment with departmental planning, budgeting, administrative matters, and overall legal strategy.