Associate General Counsel, Head of Employment Law

Guardian Life Insurance Company•Stamford, NY

8d•$290 - $330•Hybrid

About The Position

As Associate General Counsel, Employment, you will report to the Chief Legal Officer and will serve as lead counsel on all labor and employment matters across the enterprise. You will act as a trusted advisor to the Chief Human Resources Officer providing expert advice to develop, implement and monitor employment related strategies and practices, and on a broad range of employment related legal issues and topics. You will be a member of the Law Department’s Executive Leadership Team along with peer Practice Area leaders, leading the direction of the Law Department and be committed to promoting the department’s mission to: Partner as trusted advocates and advisors to drive strategic solutions that advance Guardian’s purpose, priorities, and values. You have Demonstrated experience providing excellent, business focused legal advice and counsel and excel at building deep, trusted relationships with CHRO and key stakeholders Demonstrated experience building a strong culture of engagement and high performance with your direct team, and of collaboration and trust building with your Law Department Executive-level peers Superior communication skills and experience presenting to Executive Management and Board level A proactive approach to horizon scanning and forward-looking insight to address issues before they create legal exposure, and an ability to handle a multitude of complex and challenging legal issues and situations Commitment to innovation and partnership on department modernization efforts You will Advise and provide counsel to Executive stakeholders across the Guardian enterprise on strategic organizational and employment matters Advise and provide counsel to Human Resource partners on all aspects of day-to-day employment-related matters including hiring and termination issues, harassment, discrimination and retaliation, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, wage and hour issues, restrictive covenants, conflicts of interest, independent contractor issues, statutory employee issues, employee investigations, hiring of current and former government employees, etc. Manage investigations and represent the company at the administrative level (EEOC, DOL, equivalent state and local agencies). Prepare position statements and manage outside counsel Advise on legal matters related to employee benefits and ERISA compliance Partner with litigation team colleagues on employment and labor litigation, reviewing pleadings, developing strategy, facilitating the gathering of information (documents, interviews); making recommendations at key stages in the process, etc. Provide legal advice in ethics investigations; may be asked to serve as lead investigator in high-level or sensitive matters Review, interpret, and draft company policies and procedures and, specifically with respect to employee benefit matters, oversee the drafting of benefit plans by our incumbent employee benefits law subject matter expert Assist in the preparation and delivery of internal training courses on a variety of employment law topics Assist in company acquisition efforts as needed in areas of subject matter expertise Develop professional credibility and relationships with internal and external stakeholders as well as manage relationships with outside counsel Manage team of senior employment attorneys You have A JD degree, with preferred NYS bar admission or eligible to be admitted with NYS bar under its in-house counsel admission program A minimum of ten years of relevant professional legal experience practicing labor/employment law in a large law firm or an in-house legal department Familiarity with the laws and regulations governing qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans is preferred Strong oral and written communication skills as well as outstanding organizational and analytical skills required Strong collaboration skills in a team setting while displaying a high level of self-direction and sound judgment Critical Competencies/Behaviors In accordance with our success factors of Acting with accountability, Leading with the consumer at the center, Committing to collaborate, Communicating transparently, and Connecting with empathy and compassion: Drives Results: Consistently achieves excellent results, even under tough circumstances Collaborates: Builds trusted partnerships and works collaboratively with peers, colleagues, and stakeholders to meet shared objectives Instills Trust: Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity Ensures Accountability: Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments Decision Quality: Makes sound and timely decisions that propel the organization forward Courage: Steps up to address difficult issues, communicating clearly and professionally Customer Focus: Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Proven track record of communication to Executive level management and Board of Directors Values Differences: Recognizes the value that diverse perspectives and cultures bring to an organization and serves as a role model for inclusion and diversity

Requirements

A JD degree, with preferred NYS bar admission or eligible to be admitted with NYS bar under its in-house counsel admission program
A minimum of ten years of relevant professional legal experience practicing labor/employment law in a large law firm or an in-house legal department
Familiarity with the laws and regulations governing qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans is preferred
Strong oral and written communication skills as well as outstanding organizational and analytical skills required
Strong collaboration skills in a team setting while displaying a high level of self-direction and sound judgment
Drives Results: Consistently achieves excellent results, even under tough circumstances
Collaborates: Builds trusted partnerships and works collaboratively with peers, colleagues, and stakeholders to meet shared objectives
Instills Trust: Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
Ensures Accountability: Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments
Decision Quality: Makes sound and timely decisions that propel the organization forward
Courage: Steps up to address difficult issues, communicating clearly and professionally
Customer Focus: Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions
Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Proven track record of communication to Executive level management and Board of Directors
Values Differences: Recognizes the value that diverse perspectives and cultures bring to an organization and serves as a role model for inclusion and diversity

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the laws and regulations governing qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans is preferred

Responsibilities

Advise and provide counsel to Executive stakeholders across the Guardian enterprise on strategic organizational and employment matters
Advise and provide counsel to Human Resource partners on all aspects of day-to-day employment-related matters including hiring and termination issues, harassment, discrimination and retaliation, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, wage and hour issues, restrictive covenants, conflicts of interest, independent contractor issues, statutory employee issues, employee investigations, hiring of current and former government employees, etc.
Manage investigations and represent the company at the administrative level (EEOC, DOL, equivalent state and local agencies). Prepare position statements and manage outside counsel
Advise on legal matters related to employee benefits and ERISA compliance
Partner with litigation team colleagues on employment and labor litigation, reviewing pleadings, developing strategy, facilitating the gathering of information (documents, interviews); making recommendations at key stages in the process, etc.
Provide legal advice in ethics investigations; may be asked to serve as lead investigator in high-level or sensitive matters
Review, interpret, and draft company policies and procedures and, specifically with respect to employee benefit matters, oversee the drafting of benefit plans by our incumbent employee benefits law subject matter expert
Assist in the preparation and delivery of internal training courses on a variety of employment law topics
Assist in company acquisition efforts as needed in areas of subject matter expertise
Develop professional credibility and relationships with internal and external stakeholders as well as manage relationships with outside counsel
Manage team of senior employment attorneys

Benefits

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals.
Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.
Inspire Well-Being As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues.
Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits .
Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees.
Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.
Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.
Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected] .