Associate General Counsel - Labor and Employment

University of Pennsylvania•Philadelphia, PA

9d•$152,625 - $250,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of the Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine seeks a full-time Labor and Employment attorney to provide sophisticated legal expertise in advising and representing the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine in all aspects of labor and employment-related matters and activities.

Requirements

Graduation from a recognized college or university; graduation from an ABA accredited law school with a J.D. degree.
Minimum 5 years’ professional experience as a practicing labor and employment attorney with experience in unionized environments required.
Must be admitted and in good standing in Pennsylvania and New Jersey state bars; admission to Pennsylvania bar required within one (1) year of appointment.
Demonstrated excellence in legal research, analysis and reasoning and drafting, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical advice.
Impeccable oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively present to and advise various audiences in all areas and at all levels including senior leadership, and to tailor communications appropriately.
Ability to identify, frame, and resolve complex and sensitive legal and operational issues, using sound judgement, creativity and discretion.
Ability to interact and function effectively in both a higher education environment, as well as in an academic medical center setting.
Demonstrated experience with collective bargaining, grievances, arbitrations, and NLRA compliance.
Strong legal writing, negotiation, and advisory skills, with a practical, solutions-oriented approach.
Ability to manage sensitive matters with sound judgment and discretion.
Demonstrated capacity to manage a high volume of complex work in a fast-paced environment, including the ability to prioritize, balance competing demands and concurrent matters, and respond in a timely and service-oriented manner for timely resolution of issues.
Ability to work effectively in a decentralized, matrixed organization, navigating institutional structures and bringing the right stakeholders into discussions as appropriate.
Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team while also leading initiatives and influencing outcomes without direct authority.
Demonstrated ability and willingness to learn new subject areas and develop expertise in emerging or specialized areas as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience working directly with executive leadership and senior HR professionals, preferred.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with high emotional intelligence and the ability to build credibility quickly across many different stakeholders.
Experience working in or advising higher education institutions, including with respect to the distinct legal frameworks governing faculty employment.
Experience working in or advising academic medical centers, hospitals and/or the healthcare industry more generally, including familiarity with the operational and regulatory complexity of healthcare organizations and medical staff employment.
Experience providing legal counsel and advice with respect to immigration law compliance as it relates to employees and/or students.

Responsibilities

Provide practical, risk-based guidance on compliance with federal, state and local employment laws, including wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, leave entitlements, and workplace accommodations.
Analyze and advise on the intersection of employment laws and collective bargaining obligations, ensuring alignment between policies, CBAs, and statutory requirements.
Stay abreast of legal and compliance issues that may affect higher education and/or academic medical centers from a labor and/or employment perspective and partner with internal stakeholders to appropriately address such issues.
Counsel HR and management on discipline, performance management, investigations, and employee separations, including just‑cause standards and contractual procedures where applicable.
Advise on restructurings, reductions in force, and operational changes, including bargaining obligations and union notice requirements.
Represent or manage employment and labor matters before agencies such EEOC, PHRC, PCHR, DOL, OSHA, NLRB, NJ DCR and state and federal courts.
Oversee responses to administrative charges, subpoenas, and agency investigations involving both labor and employment claims.
Serve as a legal advisor on labor relations in a unionized setting, including collective bargaining strategy, contract interpretation, and labor‑management relations.
Advise management on compliance with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and applicable state labor laws.
Draft, review, and interpret collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), memoranda of understanding, side letters, and labor‑related policies.
Advise management on CBA interpretation, including with respect to grievances.
Support management during collective bargaining negotiations, including preparation of proposals, analysis of counterproposals, and risk assessment, as well as during CBA implementation.
Represent management in or oversee arbitrations and unfair labor practice matters, including preparation of cases and/or coordination with outside counsel as needed.
Counsel on union organizing activity, protected concerted activity, strikes, work stoppages, and other labor disputes.
Draft and update employment policies, labor‑related procedures, and management guidance applicable to unionized and non‑unionized employees.
Develop and deliver training for leadership, clinicians, managers, and HR personnel on labor relations, contract administration, and employment law compliance.
Partner with leadership to proactively identify labor and employment risks and develop strategic solutions.
Provide on-call attorney advice periodically to Penn Medicine clients.

Benefits

Excellent healthcare benefits for employees and their families
Tuition benefits for employees and their families
Generous retirement benefits
A wide variety of professional development opportunities
Supportive work and family benefits
A wealth of health and wellness programs and resources
Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children
Retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth basis options
Wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard
Substantial amount of time away from work
Long-Term Care Insurance
Wellness and Work-life Resources
Professional and Personal Development resources
Access to a wide range of University resources, cultural and recreational activities
Discounts and Special Services (arts, entertainment, transportation, mortgages, new cars, cellular phone service, movie tickets, theme parks)
Flexible Work Hours
Penn Home Ownership Services (forgivable loan for eligible employees)
Adoption Assistance