Associate Senior Counsel - Employment Law

Cigna Group•Saint Louis, MO

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Senior Counsel - Employment Law serves as a trusted legal advisor, providing experienced, practical counsel across a broad range of employment law matters. This role partners closely with Human Resources, Employee Relations, Compliance, business leaders, and Legal colleagues to support organizational objectives, identify and address legal risk, and promote compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Associate Senior Counsel independently manages assigned employment law matters of moderate to significant complexity, applying sound judgment and delivering clear, business-focused guidance. This individual collaborates with and escalates higher-risk, novel, sensitive, or precedent-setting matters to more senior employment counsel as appropriate. The role also contributes to team effectiveness through knowledge sharing, process improvement, cross-functional collaboration, and guidance to legal professionals and business partners.

Requirements

Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction and in good standing.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
Minimum of 8+ of legal experience, with substantial experience focused on employment law.
Demonstrated experience advising organizations on a broad range of moderately complex to complex employment law matters.
Experience managing or supporting administrative claims, employment litigation, and outside counsel relationships.
Sound business judgment and the ability to provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships, communicate with stakeholders at varying levels, work independently within assigned areas, recognize when escalation is appropriate, and manage competing priorities across multiple matters.

Nice To Haves

In-house employment law experience within a large, complex, highly regulated organization.
Experience supporting national employers operating across multiple jurisdictions.
Experience participating in cross-functional initiatives and supporting employment law compliance programs across a complex organization.
Experience providing guidance, coaching, or knowledge sharing to legal professionals and business partners.

Responsibilities

Serve as a legal advisor to Human Resources, Employee Relations, business leaders, and other stakeholders on a broad range of employment law matters.
Provide practical, risk-based legal guidance regarding compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including the ADA, ADEA, Title VII, FMLA, FLSA, FCRA, and other applicable employment and labor requirements.
Advise on employee relations matters, including investigations, accommodations, leaves of absence, discrimination and harassment claims, reductions in force, discipline, terminations, and wage and hour issues.
Partner with business and HR leaders on workforce initiatives, organizational changes, restructurings, and employment programs, identifying legal considerations and supporting effective implementation.
Develop and execute legal strategy for assigned administrative charges, demand letters, pre-litigation disputes, and employment litigation, consulting with more senior employment counsel on higher-risk or precedent-setting matters.
Manage and support responses to claims filed before federal, state, and local agencies, including the EEOC, DOL, and comparable regulatory bodies.
Manage outside counsel on assigned employment matters, overseeing work product, aligning external advice with internal strategy, and promoting cost-effective representation.
Monitor and assess legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments affecting employment practices; identify legal risks and recommend practical compliance or mitigation measures.
Draft, review, and revise employment-related policies, procedures, guidelines, handbooks, legal memoranda, and communications.
Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on employment-related agreements, including arbitration agreements, separation and release agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, retention agreements, and executive employment arrangements.
Provide legal guidance regarding restrictive covenants, confidentiality obligations, employee mobility issues, and emerging legal developments affecting post-employment restrictions.
Share knowledge and provide guidance to paralegals, junior legal professionals, and business partners on employment law matters and effective legal processes.
Participate in and, as appropriate, lead defined workstreams within cross-functional working groups and enterprise initiatives involving employment law considerations.
Develop and deliver training for Human Resources professionals, Employee Relations teams, managers, and business leaders on employment law developments, organizational policies, and risk mitigation.
Contribute to Legal department priorities through collaboration, knowledge sharing, professional engagement, and continuous improvement of employment law processes and resources.