Counsel (Employment/Immigration Law)

Navy Federal•Pensacola, FL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Serve as in-house employment counsel supporting a broad range of employment law matters across Navy Federal Credit Union, while also serving as its lead subject matter expert for employment-based immigration. Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice to Human Resources, business leaders, and other internal stakeholders on employment litigation, workplace investigations, accommodations and leave, performance management, employment policies, compliance, contingent workforce issues, and related matters. Advise on immigration, sponsorship, work authorization, and global mobility issues; manage and provide legal oversight of outside counsel and vendors; and support compliant employment outcomes for foreign national employees and the organization. Navy Federal does not provide sponsorship for this role. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school fully accredited by the American Bar Association.
Licensed to practice law and in good standing with the bar of at least one state; willing and able to become licensed to practice law in Virginia or register for limited admission as Virginia corporate counsel.
At least two years of experience litigating employment matters, including employment claims, charges, agency proceedings, pre-litigation disputes, or other employment-related litigation.
At least two years of experience providing employment-related advice and counsel to clients or internal stakeholders on workplace issues, policies, compliance, employee relations, performance management, accommodations and leave, investigations, or related employment matters.
Experience with employment-based immigration, sponsorship, work authorization, global mobility practices, or related compliance requirements sufficient to serve as the organization’s immigration subject matter expert with support from outside counsel as appropriate.
Ability to manage multiple priorities independently and in a team environment, including complex, sensitive, and ambiguous matters requiring sound judgment and follow-through.
Advanced legal research, analytical, problem-solving, organizational, planning, oral communication, and written communication skills.
Ability to translate complex legal requirements into clear, practical guidance and present findings, recommendations, and conclusions to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
Effective interpersonal, leadership, consulting, negotiating, influencing, training, mentoring, and relationship-building skills.
Experience creating or improving reports, communications, presentations, training materials, process documentation, policies, procedures, controls, or programs to support compliance and business objectives.
Must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of the financial services industry, financial institution operations, and bank or credit union processes and services.
Familiarity with Navy Federal’s functions, objectives, mission, business units, and operational environment.
Experience supporting complex immigration, sponsorship, expatriate assignment, international business travel, or global mobility needs in a large national or international organization.
Experience with global mobility dashboards, corporate systems, case management tools, HR platforms, or service management tools used to support immigration, global mobility, legal, reporting, or compliance work.

Responsibilities

Provide practical legal advice and risk-based guidance on employment law issues affecting the organization.
Advise Human Resources, business leaders, and other stakeholders on performance management, discipline, terminations, accommodations and leave, wage and hour, workplace investigations, employee relations, policies, and compliance.
Manage employment-related litigation, pre-litigation demands, charges, subpoenas, agency matters, and disputes, including fact development, legal analysis, strategy, settlement negotiations, and coordination with outside counsel.
Conduct legal research; draft and review employment-related agreements, policies, communications, and guidance; and provide recommendations balancing legal risk, business objectives, employee experience, and operational needs.
Serve as the organization’s lead subject matter expert and legal advisor for employment-based immigration, including visa sponsorship, work authorization, business travel, expatriate assignments, and related compliance matters.
Advise on immigration compliance obligations, including labor condition applications, record retention, audits, agency inquiries, and sponsorship obligations.
Partner with Compensation and other stakeholders on prevailing wage, salary, and other compensation-related immigration requirements, including assessing when compensation or employment changes require immigration action.
Provide legal guidance on immigration and global mobility programs, including sponsorship, policy development, case escalations, process improvement, and support for foreign national employees throughout the employment lifecycle.
Manage and provide legal oversight of external immigration counsel and vendors supporting immigration and global mobility.
Advise leaders, Human Resources, business units, and hiring managers on immigration-related employment actions, sponsorship strategy, case timing, employee communications, and compliant outcomes.
Monitor, interpret, and communicate immigration and global mobility legal developments; translate requirements into guidance, policies, procedures, training, and controls.
Build effective relationships with internal clients, external counsel, vendors, and other stakeholders through sound judgment, responsiveness, diplomacy, and practical problem-solving.
Perform other duties as assigned.