Counsel, Employment Law

Owens Corning•Toledo, OH

About The Position

The Counsel, Employment Law provides support to the Owens Corning businesses and Corporate functions. This position acts as a key partner to the Human Resources and Labor Relations team, providing valuable guidance on a wide variety of employment related issues. The Counsel, Employment Law serves as the first point of contact and is responsible for providing strategic advice to business units and facilities regarding employment laws/regulations to enable the Company’s talent agenda and implement its policies/programs, all while ensuring compliance.

Requirements

Minimum of 4 to 6 years of experience working as an employment law attorney in either a law firm/corporate setting
Juris Doctorate and Bar Membership in at least one state required
Employment Law Expertise. Brings employment law expertise to the legal function and can communicate legal challenges to human resources and business leaders. Develops practical solutions to complex employment law matters. Listens carefully and identifies high-risk situations requiring escalation and mitigation.
Strategic Mindset. Demonstrates the ability to identify and respond to trends, and to develop sustainable improvements and solutions.
Compliance Minded. Demonstrates the ability identify compliance gaps and to challenge at all levels when faced with possible violation of policy or the law.
Strong Organizational Skills. Demonstrates the ability to meet deadlines and communicate issues as they arise, with specificity and determine actions necessary for a timely remedy of issues.
Communication. Clearly conveys relevant information and ideas. Adjusts approach to capture audience attention and ensures there is an understanding of the message. Seeks to understand others through active listening.
Diversity/Cultural Competence. Understands, communicates with, and effectively interacts with people across the organization. Is self-aware and values the differences in others. Effectively achieves business results working across and with diverse teams.
Customer Orientation. Has an external (outside-in) orientation and understanding that all business opportunities start with knowledge of how to create value for a customer.
Results Oriented. Energetic, resourceful, with strong service orientation and positive can-do attitude. Fully committed to the job and to deliver outstanding work. Never satisfied with status-quo, continually striving for excellence.
Change Agent. Comfortable planning for the future, while managing day-to-day legal matters. Able to anticipate risks and propose practical plans to mitigate them. Appreciates impact of the Owens Corning Legal Department and how the department is an integral part of the company’s business strategy.
Adaptability. Able to improvise, adapt and overcome when faced with problems. Ability to respond quickly to the demands of the moment.
Accountability. Knows what needs to be done and gets it done. Willingly takes responsibility for the organization; unafraid of owning the results, actions and decisions of self or organization.
Learner Mindset. Committed to continuing education and skill sharpening in employment and labor law.
Judgment and Decision Making. Recognizes issues, problems or opportunities and determines whether action is needed. Choose appropriate action by formulating clear decision criteria and evaluates options by considering implications and consequences. Implements decisions or initiates action within a reasonable time. Escalates and informs as appropriate.

Responsibilities

Implement a compliance framework and strategy that enables business success
Participate in the development of a labor and employment law strategy that ensures compliance with policies and laws across all business units and functions, while enabling quick and effective decisions regarding OC employees. Execute on this strategy in assigned business units, including:
Ensuring ADA, FLSA, EEOC, NLRA, and FMLA compliance
Providing proactive counseling and training that builds capability in business and HR leaders
Offer timely advice with enabling alternatives
Partner with the Director, Ethics Compliance to resolve Helpline Reports and to assist in conducting internal investigations relating to employee conduct.
Act as an independent legal advisor
Advise and counsel business partners on a broad spectrum of employment law issues and projects, including (but not limited to): talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, leaves of absence and accommodations, wage and hour, internal investigations, compensation and benefits, reorganization, contingent workforce issues, and immigration
In coordination with the Director, Employment Law, select and manage outside counsel on employment matters and litigation, ensuring they understand and execute on actions needed for OC success. This includes:
Conducting factual investigations and witness interviews
Overseeing discovery coordination and production,
Preparing for and representing the Company at legal proceedings
Advising Company management and stakeholders as to the anticipated legal risk and other consequences of instituting, prosecuting and defending lawsuits
Negotiating case settlements
Oversee investigation and response to claims, demand letters, administrative complaints (EEOC, state FEP, and other), audits, and other employment-related inquiries.
Advise business partners on recommended course of action and risks to Owens Corning.
Escalate and communicate legal and compliance issues in a timely and effective way
Partner with Human Resources to enable the business strategy and talent agenda, while ensuring employment law compliance
Act as an advisor for Human Resources on matters related to FMLA, ADA, performance management, employee handbooks, background screens, and FLSA matters
Educate and build capability in our Human Resource partners to handle these issues in a compliant manner
Determine the best course of action for Owens Corning; manage outside counsel (when engaged) to effectively resolve charges
Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders and organize, execute, and manage projects with a team-oriented approach
Relationship of complete candor and trust with the Human Resources Business Partners
Responsible for ensuring their business groups avoid legal surprises and that leaders are fully briefed on all relevant legal issues (such as upcoming changes to existing employment laws)
Enable the Owens Corning performance management and talent agenda through advice that is meaningful, mitigates risk and provides alternatives that allow business objectives to be met
Employment Law Center of Excellence
Evaluate policies, handbooks, and processes to ensure compliance and educate business partners on appropriate information; maintain best in class templates that increase efficiency
Draft and review employment-related agreements, advise business partners on executing agreements in a manner that reduces risk to Owens Corning
Develop and conduct internal training and education presentations and materials
Maintain a no surprises mindset on outside legal spend. Track spend to budget.
Develop a reputation for self and the employment law team as being uniquely skilled at working with partners at all levels and building capability across the organization