Counsel, Labor & Employment

WK Kellogg•Battle Creek, MI

1d•$212,000 - $265,000•Onsite

About The Position

At WK Kellogg Co, we exist to create joy and connection to inspire Gr-r-reat days. We believe that doing good is always good for business and we have stood for this since Kellogg Company was founded more than 120 years ago. We are passionate about doing our part to make nutritious foods, create social connectivity and respect natural resources. Together, these actions create positive progress for people and the planet – today and for years to come. We have big plans for how we are going to accomplish this, and we would love for you to join us in this effort. The Counsel, Labor & Employment is Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this role serves as the enterprise subject matter expert on labor and employment law and provides strategic legal counsel on labor and employment matters across the enterprise. The role partners with Human Resources, Operations, business leaders, and external counsel to manage labor relations, employment risk, workplace investigations, and employment-related disputes.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to at least one U.S. state bar.
7+ years of legal experience, including significant labor and employment law experience.
Recognized expertise in U.S. labor and employment laws, including federal and state requirements, and the ability to apply them in complex business environments.
Significant direct experience advising on labor relations, collective bargaining, grievance handling, and arbitration matters.
Significant direct experience supporting unionized manufacturing and/or operations environments.
Experience addressing multi-jurisdictional employment law issues.
Experience counseling leaders on employee relations, workplace investigations, and employment risk management.
Experience managing complex employment claims, agency matters, and litigation with outside counsel.
Strong judgment, business acumen, and the ability to provide authoritative, practical, solutions-oriented legal advice.
Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to build credibility as a trusted expert across the organization.
Experience leading legal resources, projects, or cross-functional work.

Nice To Haves

10+ years of labor and employment law experience
Experience in a publicly traded or Fortune 500 company.
In-house experience supporting complex, multi-site labor and employment environments.
Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, integrations, restructurings, or other significant organizational changes with labor and employment implications.
Experience advising on executive employment agreements, restrictive covenants, or senior leader employment matters.
Experience partnering with Human Resources centers of expertise to design scalable policies, practices, and training.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute labor strategy plans, including collective bargaining preparation materials, negotiation support, and post-agreement implementation.
Provide legal guidance and support for workforce changes and restructuring activities, including reductions in force, plant closures, WARN/notice requirements, severance programs, and related employee communications.
Manage and oversee outside counsel, including defining scope, monitoring performance, and ensuring cost-effective delivery of legal services.
Serve as the enterprise expert and lead legal advisor on labor and employment matters, balancing risk management with practical business needs.
Provide expert counsel on labor relations strategy, including collective bargaining support, contract administration, grievance resolution, arbitration preparation, and union-related matters.
Advise Human Resources and business leaders as the go-to legal authority on employee relations matters, discipline, discharge, workplace accommodations, leave issues, wage and hour compliance, and policy application.
Provide legal guidance on workplace investigations and other sensitive employment matters, including risk mitigation and appropriate resolution strategies.
Manage complex employment-related claims and agency matters, in partnership with external counsel and internal stakeholders.
Shape and support employment-related policies, practices, and manager guidance to promote legal compliance, consistency, and enterprise standards.
Monitor labor and employment law developments and translate changes into clear, actionable guidance for business and Human Resources leaders.
Build strong cross-functional partnerships and elevate organizational capability in labor and employment practices across the enterprise.
Oversee outside immigration counsel and an internal paralegal who manages case strategy, filings, and day-to-day immigration support.