Director, Employment and Litigation Counsel

MENARINI Group•New York, NY

12d•$220,000 - $277,843•Remote

About The Position

The Director, Employment and Litigation Counsel serves as a key legal advisor to Human Resources, business leaders, and cross-functional partners. Reporting directly to the Assistant General Counsel, the role provides practical, solution-oriented counsel on employment matters, manages general commercial and employment litigation, engages directly with adverse parties, oversees workplace investigations, and supports workforce growth in the biopharmaceutical sector. Geographic coverage is primarily the United States and may expand as the business grows. The position partners with HR on preventive employee-relations advice, including recruitment, compensation and benefits, retention, discrimination, harassment, performance, discipline, separations, and employee data matters. It also manages disputes and litigation strategy, coordinates outside counsel, and supports compliance through investigations, policies, training, and risk-mitigation efforts.

Requirements

J.D.
Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. state.
At least 7 years of U.S. HR experience in private practice and/or in-house at high-growth companies.
Substantial hands-on experience negotiating and communicating directly with adverse parties, opposing counsel, and agency investigators to resolve pre-litigation disputes and commercial claims.
Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, ADEA, and state wage-and-hour laws, as well as general civil procedure.
Demonstrated experience managing workplace investigations, administrative agency charges, and commercial disputes.
Experience advising on employee data collection, processes, and protection.
Hands-on, solution-oriented approach and ability to provide actionable solutions.
Strategic thinking and knowledge of best practices.
Ability to recognize trends and identify systemic approaches to problem-solving.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with teams across different levels, cultures, and educational backgrounds.
Strong multitasking skills and attention to detail.
Team-oriented approach and excellent follow-up skills.
Self-motivated, energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate about learning.
Proactive, entrepreneurial mindset.

Nice To Haves

Global experience.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary legal business partner to HR, Talent Acquisition, and Total Rewards on employment compliance, worker classification, performance management, accommodations, leaves of absence, executive compensation, and separations.
Draft, review, and update employment agreements, restrictive covenants, separation packages, and workforce policies to align with federal, state, and local laws.
Advise on immigration, OFCCP/EEOC compliance, global mobility, and contingent workforce management.
Monitor evolving employment legislation and industry trends and proactively implement risk-mitigation strategies.
Lead or supervise complex internal investigations into whistleblower allegations, harassment, discrimination, and code-of-conduct violations.
Develop standardized investigation workflows, ensure objective documentation, and partner with HR on corrective actions and remediation.
Design and deliver legal training for managers and HR professionals on employment compliance, investigations, and anti-harassment standards.
Engage external counsel as needed.
Communicate and negotiate directly with adverse parties, opposing counsel, regulatory agencies, and third-party claimants in pre-litigation and active disputes.
Direct strategy for general commercial litigation, breach-of-contract claims, vendor disputes, IP-adjacent matters, and employment-related administrative charges.
Select, manage, and supervise outside counsel to ensure high-quality, cost-effective representation and strategic alignment.
Oversee e-discovery, litigation holds, document collection, subpoena responses, and witness preparation for depositions and hearings.