Employment Counsel Specialist

HP•Spring, TX

About The Position

As Employment Counsel, Americas, duties include providing advice and strategic counseling to the People Organization and business leaders across multiple business units in our Americas region on a full range of employment issues, including recruiting, hiring, organizational design, terminations, wage and hour, executive compensation and benefits, consideration and implementation of policies and procedures, investigations, diversity and inclusion programming, employee classification and contingent workforce issues, and more. Also manage administrative and potential agency and legal claims against the company. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with labor and employment laws and regulations; counsel on risk mitigation as to employee relations and investigations; assisting in the development and implementation of strategies to promote an overall culture of integrity; drafting employment-related agreements, including employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, non-competes and separation agreements; advise as to internal investigations; tracking industry trends that impact the company; supervise, manage and evaluate outside counsel on employment-related matters; educate clients and stakeholders on employment law matters; and otherwise lead and independently handle legal matters and projects ranging from the basic to the complex; recognizing when to elevate certain matters to the attention of the Global Head of Employment Law. Also expected to work collaboratively on global projects, such as those that come out of restructuring and transformation, that may need to be simultaneously applied across many or all of our legal jurisdictions. Sr Employment Counsel, Americas is expected to establish and maintain relationships, credibility, and trust with clients, business stakeholders, other legal team members, and colleagues.

Requirements

JD required.
7+ years of post-JD recent, relevant, and broad employment law experience
Attorney candidates must be in compliance with all relevant licensing requirements, including the requirements of the jurisdiction where the role will be located prior to commencement of employment; the attorney must be a member in good standing in the state/jurisdiction in which the position is based or otherwise in compliance with the in-house counsel registration rules of that state/jurisdiction.
Demonstrated experience providing outstanding legal support to a human resources organization on a wide range of employment-related topics.
Subject matter expertise with respect to a wide range of employment-related regulations and trends.
Proven high level of integrity, professionalism, and trust, including in dealing with complex and sensitive matters.
Strong leadership skills, including the ability to establish and execute on clear goals, objectives, and priorities consistent with the organization’s vision.
Proven judgment, ability to think strategically and creatively, and ability to anticipate and solve complex problems.
Demonstrated ability in presenting simple, practical, and actionable information and advice to clients.
Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with other employees in team and matrixed environments to meet aggressive goals
Demonstrated ability to meet or exceed deadlines, prioritize, multitask, provide expedient responses to inquiries and issues, and maintain flexibility in a fast-paced, changing environment.
Solid Microsoft Office skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
Ability to follow established procedures and processes established by the Legal department.

Nice To Haves

In-house experience at a multinational company preferred.
Experience advising employers on employment laws and regulations in countries outside the US, especially Latin America and Canada, preferred.
M&A experience is a plus

Responsibilities

Providing advice and strategic counseling to the People Organization and business leaders across multiple business units in our Americas region on a full range of employment issues
Managing administrative and potential agency and legal claims against the company
Ensuring compliance with labor and employment laws and regulations
Counseling on risk mitigation as to employee relations and investigations
Assisting in the development and implementation of strategies to promote an overall culture of integrity
Drafting employment-related agreements
Advising as to internal investigations
Tracking industry trends that impact the company
Supervising, managing and evaluating outside counsel on employment-related matters
Educating clients and stakeholders on employment law matters
Leading and independently handling legal matters and projects ranging from the basic to the complex
Working collaboratively on global projects