Global Labor and Employment Counsel

MKS Instruments•Andover, MA

About The Position

A Day in Your Life at MKS: You are a solutions-oriented, “hands-on” expert in employment law who proactively manages and mitigates global labor and employment legal risks and advises senior management. Reporting to our VP and Division General Counsel, and partnering closely with the Global HR leadership team, you provide ongoing legal counsel to senior executives and other business team members. You Will Make an Impact By: Serve as primary legal counsel and trusted advisor overseeing employment and labor law matters, advising MKS on the full scope of US federal and state employment and anti-discrimination laws including FLSA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, WARN, OSHA and the corresponding enforcement agencies Manage in-house EU labor/employment lawyer and provide support on issues relating to European Works Councils Manage and partner with international outside counsel on local employment and labor law matters Provide practical and business-oriented legal advice to the global HR team and business leaders on employment-related issues, including recruitment, hiring and terminations, compensation and benefits, wage and hour, disability accommodation requests, leaves of absence, investigations, performance reviews, disciplinary warnings, terminations, workplace safety, immigration, non-competition and non-solicitation, and international assignments Draft employment, separation, confidentiality and non-competition agreements as well as sales commission and bonus plans Manage and partner with outside counsel on employment and labor-related litigation, arbitration, and agency proceedings from inception to resolution Work with outside experts as needed to counsel the Total Rewards team on compensation and benefits law matters, including executive compensation Refine/develop human resources policies, programs, procedures and handbooks Collaborate with HR to develop and conduct training for HR and management on employment-related issues Provide support for M&A activities and other strategic transactions Ability to travel up to 15%

Requirements

JD degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school and admitted in good standing to practice law in at least one state in the U.S.
10+ years of labor/employment experience at a law firm or in-house; combination of law firm and in-house experience preferred
International experience in-house or with a law firm preferred
Experience counselling clients on employment law issues, compliance, litigation/dispute resolution and risk management
Experience litigating employment actions
Experience with technology and manufacturing companies preferred
US and international labor law experience preferred
Strong interpersonal and excellent written and verbal communication skills; at ease in working in diverse/ multicultural environments, possesses a global mindset, including communicating and presenting at the executive level
Excellent project management skills, with demonstrated ability to oversee complex projects and lead them to successful completion
Resourceful and able to work independently and take ownership of work, but knows to seek guidance when needed

Responsibilities

Serve as primary legal counsel and trusted advisor overseeing employment and labor law matters, advising MKS on the full scope of US federal and state employment and anti-discrimination laws including FLSA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, WARN, OSHA and the corresponding enforcement agencies
Manage in-house EU labor/employment lawyer and provide support on issues relating to European Works Councils
Manage and partner with international outside counsel on local employment and labor law matters
Provide practical and business-oriented legal advice to the global HR team and business leaders on employment-related issues, including recruitment, hiring and terminations, compensation and benefits, wage and hour, disability accommodation requests, leaves of absence, investigations, performance reviews, disciplinary warnings, terminations, workplace safety, immigration, non-competition and non-solicitation, and international assignments
Draft employment, separation, confidentiality and non-competition agreements as well as sales commission and bonus plans
Manage and partner with outside counsel on employment and labor-related litigation, arbitration, and agency proceedings from inception to resolution
Work with outside experts as needed to counsel the Total Rewards team on compensation and benefits law matters, including executive compensation
Refine/develop human resources policies, programs, procedures and handbooks
Collaborate with HR to develop and conduct training for HR and management on employment-related issues
Provide support for M&A activities and other strategic transactions
Ability to travel up to 15%