Human Resources Compliance Manager

Akin • Washington, WA

10d • $120,000 - $160,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. We are currently seeking a Human Resources Compliance Manager in the Human Resources department working under the general direction and supervision of the Director of Human Resources/Senior HR Manager. The role can reside in the New York, Philadelphia or New York office with hybrid work capabilities and will be responsible for ensuring the organization adheres to employment laws, regulations, and internal policies. This role involves developing and implementing compliance programs, conducting audits, providing training, managing immigration and policy matters, and managing risks related to HR practices. They act as a resource for employees and managers on compliance matters and advise leadership on potential legal and regulatory risks, as well as ensuring department procedures and practices comply with all relevant state/federal laws and regulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 5+ years of progressive experience in HR with a strong focus on compliance and regulatory matters
• Strong knowledge and demonstrated experience managing immigration matters
• Previous HR experience in a large corporation, law firm or other professional services environment; prior law firm experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated strong HR acumen; substantive experience and knowledge with specific HR functional areas, including compliance, reporting, immigration, ADA accommodations, and policy creation.
• In-depth knowledge of federal and state employment laws (ADA, FMLA, FLSA, Title VII, etc.)
• Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. immigration process and procedures
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adjust to changing priorities in a professional manner
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Ability to establish and build credibility as a knowledgeable and trusted HR advisor and function as a strong role model within the office
• Unfailing commitment to confidentiality and discretion
• Demonstrated good judgment and common sense
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate potentially difficult, detailed and complex information to others with tact and finesse
• Strong organizational skills and unfailing attention to detail.
• Ability to work well under pressure, facilitate solutions, and meet deadlines
• Ability to work extended hours to fulfill time sensitive responsibilities
• Thorough knowledge of MS Office, including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint

Nice To Haves

• Workday experience a plus

Responsibilities

• U.S. Employee Accommodations and Related Requests: Serve as a central resource for the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations process, collaborating with HR leadership, internal employment counsel, and department/practice management to ensure a complete and effective ADA process, including to manage the full ADA accommodation lifecycle, including reviewing initial accommodation requests and eligibility, and overseeing the ADA interactive process. Conduct individualized assessments of accommodation requests by analyzing essential job functions, medical documentation, and operational considerations to identify effective reasonable accommodations. Partner with stakeholders (e.g., HR, the General Counsel’s office, department/practice leadership) to assess essential job functions, evaluate reasonable accommodations, and ensure consistency in application of policies. Maintain complete and accurate documentation of accommodation requests, decisions, and follow-up actions to support compliance with the ADA and other applicable regulations. Serve as a central resource overseeing the process and submissions for all workers’ compensation claims and manage the firm’s third-party workers’ compensation vendor relationship. Oversee the ergonomics program including the process, review/approval, vendor interactions, as needed, as well as coordinating related costs and budget.
• Immigration: Handle the administrative oversight of the firm’s U.S. immigration case management process, partnering with the CHRO and internal and external counsel, to include reviewing immigration applications and supporting documents for accuracy and completeness, and tracking work authorizations and expiration dates. Serve as a primary liaison with the Director of Legal Personnel and Development with employees, managers, legal counsel, and government agencies on immigration-related matters, providing guidance and support throughout the process. Manage immigration and work authorization compliance programs, including I-9 verification, E-Verify monitoring, visa processing, adherence to federal, state, and international immigration laws and regulations. Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and documentation to ensure organizational compliance with immigration laws and audit requirements, while mitigating legal and regulatory risk. Partner with relevant stakeholders and business leaders to provide guidance on immigration-related issues, ensure consistent application of compliance practices, and support workforce planning needs.
• Policies and Compliance Procedures: Maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, ensuring the firm’s HR policies and practices remain compliant. Develop and update internal HR policies, procedures, manuals, and training materials in accordance with legal requirements and best practices. Draft and review content and organization of the Firm and Office Manuals to ensure that the firm’s communication of all policies and procedures is clear, accurate and legally sound. Provide guidance on the application of firm policies and assist in resolving complex policy issues. Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external audits related to HR compliance. Maintain and report on compliance metrics and risk assessments, as well as annual compliance reporting. Respond to policy-related components of RFPs and client questionnaires on behalf of the Human Resources department.
• General Compliance Management: Partner with the General Counsel’s Legal and Risk Management teams to ensure alignment across compliance-related functions. Partner with the General Counsel’s employment law team, the business services talent management and learning team, and other internal subject matter experts to recommend, design and conduct compliance-related training (e.g., annual anti-harassment, HIPAA, ADA, FMLA, wage and hour, emergency preparedness, workplace safety, etc.). Explain and clarify ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local statutory employment regulations and provide practical guidance on their application in the workplace. Assist in recommendation and development of new and/or revised firm human resources policies and procedures. Stay current on HR trends and legal developments and recommend proactive changes to minimize risk.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager