Senior Corporate Counsel - Labor and Employment

Caterpillar Inc.•Peoria, IL

2d•$163,330 - $245,000•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking an experienced Senior Corporate Counsel – Labor and Employment to provide strategic legal advice and support on U.S. labor and employment matters across the enterprise. This role works closely with human resources leaders, business stakeholders, and fellow legal professionals to advance Caterpillar’s people strategy for a complex global organization with over 100,000 employees worldwide. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor, delivering practical, business-focused counsel on a broad range of employment-related issues while helping the company manage risk and achieve its objectives. This is an opportunity for a talented attorney to join a world-class legal team and advise an iconic company on complex, high-impact labor and employment matters, offering significant responsibility, meaningful client engagement, and the opportunity to influence key business and workforce decisions across a global enterprise.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
Licensed to practice law in at least one state and ability to practice as in-house counsel in Texas or Illinois, as applicable
Minimum of 5 years of law firm and/or in-house experience in labor and employment matters
Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with a commitment to integrity, professionalism, collegiality, and keeping stakeholders appropriately informed
Ability to deal with sensitive issues and to influence others inside and outside the legal department
Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams within legal, HR and business units
Ability to manage multiple projects and effectively prioritize
Demonstrated business acumen, ability to learn Caterpillar’s business and experience developing and recommending practical and strategic approaches to legal challenges facing business clients

Nice To Haves

Significant client counseling experience, including experience directly advising HR professionals and business leaders on employment law matters, including employee discipline and discharge, performance management, employee separation agreements, reductions in force, leaves of absence, wage & hour, EEO charge proceedings and employment litigation
Experience representing employers in traditional labor relations matters, including collective bargaining, contract administration, labor arbitration, union organizing, union representation elections and defense of unfair labor practice claims
Flexibility and eagerness to work on broad range of legal matters
Ability to effectively navigate and work efficiently in a matrix organization

Responsibilities

Deliver legal counsel and support of Caterpillar’s U.S. business operations on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including issues involving the FMLA, FLSA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, OFCCP, NLRA and HR policy compliance
Establish and maintain relationships, credibility, and trust with human resources and business leadership, stakeholders, and legal colleagues across a global organization
Collaborate with colleagues to provide strategic employment and labor law counsel and drive successful outcomes in complex and highly sensitive matters
Handle inquiries, audits, investigations, and actions from government officials or agencies responsible for labor and employment regulation
Identify and assess legal risks and new developments and advise internal business partners and leadership on development and implementation of new laws, regulations, policies, and procedures
Provide legal training based on risk assessment, strategic objectives, and legal developments