Senior Counsel, Labor & Employment

Ford Motor Company•Dearborn, MI

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Counsel, Labor & Employment will serve as a lead legal expert, strategic advisor, and trusted partner to the Human Resources department, senior business leadership, and operational teams. This role is primarily focused on providing proactive, day-to-day legal advice and counseling to mitigate organizational risk, ensure compliance with U.S. federal, state, and local employment laws, and support a high-performance workplace culture. While this role involves overseeing employment litigation, administrative charges, and labor-related matters, the ideal candidate will prioritize proactive advisory functions—building scalable, compliant policies and providing real-time, practical guidance that aligns with the company’s strategic business objectives and values.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active member in good standing of at least one U.S. State Bar (with the ability to register as in-house counsel if relocating).
Minimum of 5–8 years of dedicated experience practicing labor and employment law.
Proven experience managing employment law issues across multiple U.S. jurisdictions, with a deep understanding of state-specific variations (e.g., California, Illinois, New York).
A combination of rigorous training at a major law firm and subsequent in-house corporate legal experience.
Comprehensive, up-to-date knowledge of U.S. federal and state employment laws (Title VII, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, NLRA, etc.).
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable, and business-friendly advice.
Strong interpersonal skills and the professional maturity to advise, influence, and build trust with senior executives and stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing legal support within the automotive, manufacturing, supply chain, or industrial sectors.
Experience advising on employment matters related to corporate mergers, acquisitions, integrations, or major business transformations.

Responsibilities

Manage and develop the defense strategy for employment-related litigation, including class actions, single-plaintiff lawsuits, and administrative charges.
Direct and manage a large, active docket of employment-related litigation, including class actions, collective actions, and single-plaintiff lawsuits (claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, and wrongful termination).
Develop and execute comprehensive defense strategies from inception through resolution, including driving early case assessments, determining settlement vs. trial strategies, and managing discovery.
Evaluate pre-litigation demands and internal escalations; negotiate strategic resolutions to minimize financial exposure and operational disruption.
Act as the primary legal partner to HR and business leaders on a wide range of day-to-day employment matters, including recruiting, hiring, performance management, accommodations, discipline, terminations, and organizational restructurings/RIFs.
Balance legal risks with business goals, demonstrating a strong ability to find creative, compliant pathways to achieve business objectives (finding the "yes" through risk-calibrated solutions).
Provide expert guidance on FLSA classifications, state-specific wage and hour laws, pay transparency requirements, pay equity initiatives, and compensation practices.
Advise on complex disability, religious, and leave of absence issues involving the ADA, FMLA, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), and various state-level paid leave programs.
Provide legal oversight, strategy, and guidance on sensitive internal investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, fraud, or other violations of company policy.
Advise and review workplace policies, employee handbooks, and employment-related agreements (e.g., executive offer letters, separation agreements, and confidentiality/restrictive covenant agreements).

Benefits

Excellent compensation
Comprehensive benefits package
Generous PTO
Retirement plans
Savings plans
Stock investment plans
Incentive compensation
Opportunities for professional and personal growth and recognition
Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
Flexible family care days
Paid parental leave
New parent ramp-up programs
Subsidized back-up child care
Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments
Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
Tuition assistance
Established and active employee resource groups
Paid time off for individual and team community service
A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.