Assistant General Counsel, Labor & Employment
$174,250–$205,000 year
HybridChicago, Illinois, United States
Job Summary
Advise on labor and employment matters across the U.S. and Canada, operating as a connective link between Legal, HR, Risk, Compliance, and business units. Own the legal position on elevated-risk matters including terminations involving discrimination claims, employees represented by counsel, and threatened litigation. Serve as accountable legal owner for investigations into misconduct such as harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Provide compliance-focused advice on HR programs including ERISA, NLRA/RLA, and securities law, while partnering with the People team to manage risk through training and process improvements. Prepare executive-level litigation reports, KPIs, and trend analyses to inform senior leadership decisions. Monitor emerging legal developments and advise business partners on practical implications.
Required Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
- Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar
- 7+ years of relevant labor & employment law experience
- Experience with a blend of law firm and in‐house corporate practice
- Strong knowledge of U.S. employment laws (Title VII, FMLA, ADA, FLSA, etc.)
- Strong knowledge of U.S. labor laws (NLRA/RLA)
- Experience leading or co-leading investigations, arbirations, and administrative agency proceedings (e.g., NLRB, EEOC)
- Experience presenting to and counseling senior leaders
- Ability to deliver reasoned advice that is both commercially minded and appropriately protective of the Company's interests
- Experience with matter management and e-billing systems to manage outside counsel
- Experience operating within a formal decision-rights or RACI framework alongside HR/People teams
- Judgment to apply lead criteria consistently in ambiguous situations
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to condense complex legal issues for business audiences
- Comfortable with using technology, including AI tools, to deliver high-quality work product in a time-efficient manner
- Learning agility
- Strong negotiation capabilities
- Sound business judgment
- High‐level analytical, problem‐solving, and critical-thinking abilities
- Resilient, composed, and decisive under pressure
- Commitment to integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism
- Ability to build trust, influence stakeholders, and collaborate in a matrixed environment
- Ability to travel up to approximately 10% based on business needs
Desired Qualifications
- Experience leading or co-leading investigations, arbirations, and administrative agency proceedings (e.g., NLRB, EEOC) is highly valued
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