Labor & Employment Counsel Director

The successful candidate will report to the Senior Director, Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment, and is expected to immediately contribute by providing strategic legal counsel and support to Human Resources and business leaders across a wide range of employment and labor matters. These include, but are not limited to, recruitment and hiring practices, performance management, employee separations, workplace accommodations, leave administration, wage and hour compliance, discrimination, harassment, retaliation claims, I-9 compliance, Employment Authorization Document reinstatement decisions, collective bargaining agreements, union-related issues, compensation, benefits, investigations and employee privacy. In addition to substantive legal work, the role will support established processes for litigation intake, legal holds, and post-resolution reviews. The candidate will also be responsible for supporting the preparation of weekly, quarterly, and annual reports, updating the labor and employment case docket and developing and delivering monthly legal-led training sessions.

• Intake & Documentation: Lead the initial intake and documentation of employment-related matters, including coordination of discovery, document and subpoena collection (as necessary), communication with external counsel, and implementation of legal holds and Preliminary Intake Evaluations.
• Legal Advice & Counsel: Collaborate with the Senior Director, Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment to deliver timely and strategic legal guidance on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including but not limited to wage and hour compliance, ADA, FMLA, NLRB, EEO regulations, and workplace investigations.
• Compliance & Risk Mitigation: Support enterprise-wide employment-related compliance initiatives through audits, training, and proactive risk assessments. Draft and review employment policies and procedures. Coordinate compliance-related workflows, including annual federally mandated disclosures.
• Reporting & Analysis: Develop and present reports and insights to HR, Legal, and business leadership on employment law trends, risk indicators, case metrics, and post-litigation lessons learned.
• Regulatory Response and Cross-Functional Collaboration: Respond to subpoenas, agency inquiries, and wage-related requests in coordination with relevant stakeholders. Partner with HR, Payroll, Operations and other teams to ensure alignment with legal requirements and promote compliant employment practices.

• 3-5 years of substantive legal experience with a well-respected law firm and/or corporate legal department, with emphasis in labor and employment and litigation practice areas
• Willingness and flexibility to learn
• Ability to adapt to changing situations, analyze an array of complex legal issues and interpret laws and regulations
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, follow through, and provide sensible, responsible and practical advice in a timely fashion
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Superior organizational and interpersonal skills, clear and effective communication skills (verbal and written), sophisticated conflict resolution skills; high emotional intelligence and sound legal and business judgment
• Ability to manage large projects to successful, timely and effective completion
• Ability to build, foster and maintain long-term, effective working relationships, establish credibility and influence across multiple functions and at all organizational levels
• Advanced research and critical thinking skills; able to gather information and analyze data or situations to make valid conclusions and propose actionable recommendations
• Ability to lead in complex, unclear, and stressful situations
• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods (e.g., sitting at a desk or in meetings)
• Ability to operate a computer, standard office equipment and virtual meeting platforms
• Ability to travel occasionally for business purposes

• Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA-accredited law school
• 3 to 5 years knowledge acquired through relevant work experience
• Admission to the bar and license to practice law in at least one U.S. state

• The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of three years of substantive legal experience with a well-respected law firm and/or corporate legal department, with a strong emphasis in labor and employment law and litigation.
• Spanish language proficiency is highly valued, enhancing the candidate's ability to support diverse employee populations.
• Experience in the consumer products, manufacturing, and/or distribution sectors, as well as familiarity with union-related matters, is a plus.
• This role requires a high degree of adaptability and intellectual agility to manage a broad range of legal issues in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• The candidate must demonstrate the ability to manage multiple complex matters simultaneously, deliver practical and timely legal advice, and advise on large-scale projects.
• Key competencies include superior organizational, communication (verbal and written), and interpersonal skills, along with conflict resolution capabilities, high emotional intelligence, and sound legal and business judgment.
• Advanced research and critical thinking skills are essential for analyzing data and developing actionable recommendations.
• The ability to build and sustain effective working relationships across functions and levels, establish credibility and influence decision-making is critical.
• The candidate must also be capable of leading through ambiguity and high-pressure situations with professionalism and strategic focus.

• Office environment
• This role follows a hybrid work model and requires regular in-person presence at our Corporate Office in Charlotte, NC

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