Employment Counsel

Overview
We are currently seeking Employment Counsel to lead, execute and enhance existing employment practices and workplace policies maintaining compliance and improving employee relations. The individual will work both hands-on and be a strategic advisor and thought partner.
Responsibilities
The Employment Counsel will have a range of responsibilities in two key areas:
Investigations and Litigation

• Manages employment-related matters, which will include day-to-day advice on all employment law and labor issues. Defends charges filed at National Labor Relations Board or elsewhere, either through personal representation or through outside counsel.
• Conducts or supports investigations of employee malfeasance, harassment, retaliation, and other claims; provides advice and counsel as investigation progresses, including recommended solutions/outcomes.
• Manages or handles employment-related litigation.
• Manages outside counsel or personally respond to charges and requests from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other federal and state agencies with respect to employment charges and claims.

Compliance

• Keeps management abreast of significant employment decisions, legislation and governmental regulations that may affect company's business or policy. (local, state, federal).
• Ensures compliance with collective bargaining agreements and leads union contract negotiations.
• Provides timely and strategic advice on ongoing employee relations, labor, ADA, FMLA, RIF, harassment, acquisitions, facilities closings, union contract obligations, employment policy and related advice on large variety of situations/issues to minimize later challenges and potential claims.
• Establishes a practice to review and update Company policies bi-annually and introduce new policies and policy changes, working with HC Head of Compliance.
• Ensures compliance with all government-required notices and postings.
• Partners with HR to ensure compliance with Federal FLSA and State wage-hour laws and regulations.
• Participates in the creation and delivery of trainings related to employment law matters and other manager trainings on a variety of topics.

In addition, the Employment Counsel:

• Assists in structure/strategy/communications for workforce reductions, including the review, analysis, and adjustment of plans to ensure compliance with applicable employment laws, with the goal of minimizing the risk of subsequent legal challenges and adverse publicity.
• Provides advice on individual employee separations, which may include review of performance management or investigation documents; drafting of documents; drafting of separation agreements; counsel to management and HR personnel; negotiation with employees' attorneys or agencies at which claims are pending.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree (J.D.) and NY Bar Membership
• 7+years of law firm or in-house experience; some in-house experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience leading a wide variety of employee investigations
• Significant experience negotiating and interpreting CBAs
• Advanced understanding of employment and HR-related laws and regulations (local, state, federal)
• Experience working in a matrixed environment
• Ability to build strong partnerships and work collaboratively
• Demonstrated experience leading and influencing at all levels within the organization, keeping partners and leaders informed of any decisions made
• Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to reason and compromise
• Excellent strategic decision making, problem solving, critical thinking
• Ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential matters with compassion while exhibiting exceptional professionalism and tact
• Excellent verbal, written communication, and presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently, independently and collaboratively to prioritize work and meet deadlines in a fast-moving environment
• Experience in media or publishing industries preferred

HarperCollins Publishers is a company full of people who are passionate about books. When you apply for a position, we want to know why you want to work here, and why you are interested in the job. That's why cover letters are strongly preferred.
The salary range for this position is $180,000-$225,000. We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates. The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process.
Pay-for-performance is a key element in our strategy to attract, engage, and motivate talented people to do their best work. Accordingly, offers extended for this role will include an annual incentive opportunity expressed as a percentage of salary or a fixed amount. Similarly to salary, annual incentive opportunity targets are set based on a variety of factors including competitive market practice.
In addition to cash compensation, the company provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, with a variety of physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits, including "elective" benefits employees may select to best fit the needs and personal situations of our diverse workforce.
HarperCollins Publishers is an equal opportunity employer.