Employment Labor & Benefits Counsel

Description:

Job Objective
The primary purpose of this position is to provide legal advice, counseling, and support in the areas of employment, labor, and benefits law to Human Resources and business leaders at Retail Business Services LLC and its affiliated companies in the United States (collectively the "Companies"). The Companies include three service companies and five grocery retailers (Food Lion, The Giant Company, Giant Food, Hannaford and Stop & Shop), including some non-union and some primarily union workforces located in 18 states and the District of Columbia. The Attorney will report to the Vice President, Employment, Labor and Benefits Law and will work collaboratively and with minimal supervision as part of a fast-paced and specialized legal team. The Attorney will address complex issues and deliver practical and strategic business-focused advice; manage litigation and other disputes; monitor and advise businesses on relevant legal developments; deliver presentations and training; manage special projects; and serve on cross-functional teams. This position partners most closely with Human Resources professionals, but also interacts regularly with leaders in other functional areas such as Communications, Store and Supply Chain Operations, Government Affairs, IT, Asset Protection and Pharmacy.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Legal Advice and Support - Provide legal advice to enable the Companies to achieve business objectives while operating within legal parameters
• Address wide range of employment law issues, such as recruitment and hiring, performance management, discipline, termination, internal investigations, wage and hour compliance, disability-related accommodations, leaves of absence, diversity and inclusion initiatives, pay equity, non-competition and solicitation, organizational restructuring, and acquisitions.
• Support collective bargaining and labor contract drafting, administration, and interpretation.
• Advise on employee benefits matters, including incentive plans, welfare plans, retirement plans, benefits documentation, and claims.
• Provide advice on and/or draft various employee-facing policies, forms, agreements, communications, and systems.
• Manage responses to and resolution of wage and hour, I-9 and other government audits.
• Dispute Resolution - Manage employment, labor and benefits disputes
• Advise HR and management on handling internal employee complaints and grievances.
• Manage and negotiate resolution of attorney-represented claims.
• Actively manage outside counsel in defending litigation, labor arbitrations, and government agency charges.
• Drive and participate in all aspects of mediation proceedings.
• Training and Compliance - Provide communication and training on evolving legal issues and requirements
• Proactively monitor relevant legal developments; regulatory, industry and business trends; and employment-related topics.
• Promote communication and awareness of legal developments, compliance issues and requirements, and best practices.
• Conduct training on employment and labor law matters.
• Draft and continually update training materials and processes.
• Other Responsibilities:
• Provide input on proposed legislation, potential impacts on business, and implementation issues.
• Manage special projects and serve on cross-functional teams.
• Advise on and participate in internal audits.
• Contribute to regular functional and corporate reporting.

Basic Requirements:

• J.D. degree
• State bar license
• 3-7+ years relevant experience practicing law
• Skills and Abilities:
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Advocacy and persuasion
• Integrity
• Negotiation Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Professional judgment
• Customer focused orientation
• Organization and attention to detail
• Initiative
• Organizational awareness
• Sense of humor

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