Vice President, Senior Employment Counsel

Together we fight for everyone's opportunity for a better financial future.
We will do this together - with customers, partners and colleagues. We will fight for others, not against: We will stand up for and champion everyone's access to opportunities. The status quo is not good enough ... we believe every individual and every community deserves access to financial opportunities. We are determined to support both individuals and communities in reaching a better financial future. We know that reaching this future depends on our actions today.
Like our Purpose Statement, Voya believes in being bold and committed to action. We are committed to a work environment where the differences that we are born with - and those we acquire throughout our lives - are understood, valued and intentionally pursued. We believe that our employees own our culture and have a responsibility to foster an environment where we all feel comfortable bringing our whole selves to work. Purposefully bringing our differences together to positively influence our culture, serve our clients and enrich our communities is essential to our vision.
Are you ready to join a company with a strong purpose and a winning culture? Start your Voyage - Apply Now
Primary Purpose
Your primary purpose will be to provide strategic legal advice and guidance on all employment-related matters within our organization. You will be responsible for ensuring compliance with employment laws and regulations, mitigating legal risks, and supporting the advancement of employment policies and practices, working closely with HR and Compliance.
Reporting relationship:
The VP, Senior Employment Counsel will report to the SVP, Deputy General Counsel - Corporate.
Major Accountabilities:
1. Legal Compliance: Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, including but not limited to, anti-discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, and employee benefits regulations. Provide legal advice on benefits plans and to plan committees.
2. Employment Policies and Practices: Develop and implement effective employment policies, procedures, and practices that align with the organization's goals and values. Provide guidance and support to HR and management teams on employment-related issues.
3. Employment Litigation: Manage and oversee employment-related litigation, including discrimination claims, wrongful termination cases, and wage and hour disputes. Working closely with Litigation, collaborate with external legal counsel as necessary.
4. Employee Relations Matters: Partner with Employee Relations, Compliance, and Investigations leaders to counsel HR and management teams on employee relations matters, including disciplinary actions, performance management, and workplace investigations. Ensure fair and consistent treatment of employees.
5. Training and Education: Develop and deliver training programs to educate employees and managers on employment laws, policies, and best practices. Stay updated on emerging trends and changes in employment law.
Specific responsibilities may include:

• Support HR professionals on compensation, benefits, ERISA, workers' compensation and immigration matters
• Draft, update, and interpret health, wealth, and financial benefit plans Provide legal guidance on all benefit plan appeals, including welfare benefit plan (i.e. health insurance carrier denial of claims, severance plan calculations, etc.)
• Provide legal guidance to the Plan Administrative Committee and the Plan Investment Committee
• Negotiate and draft employee separation agreements
• Provide guidance to talent acquisition regarding hiring practices and job postings
• Manage outside counsel with respect to international employees
• Support the HR teams during mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures

*This job description roles and responsibilities may change at the discretion of Voya.
Technical Knowledge, Experience and Skill Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school, active membership in good standing of a U.S. state and/or federal Bar Association.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience practicing employment law, preferably a combination of corporate in-house and law firm practice. In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws including FMLA, ADA, ERISA, ADEA, wage and hour laws, pay equity laws, and other applicable regulations.
• Proven experience in managing employment litigation.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Ideal Candidate Profile:
The successful candidate will be purpose-driven, have the ability to function effectively as a leader in the legal and HR functions, and gain the trust and respect of leaders across Voya. The Vice President, Sr. Employment Counsel should possess the following personal qualities:
1. Legal Expertise: A Vice President, Employment Counsel should have a strong foundation in employment law and possess deep knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations. They should stay updated on emerging trends and changes in law to provide accurate and effective legal advice with a pragmatic, business-focused approach and an ability to balance business goals and commercial realities with management of legal risks.
2. Strategic Thinking: This role requires the ability to think strategically and provide guidance on complex employment-related matters. A Vice President, Employment Counsel should be able to assess legal risks, develop proactive strategies, and provide practical solutions that align with Voya's goals and values and should have the ability to influence and drive change within the organization.
3. Leadership Skills: As a leader in the organization, a Vice President, Employment Counsel should possess strong leadership skills. They should be able to influence and drive change within the organization, collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, and build trusted advisor relationships with HR and management teams.
4. Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Effective communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for a Vice President, Employment Counsel. They should be able to clearly and concisely communicate complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders, build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and handle sensitive employee relations matters with empathy and professionalism.
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Compensation Pay Disclosure:
Voya is committed to pay that's fair and equitable, which means comparable pay for comparable roles and responsibilities.
The below annual base salary range reflects the expected hiring range(s) for this position in the location(s) listed. In addition to base salary, Voya offers incentive opportunities (i.e., annual cash incentives, sales incentives, and/or long-term incentives) based on the role to reward the achievement of annual performance objectives. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations, and refers to the amount Voya Financial is willing to pay at the time of this posting.
Actual compensation offered may vary from the posted salary range based upon the candidate's geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer. Salaries for part-time roles will be prorated based upon the agreed upon number of hours to be regularly worked.
$145,470 - $192,590 USD
Be Well. Stay Well.
Voya provides the resources that can make a difference in your lives. To us, this means thriving physically, financially, socially and emotionally. Voya benefits are designed to help you do just that. That's why we offer an array of plans, programs, tools and resources with one goal in mind: To help you and your family be well and stay well.
What We Offer

• Health, dental, vision and life insurance plans
• 401(k) Savings plan - with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%)
• Voya Retirement Plan - employer paid cash balance retirement plan (4%)
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year
• Paid time off - including 20 days paid time off, nine paid company holidays and a flexible Diversity Celebration Day.
• Paid volunteer time - 40 hours per calendar year

Learn more about Voya benefits (download PDF)
Critical Skills
At Voya, we have identified the following critical skills which are key to success in our culture:

• Customer Focused: Passionate drive to delight our customers and offer unique solutions that deliver on their expectations.
• Critical Thinking: Thoughtful process of analyzing data and problem solving data to reach a well-reasoned solution.
• Team Mentality: Partnering effectively to drive our culture and execute on our common goals.
• Business Acumen: Appreciation and understanding of the financial services industry in order to make sound business decisions.
• Learning Agility: Openness to new ways of thinking and acquiring new skills to retain a competitive advantage.

Learn more aboutCritical Skills
Equal Employment Opportunity
Voya Financial is an equal-opportunity employer. Voya Financial provides equal opportunity to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other status protected by state or local law.
Reasonable Accommodations
Voya is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Voya will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please reference resources for applicants with disabilities.
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