Job Information
The Nature Conservancy Senior Attorney, Labor & Employment in Lansing, Michigan
WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU
As a member of the Global HR Legal Team, you will provide employment law support to TNC HR professionals, attorneys, and business units located across all 50 states and in various countries throughout the world (approximately 65% U.S. and 35% non-U.S.). You will be relied upon to timely and effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, complex legal concepts and options to project managers, high-level managers, the Board of Directors, and to other TNC attorneys as you work to manage organizational risk while taking into account TNC polices, standard operating procedures, culture, values, and mission. You will bring an enthusiastic openness to working in a global environment with people of many different countries, cultures, and languages and a commitment to professionalism, collegiality, and teamwork, along with the ability to work independently on various projects. RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE Expectations for the Senior Attorney will include, but are not limited to, the lawyer's ability to: * Provide guidance to clients on a wide variety of domestic and international employment law matters, including but not limited to advising on employment laws, performance management, reductions-in-force, separation agreements, employee claims, independent contractors, interns/volunteers, policies and practices and related business issues where the Conservancy operates worldwide. * Manage pre-litigation employment disputes, respond to EEOC and other agency charges, manage outside litigation counsel, and negotiate separation and settlement agreements. * Track and ensure compliance with new and changing employment laws applicable to Conservancy business units globally. * Maintain up-to-date templates used by the HR team, including waivers, offer letters and contracts, severance agreements, guidelines on best practices, and performance management and position elimination tools. * Advise clients on Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) compliance and equivalent safety and security regulations internationally. * Advises other attorneys based on recognized substantive expertise and judgment. * Serve an advisory role organization-wide on key issues or major projects. * Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, other lawyers, conservation professionals, and third parties. * Influences decision-makers at all levels of the Conservancy through strong communication skills. * Independently manage outside counsel effectively on complex issues that may have regional or global impact, including but not limited to charges of discrimination and/or litigation. * May supervise and/or provide guidance to less experienced attorneys and/or paralegals and other support staff. * Assist in establishing and implementing policies and procedures that support organizational goals and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. * Perform special projects as requested by department management. * Serve as one of the primary legal contacts for Human Resources. * Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product.
What You'll Bring: * Juris Doctorate or equivalent. LL.M. degree from a U.S. law school is required if law degree was acquired outside of the U.S. * License to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. * At minimum seven (7) years' relevant experience as an attorney in a law firm or in-house environment with at least four (4) years' experience advising clients on employment law matters, with emphasis on harassment/discrimination, leave and disability, litigation and negotiation of claims, performance management, discipline and discharge, employee policies and standard operating procedures, and wage and hour laws. * Law firm and/or in-house experience communicating complex legal concepts to multi-state/multi-national clients, other attorneys, and management.