Senior Attorney, Labor & Employment

Full Job Description OFFICE LOCATION United States #LI-KM1 #LI-Remote #PDN WHO WE ARE The Nature Conservancy's mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We're rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it's career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there's lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or on Glassdoor. Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we'll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply - we'd love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, "you'll join for our mission, and you'll stay for our people." The Nature Conservancy is one of the 2024 Top 100 Inspiring Workplaces in North America, an award that recognizes people-first organizations around the globe. Presented by the Inspiring Workplaces Group (IW), the awards recognize best-performing organizations that have created a positive and inclusive work culture for their employees. TNC is ranked fourth overall and the #1 non-profit in North America. WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER The Nature Conservancy is seeking a talented attorney with experience and a demonstrated interest in providing advice and direction on complex employment law matters affecting its staff across the globe. As the Senior Attorney, you will join TNC's dynamic Global Legal Team of over 100 attorneys and legal professionals who are each vital to achieving TNC's important conservation goals. You will be a member of the Global HR Legal Team, reporting to the Senior Attorney team lead. You will work closely with the People Team, Ethics & Compliance, senior management, and with local and regional legal teams, assisting with day-to-day and sensitive employment matters, internal investigations, interpretation of local legal requirements, application of global policies and procedures, compliance monitoring, and litigation management. 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, employ e 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. * Written and oral communication skills. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS * Experience providing legal counsel to clients on employment matters located outside of the United States. * Fluency in non-English languages, especially Spanish, French, and/or Portuguese. * Experience in additional areas of practice, especially contracts, non-profit law, litigation, ERISA, and/or immigration. * Experience managing other attorneys and/or legal support staff. * Experience delivering employment law training programs to attorneys and non-legal staff. * Experience developing, managing, and implementing multiple projects at once in a large, complex, and multi-national company or organization. WHAT WE BRING Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizati

Created: 2024-10-23