Senior Counsel - Employment & HR

Overview:

Provides legal advice and counsel in the area of labor and employment law within the Western & Southern Financial Group enterprise. This role partners closely with Human Resources, business leaders, and other legal team members to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws while supporting the organization's business objectives. Works with minimal supervision and escalates to Law and business unit senior management as appropriate.

Responsibilities:

What you will do:

• Advise on day-to-day Human Resources and employment-related matters, including workplace investigations, associate relations issues, leaves of absence and accommodations, and hiring considerations.
• Advise on compliance with various federal, state and local employment laws, to include policy development, audits, and assistance with implementing initiatives to effectuate compliance across the national enterprise.
• Undertake complex research assignments from Law Department Senior Management.
• Communicate and negotiate with other attorneys and regulatory authorities to resolve disputes.
• Substantially contribute to and/or lead complex and/or cross-disciplinary projects with little direct supervision.
• Draft, negotiate and finalize complex legal documents as needed within prescribed deadlines.
• Effectively and efficiently manage outside counsel substantively on issues, as well as on budget. Contribute to annual budgeting process.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications:

• PhD Juris Doctor degree from accredited law school and above average class standing. - Required
• Minimum of eight years' experience in the role of Counsel or equivalent title. - Required
• Significant experience handling federal, state, and local labor and employment law issues, including some experience with immigration-related issues. - Required
• General knowledge of, and familiarity with, financial services businesses. - Required
• Proven leadership and supervisory skills with ability to lead projects of all sizes, direct the work of other attorneys, paralegals, administrative staff, and others, and achieve tactical goals. - Required
• Strong analytical skills, including demonstrated experience identifying, defining and resolving complex problems, and collecting, quantifying or interpreting data to establish facts, draw valid conclusions and provide creative resolutions. - Required
• Demonstrated strong contract drafting. - Required
• Demonstrated ability to convey information, verbally and in writing, to internal and external customers in a clear, accurate, focused and concise manner. - Required
• Proven ability to work under pressure, prioritize and manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines. - Required
• Ability to collaborate with other attorneys and colleagues in the organization on legal and regulatory matters, cases and/or issues. Proven ability to build collaborative relationships both internally and externally. Proven ability to influence others beyond direct control. - Required
• Proficient in the use of word processing, email, and PowerPoint. - Required
• Sound judgment and initiative in selecting the most effective solutions. - Required
• Proven excellent client counseling skills and strong strategic thinking. - Required
• Licensed to practice law in Ohio (or ability to obtain a license to practice law in Ohio upon hire). Upon Hire - Required

Work Setting/Position Demands:

• Works in an office setting and remains in a stationary position for long periods of time while working at a desk, on a computer or with other standard office equipment, or while in meetings.
• Requires the ability to verbally communicate and exchange accurate information to customers and associates on a regular basis.
• Requires visual acuity to read and interpret a variety of correspondence, procedures, reports and forms via paper and electronic documents, visual inspection involving small defects; small parts, and/or operation of machinery (including inspection); using measurement devices continuously. Visual acuity is required to determine accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned.
• Requires the ability to prepare written correspondence, reports and forms using prescribed formats and conforming to rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style on a regular basis.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Performs substantial movement of wrists, hands, and fingers for continuous computer work.
• Extended hours required during peak workloads or special projects/events.
• Associate must be able to travel via airplane.
• Associate must be able to travel via car.
• Routine and/or extended after hours work needed.

Travel Requirements:

• 10% travel