Associate General Counsel (Labor & Employment)

Foster Farms has been serving families since 1939. Since the founding days, Foster Farms has always been committed to providing consumers with the highest-quality, best-tasting poultry products available. Our commitment to excellence, honesty, quality, service, and our valued TEAM Members will shine through in everything we do.

Foster Farms is always looking for talented individuals to join the Foster Farms TEAM. We offer the experience of a large organization: however, operate like a family business. More than half of our job openings are filled by internal promotion, and we encourage TEAM Members to gain a variety of experiences across different functional groups.

Pay Range: $264,700.00 to $310,500 per year

Purpose of Position:

Foster Poultry Farms Legal Department has an exciting opportunity for a labor and employment attorney. Reporting to the SVP and General Counsel, this position provides advice and counsel to the Chief Human Resources Officer, Vice President for Human Resources and other Human Resource professionals and business partners. This position also provides legal, labor and employment advice related to the Companys strategic initiatives.

This position is located in Livingston, California at the corporate headquarters for Foster Poultry Farms. The attorney will advise on and manage all labor and employment related matters and generally assist the Company in traditional labor matters, including advising on and negotiating the terms of the various collective bargaining agreements, preparing for and conducting any arbitrations resulting from labor disputes and the development and interpretation of Company related policies and programs related to represented employees. The attorney also will advise, draft, and assist with Company-wide employment policies. This attorney will be expected to act with the highest level of integrity, business and personal ethical standards in all aspects of job performance.

Essential Functions:

• Provides in-house legal counsel on labor and employment related matters, which may include, but is not necessarily limited to, human resources issues, wage and hour law, state agency claims, labor relations, employee benefits, employment agreements and policies, FMLA and leave of absence matters, and employment related litigation, grievances and arbitrations.
• Keeps up to date on and ensures compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Participates in and influences the decision-making process with appropriate clients and stakeholders.
• Identifies and assesses legal risks and opportunities within the labor and employment area and advises accordingly.
• Independently handles legal matters and projects ranging from basic to complex.
• Supervises, manages, and evaluates outside counsel on employment related matters including litigation and traditional labor.
• Educates clients and stakeholders on legal matters, policies, and procedures.
• Establishes and maintains relationships, credibility and trust with clients, stakeholders, legal team members and other colleagues.
• Assists with other legal department matters as required.

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Job Requirements:

• JD degree from an accredited law school and must have admitted to practice law in California.
• Minimum of seven years of substantive labor and employment law experience with a corporate legal department or a nationally recognized law firm with heavy California law experience.
• Extensive experience with union avoidance and union negotiations.
• Extensive experience in handling labor and employment matters before federal and state courts and administrative agencies.
• Experience with counseling clients on labor and employment matters within a manufacturing or agricultural environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to being a legal business partner to internal clients.
• Strong writing skills and strong communication skills required.
• Ability to work independently and manage a heavy workload in a high-pressure environment.
• Sound judgment: ability to clearly make reasoned recommendations; ability to cross think and determine who should be kept informed.
• Self-starter with good business sense and a sense of urgency, honesty, and fairness.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Foster Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities, Females, Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Foster Farms participates in E-Verify during the hire process at all locations for all new TEAM Members.