SENIOR LABOR COUNSEL (REMOTE)

Job Summary

Compass Group, the worlds largest contract foodservice company, has a Great Opportunity for career development and as a Senior Labor Counsel. The Senior Labor Counsel position is responsible for representing the Company at arbitration hearings and administrative agencies and providing legal advice, support and training to the Labor Relations Team and operations managers as well as direct Labor Relations Support to key business operations. This position is expected to work independently and report directly to the SVP, Labor Relations.

Responsibilities

• Handles basic and complex labor arbitrations including legal research, case assessment, witness and other evidentiary preparation, first-chair at labor arbitration hearings, and motion and brief writing.
• Handles all matters related to the National Labor Relations Act
• Oversees & monitors all outside counsel delegations and associated costs
• Ensures operating Sectors understand and accept paying for outside counsel as necessary
• Identifies and assess legal risks within the labor area and prepares advisory memoranda.
• Manage the document gathering and discovery process for all cases so as to protect Company information and documentation, while ensuring compliance with federal, state and local regulations
• Negotiate and draft settlement agreements and releases
• Analyze, interpret, evaluate and render decisions on pending arbitrations.
• Oversee the production of corporate documents in compliance with subpoenas
• Develops and presents training on labor law compliance and strategies for members of the Labor Relations Department and Operations Management.
• Reviews and monitors personnel policies, practices and forms to ensure compliance with applicable labor law; advise necessary others of potential adverse consequences on operations
• Perform as a business partner for internal clients including Human Resources and Operations personnel.
• Oversee maintenance of Companys case management database and extranet; update relevant case information including strategy, activities, costs and accruals
• Recognize the need for and maintain appropriate collaborative relationships with other support functions to ensure seamless service for clients
• Ensure reporting on labor litigation data and providing evaluation and insight on trends and key indicators; continuously strive to enhance reporting methods
• Deliver internal clients with expert advice and counsel regarding legal requirements, best practices and strategy for managing risks, including avoiding negative publicity
• Advise and direct LR Team members on all labor related matters (i.e. CBA language; negotiation protocol & strategy; arbitrations; laws, rules & regulations, etc.)
• Monitors and reports on new/changing labor laws and their potential impact/ramifications on operations
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school with accompanying state licensure; current/active membership in a State bar
• Minimum 3 years of first-chair arbitration experience, preferably management side, plus all other essential job duties described above.
• Expert knowledge of labor and arbitration laws, rules, regulations and precedent.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred
• Proven ability and successes in the following: proactively seeking and executing creative solutions, developing and executing strategic plans, change management, providing strong customer service, and negotiating, partnering and communicating effectively with clients and colleagues
• Possesses the organizational and multi-tasking skills to manage and track status of a large caseload. Ability to maintain an organized and defined process for the completion of workload.
• Strong change management skills; possesses a big picture perspective and able to think from an overall impact to the Company point of view
• Displays an ability to hold consistently to professional opinions and convictions and to take a stand on critical issues in major projects and litigation and in the counseling of senior managers on critical matters
• Demonstrates commitment to Company's objectives and values during periods of sustained pressure and demonstrates support of the Company's business priorities through personal commitment, energy and passion
• Actively seeks ways of improving current methods, processes, and structures
• Proficient with most current computer software programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visier, etc.)
• Excellent technical, interpersonal and management (people and project), communication, listening, organizational, data analysis and decision-making skills
• Team player in a fast paced, high volume and constantly changing environment
• Ability to make presentations before a variety of groups in a variety of media
• Availability and willingness for some travel (approximately 30% annually)