Employment and Compliance Counsel

The Opportunity

IFF is seeking an Employment and Compliance Counsel to support the management of its US and Global HR legal matters including support of investigations, training, communications, audits, and remediation. This New York City based position is one that offers a collaborative work environment, experience in a fast-paced industry, and a chance to work as part of a global corporate legal team. 

As an Employment and Compliance Counsel, you will spend your time…

Employment – Work directly with the senior Employment and Compliance Counsel and Human Resources team on human resources legal matters, in the US and globally, including: 

• Providing daily counselling on employment-related issues, including recruitment and hiring, compensation and benefits, accommodation requests, leaves of absence, investigations, performance reviews, disciplinary warnings, terminations, workplace safety, immigration, and international assignments;
• Advising on labor union and labor relations matters including grievance resolution, unfair labor practice charges, arbitrations, and negotiation of collective bargaining and works council agreements;
• Drafting employment, separation, non-competition, confidentiality, and consulting agreements for global employee base;
• Advising on and drafting appropriate documentation and policies for reorganizations, severance plans, separation agreements, reductions in force, and mergers and acquisitions;
• Drafting and advising on human resources policies, programs, procedures and handbooks;
• Developing and conducting training for HR and management on employment-related issues; and
• Advising on compensation and employee benefits matters.

Litigation and Investigations – Manage investigations and litigations, in the US and globally, including: 

• Supporting the company hotline including reviewing, updating, and resolving reports received;
• Conducting, and/or supervising outside counsel and service providers in conducting confidential investigations of issues including employee relations, anti-corruption, and protection of confidential information and company assets, including travel to do so;
• Managing benefits, labor, employment, and compliance-related litigations, arbitrations, and agency proceedings from inception to resolution.

Ethics & Compliance – Assist in management of corporate ethics and compliance program including investigations, training initiatives and policy oversight and development, including: 

• Drafting, updating, implementing and communicating compliance and crisis management policies;
• Managing and support compliance program initiatives and global projects;
• Creating and conducting training on a variety of compliance and anti-corruption topics; and
• Serving on the Company’s Global Compliance Committee and coordinating training and communications efforts.

• Juris Doctorate
• 4-7 years of significant law firm experience in employment law/compliance field working directly with companies (significant knowledge of NY and NJ employment law a plus)
• Experience counselling clients on employment, compliance, and international matters
• Experience creating and conducting training modules and formulating policies
• Superior interpersonal skills and judgment are essential
• Ability to manage fast-paced workload and add value to multiple projects simultaneously 
• Self-starter who demonstrates project ownership and enjoys working across departments
• Ability to travel – domestic and international