Sr. Corporate Counsel

As a leading global manufacturer of heating, cooling, and water heating equipment, Rheem Manufacturing is continually innovating new ways to deliver just the right degree of environmental comfort to every home and business while saving energy, water, and supporting a more sustainable future. It is an exciting challenge that requires a team of talented, passionate people with a diverse set of skills. From engineers to accountants, sales professionals to support experts, we depend on talented individuals to power our innovations. Join our team and help shape the future of products that impact lives—every day.

The Sr. Corporate Counsel – Employment position will provide advice, counsel, drafting, training, and case management on all relevant employment laws (including benefit plans and immigration laws), occupational health and safety laws and employment litigation issues. This position will report to the Director – Compliance & Privacy with a dotted line to EVP HR for employment and labor relations matters.

This position will serve our Enterprise Division, located in Atlanta, GA (Hybrid). 

Employment Laws: 

• Partner with Human Resources and management to provide legal and business-specific advice on all areas of employment law and associated risk domestically. 
• Advise and counsel on Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, GINA, NLRB, OFCCP/AAP, RIFs, WARN, FLSA, and other relevant federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Monitor changes in employment laws and regulations, draft and develop HR policies.
• Develop and deliver relevant HR training and strategy for communications.
• Conduct workplace investigations and provide proactive guidance on employee complaints, investigations, discipline and terminations.
• Draft and review severance agreements, confidentiality agreements and other workplace agreements. 
• Manage responses to investigations, hearings and appeals of discrimination and other employment-related charges and complaints; coordinate with EPLI insurer.
• Manage and provide strategic guidance to outside counsel in the handling of all types of employment-related litigation and appeals in conjunction with VP of Global Litigation (for material matters). Assist with product litigation as delegated from VP of Global Litigation. 
• Advise and manage reductions in force, individual job eliminations and negotiated separations.
• Negotiate and customize agreements for independent contractor consulting services, recruiters, temporary agencies and other employment-related services.
• Acts as primary legal contact for review and internal coordination of vendor agreements for HR initiatives, including overseeing alignment and approval process by internal stakeholders and senior leadership in accordance with company approval policies.
• Provide legal counsel related to high-level immigration matters.
• Manage employment-related due diligence activities for M&A activity.
• Manage HR related helpline requests.

Occupational Health & Safety Laws: 

• Advise and counsel on compliance and training on occupational safety and health (OSHA) laws and regulations.
• Monitor changes in OSHA laws and regulations and coordinate new procedures and training.
• Advise and counsel on OSHA reporting, investigations, citations, penalties, informal conferences, contests and appeals, including whistleblower complaints.
• Work with Risk Management Department on loss prevention, safety and workers compensation matters.

Labor Relations: 

• Advise and assist local HR with grievances, mediation, and arbitrations.
• Advise HR on contract language, interpretation and negotiation.

ERISA & Benefit Plans: 

• Advise and consult on laws and regulations applicable to ERISA qualified plans (DB and DC plans), non-qualified plans and welfare plans.
• Advise and consult on HIPAA policies and procedures.
• Interpret benefit plan provisions; draft amendments, consents resolutions and minutes for Plans Committees.
• Coordinate with ERISA counsel on IRS filings and other ERISA compliance.
• Review QDROs for Benefit Plans and communicate with outside lawyers for Plan participants.

• Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and 10+ years of experience in all areas of employment-related law.
• Proactive, self-directed, detail oriented and organized with strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience as an advocate for and counselor to Rheem.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Ability to be discreet and handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Creative thinker with problem-solving skills.
• Must be adaptable, versatile, punctual and dependable.
• Able to travel per business needs.
• Must be a team player.