Senior Counsel - Employment Attorney

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The Brookhaven National Laboratory Office of General Counsel has an opening for a Senior Counsel – Employment Attorney.  As the selected candidate, you will provide legal support and counseling to the Lab on a wide range of employment-related matters, including recruitment and hiring, policy violations such as harassment and retaliation, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, investigations, discipline, terminations, reductions-in-force, and business restructures while partnering with the Human Resources team. You will oversee employment-related litigation matters alongside external counsel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Will provide proactive and strategic legal advice to HR, Management, and other directorates on a broad range of employment law matters including but not limited to:

Comprehensive Legal Counsel:

• Advise the Lab on employment-related matters, including compliance with federal and state employment laws, workplace policies, and contracts.
• Legal advice in the areas below including but not limited to:
  • Discrimination (Title VII, ADA, ADEA, etc.)
  • Harassment and retaliation
  • Wage and hour laws (FLSA, state wage payment laws)
  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other leave laws
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and reasonable accommodations
  • Employee relations, discipline, and performance management
  • Workplace investigations
  • Hiring, onboarding, and termination processes
  • Reductions in force and reorganizations
  • Employee benefits and executive compensation
  • Union relations and collective bargaining (if applicable)
  • Workplace safety (OSHA compliance in collaboration with ES&H)
  • Federal contractor compliance obligations (e.g., OFCCP regulations)
  • Whistleblower protections
• Research and analyze case law, statutes, and regulations, draft legal guidance 
• Advise on the legal implications of proposed policy changes and business initiatives
• Conduct legal research and provide recommendations on labor and employment law issues.
• Provide guidance on appropriate corrective actions and disciplinary measures
• You may be asked to provide support in other areas such as compliance with DOE regulations and contracts.

Litigation Management:

• Represent the Lab in litigation, mediation, and other alternative dispute resolution proceeding
• Manage and/or assist with the defense of employment-related claims, charges, lawsuits, and administrative actions filed with agencies such as the EEOC, state civil rights divisions, and the Department of Labor
• Work with and manage outside counsel as needed in litigation matters, developing legal strategies and ensuring cost-effective representation.

Drafting & Negotiation:

• Draft. negotiate and enforce employment, separation, consultancy, and other employment-related agreements.
• Compile documentation in response to administrative legal proceedings and litigation matters

Compliance and Training:

• Stay current on new and evolving employment laws and regulations, and effectively communicate changes to relevant stakeholders
• Draft, review, interpret, and update employment policies, procedures, and employee handbooks to ensure legal compliance and alignment with best practices.

Internal and External Relations:

• Develop and maintain strong internal client relationships.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Human Resources, other legal department colleagues (e.g., contracts), and laboratory leadership.
• Collaborate with cross-functional business teams to identify, evaluate and resolve complex business issues and risks, and create and implement training and education on a variety of employment-related topics.
• Build strong working relationships with internal clients and external agencies.

Risk Mitigation:

• Proactively anticipate legal issues and work with clients to develop preventive measures

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school
• Minimum of 8 years’ substantive employment law experience, preferably in a nationally recognized law firm or corporation.  preferably with a mix of law firm and in-house counsel experience.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in, form and lead teams, within the legal department and throughout the organization
• Proven ability to quickly, effectively, and clearly provide strategic, business-focused advice and counsel in a fast-paced environment
• Strong knowledge of federal and state labor laws, including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, OSHA and FLSA.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, problem solving and analytical skills with a view toward creative and practical solutions, as well as proficiency in legal research and document drafting.
• Select and manage relevant outside counsel within budgetary guidelines to obtain desired results.
• Extensive experience with U.S. employment laws and regulations and related claims/litigation. Experience with jurisdictions outside the U.S. would be advantageous.
• Extensive experience conducting and supervising complex internal investigations, disputes and litigation related to employment matters, including conducting and managing electronic discovery.
• Ability to prioritize, manage multiple complex projects, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• High ethical standards and a commitment to integrity.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Experience at a DOE laboratory and/or experience providing legal support to an organization that provides goods and services to the U.S. DOE/NNSA or similar government contractor or agency
• Active membership in good standing with a state bar, with the ability to become eligible to practice law in NYS (if not already admitted).
• Familiarity with Department of Energy (DOE) policies, procedures, and orders relevant to federally funded entities.
• Experience with government ethics statutes and principles.
• May require some travel.

Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory – view more information at www.bnl.gov/real-id.  This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federal REAL ID Act.  Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews. 

About Us

Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Brookhaven Science Associates is an equal opportunity employer that values inclusion and diversity at our Lab. We are committed to ensuring that all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a veteran, disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.  BSA takes affirmative action in support of its policy and to advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.  *VEVRAA Federal Contractor

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