Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel, Employment

Group 1001 is a consumer-centric, technology-driven family of insurance companies on a mission to deliver outstanding value and operational performance by combining financial strength and stability with deep insurance expertise and a can-do culture. Group1001’s culture emphasizes the importance of collaboration, communication, core business focus, risk management, and striving for outcomes. This goal extends to how we hire and onboard our most valuable assets – our employees.

Position Description

We are seeking an experienced employment attorney to support our Human Resources function and growing workforce.  Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, Delaware Life, this position will serve as the primary legal advisor to the group’s Chief People Officer and its talented team of human resources professionals.  

Responsibilities

The Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel, Employment will be responsible for providing advice and counseling on a broad spectrum of labor and employment law issues, including:

• Employee relations

• Recruiting and training

• Background check adjudication

• Performance management

• Compensation and benefits

• Immigration and contingent workers

• Wage and hour laws

• Employment classifications

• Privacy

• Pay equity

• Inclusion and diversity

• Sick leave, leaves of absences, and accommodations

• Discrimination and harassment

• Internal investigations

• Terminations and reductions in force

• Retention of outside counsel and litigation management

• Employee safety

• International travel

• Employment-related aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence

• New laws and regulations

• Best practices

Qualifications

Minimum of 10 years of legal experience through a combination of law firm and/or in-house counsel experience as labor and employment counsel.  The candidate must have a thorough understanding of federal and state employment laws.

Skills/Knowledge/Competencies

• J.D. from an accredited law school

• Licensed in the State where candidate is located

• Experience evaluating employment practices, policies, and processes to ensure compliance

• Experience drafting employee handbooks, human resources policies, offer letters, and employment and employment-related agreements, including severance, separation, and retention agreements

• Experience investigating and responding to employment claims, demand letters, administrative agency charges, audits, subpoenas, and other employment-related inquiries

• Experience handling and/or managing employment litigation

• Experience developing and conducting training and education programs for employees and managers

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders and manage projects with a team-oriented approach

• Highly organized and driven to strategically, proactively, and practically solve legal issues using risk-balanced approach

• Employee benefit plan and ERISA experience is helpful but not required

Employees who meet benefit eligibility guidelines and work 30 hours or more weekly, have the ability to enroll in Group 1001’s benefits package. Employees (and their families) are eligible to participate in the Company’s comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plan options.  Employees are also eligible for Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability, and to enroll in the Company’s Employee Assistance Program and other wellness initiatives.  Employees may also participate in the Company’s 401K plan, with matching contributions by the Company. 

Group 1001, and its affiliated companies, is strongly committed to providing a supportive work environment where employee differences are valued. Diversity is an essential ingredient in making Group 1001 a welcoming place to work and is fundamental in building a high-performance team. Diversity embodies all the differences that make us unique individuals.  All employees share the responsibility for maintaining a workplace culture of dignity, respect, understanding and appreciation of individual and group differences.