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.
