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About the Job

The Senior Director, Associate General Counsel, Employment is responsible for advising Foundation Medicine on global employment, labor, immigration, and related matters. As a valued partner to the business, the role is a direct point of contact for FMI’s People Team. The incumbent works across multiple functions to develop and deliver creative solutions to complex employment issues while monitoring the rapidly changing network of global, federal, state, and local employment laws, spot compliance issues, and implement solutions. In partnership with the People Team, the role establishes enterprise policies and processes that will govern the legal aspects of the employment life cycle, such as recruitment, compensation matters, reorganizations, leave management and administration, policy governance, program harmonization, employee privacy, etc. The incumbent leverages excellent judgment, has courage to make difficult decisions, and is able to effectively collaborate and influence on strategic initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the key internal point of contact and subject matter expert on matters relating to employment, immigration, and employee benefits law.
• Provide practical and actionable daily legal advice to FMI People team and key FMI business leaders on the full range of employment law matters, including daily counseling on issues such as recruitment and hiring, restrictive covenant issues, equal pay, leaves of absence, investigations, disciplinary warnings, terminations, workplace safety, reorganizations, reductions in force, executive compensation, immigration and international assignments.
• Draft, interpret, and enforce employment, separation, non-competition, confidentiality, and consulting agreements.
• Own the strategy for and manage company employment litigation (single plaintiff and class), arbitrations, grievances and associated administrative charges.
• Provide legal oversight over the Company’s equal employment and affirmative action obligations.
• Oversee the Company’s immigration program.
• Supervise outside counsel on all employment or benefits issues requiring law firm support.
• Advise People Strategy and People Relations teams on workplace investigations and employee relations concerns, support investigations into complaints of inappropriate conduct or policy violations.
• Create, update, and manage employment-related template agreements and templates.
• Review, develop, and present trainings for the People Team, managers, and employees, including advising on and assuring compliance with employment law training requirements, and assisting People/Compliance teams to identify appropriate training topics.
• Monitor changes to applicable laws, regulations, and enforcement priorities, and develop and implement actionable takeaways.
• Counsel and advise on the employment law implications of strategic business initiatives.
• Support the People Team in developing and administering employment-related policies and programs.
• Support FMI’s Compliance program by assisting in compliance investigations, proactively identifying compliance risks and mitigation measures, and ensuring that FMI’s program evolves and remains relevant with FMI employees.
• Establish and maintain relationships, credibility, and trust with business partners, stakeholders, legal team members and other colleagues.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree
• 10+ years of legal experience with a specialty in employment law
• Licensed to practice law in the United States

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of in-house employment law experience across a wide range of employment law issues
• Law firm experience at a premier US-based law firm
• Experience advising the life sciences industry, either as internal or external counsel
• Proficient in providing advice and counsel, particularly in the following areas: employment-related contracts, policy development, recruitment, ADA reasonable accommodations, FMLA and other types of leaves, employee terminations, reductions in force, wage and hour (particularly exemptions), pay equity, OFCCP and AAP compliance, contingent workforce management, performance management, data privacy, workplace investigations, and employee relations issues, and immigration – global experience and benefit experience are a plus
• Adaptable to change and good at improving processes and systems
• Strong litigation experience through all stages of litigation
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment, meet tight deadlines, and act decisively
• Demonstrated ability to engage professionally with clients at all levels, and to influence without direct authority
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure while maintaining a professional demeanor
• Sound business sense with the judgment to escalate risk issues when required
• Organized, detail-oriented, resourceful, and flexible
• Exceptional communication skills; demonstrated ability to present complex issues in a clear and concise manner and provide succinct, practical, and results-oriented legal advice
• Strong project management skills
• Unquestioned integrity, credibility, and judgment
• Understanding of HIPAA and importance of patient data privacy
• Commitment to reflect FMI's values: Passion, Patients, Innovation, and Collaboration