Join the World's Top Legal Talent Network

Taking care of people is at the heart of everything we do, and we start by taking care of you, our valued colleague. A career at Sedgwick means experiencing our culture of caring. It means having flexibility and time for all the things that are important to you. It’s an opportunity to do something meaningful, each and every day. It’s having support for your mental, physical, financial and professional needs. It means sharpening your skills and growing your career. And it means working in an environment that celebrates diversity and is fair and inclusive.

A career at Sedgwick is where passion meets purpose to make a positive impact on the world through the people and organizations we serve. If you are someone who is driven to make a difference, who enjoys a challenge and above all, if you’re someone who cares, there’s a place for you here. Join us and contribute to Sedgwick being a great place to work.

Great Place to Work®

Most Loved Workplace®

Forbes Best-in-State Employer

VP Senior Employment Counsel

PRIMARY PURPOSE : The Vice President, Senior Employment Counsel will be a technically excellent and pro-active attorney to provide employment law advice to Sedgwick’s US-based business units and colleague resources teams. This role will be dedicated to building upon and leading our US labor and employment compliance programs, strategic advising, and providing guidance on legal requirements, best practices. The VP Senior Employment Counsel also proactively prepares our business-facing colleague resources teams, colleague support teams and business leaders for timely compliance on applicable labor and employment laws. As a cross-functional team member, you will work with multiple stakeholders and advise on a wide variety of matters.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS And RESPONSIBILITIES

• Legal Compliance
  • Provides proactive, pragmatic, risk-based advice to Sedgwick's Colleague Resources (CR) teams and business leaders on all aspects of employment-related matters (recruiting, hiring, contingent workers, diversity and inclusion, wage and hour, compensation, leaves of absence, performance management, employee relations and investigations, terminations).
  • Analyzes regulations, case law and legal and policy developments relevant to employment law, as well as evolving best practices.
  • Interprets and provides proactive guidance to the business/CR on potential impacts.
  • Proactively monitors federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations as it relates to entities and jurisdictions where Sedgwick has an established presence.
• Employment Dispute Resolution
  • Collaborates with Sedgwick litigation counsel to manage administrative charges with local agencies and assist in employment litigation matters and employment-related disputes, as needed.
  • Partners closely with Sedgwick's CR team on escalation of colleague concerns, employment decisions and investigations.
  • Represents the company in legal proceedings when necessary.
• Policy Development
  • Collaborates with CR leadership to create and update company policies and best practices, ensuring alignment with current employment law and regulations.
  • Partners with Sedgwick's CR team to build scalable processes and templates.
  • Partners closely with Sedgwick’s CR team to review and optimize investigatory strategy/approach, corrective action measures and employee discipline processes.
  • Advises Sedgwick's CR team on employment decisions including but not limited to ADA, FMLA, retaliation, disparate impact, exemption status, onboarding compliance, as needed.
• Contract Review
  • Reviews and draft employment contracts, agreements, and other legal documents.
  • Provides legal guidance on employment related issues during negotiations.
  • Drafts and edit key employment-related documents (offer letters, colleague agreements, severance plans, colleague handbook, manager policies, etc.).
• Training and Education
  • Develops and deliver training programs and workshops for CR and management teams to enhance their understanding of employment laws and compliance.
  • Collaborates with the CR team to assess employee trainings on harassment, performance management, and other topics.
• Risk Assessment
  • Assesses and mitigates legal risks associated with CR decisions and initiatives.
  • Advises on potential risks related to workforce management.
  • Anticipates and identifies legal risks related to employment policies and decisions and propose creative and effective solutions to address risks.
  • Manages business critical legal, employment and compliance projects on an as needed basis.
  • Manages outside counsel on labor and employment matters.
• Assists with special projects, as needed.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS And RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Travel as required.

Qualifications

Education & Licensing

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required. Juris Doctor (J.D.) and good standing with a state bar required.

Experience

Ten (10) years of related experience in labor and employment law (preferably a combination of law firm and in-house practice) or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

Skills & Knowledge

• Exceptional business judgment, with the ability to think strategically and give practical advice while balancing business needs with legal risks
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to communicate complex legal issues in clear, non-legal and succinct language
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and changing environment and successfully manage multiple, competing deadlines
• Ability to influence at all levels of the organization
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written).
• Professionalism, integrity, good judgment, and respect for confidentiality.
• A flexible, can-do attitude that makes you willing (and excited!) to take on new, unfamiliar tasks
• Strong organizational and project management skills, an ownership mindset, and the drive and desire to work in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
• Experience collaborating with key diverse stakeholders
• Enjoy collaborating with no ego in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Experience in a high-growth business environment
• Ability to deliver strong results with limited resources, under tight deadlines
• Ability to meet or exceed Performance Competencies

WORK ENVIRONMENT

When applicable and appropriate, consideration will be given to reasonable accommodations.

Mental : Clear and conceptual thinking ability; excellent judgment, troubleshooting, problem solving, analysis, and discretion; ability to handle work-related stress; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously; and ability to meet deadlines

Physical : Computer keyboarding, travel as required

Auditory/Visual : Hearing, vision and talking

The statements contained in this document are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a colleague assigned to this description. They are not intended to constitute a comprehensive list of functions, duties, or local variances. Management retains the discretion to add or to change the duties of the position at any time.

Sedgwick is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace.

If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, consider applying for it anyway! Sedgwick is building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and recognizes that each person possesses a unique combination of skills, knowledge, and experience. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.