Description:
Responsibilities:General Purpose:
With
independent judgment and initiative, Senior Counsel works
collaboratively with the other attorneys and staff in the Office of
Counsel to manage employment-related litigation and pre-litigation
matters, including but not limited to defense of agency charges and
complaints filed with the EEOC, the NYS Division of Human Rights, the
Department of Labor, and other governmental agencies (OCR, OFCCP, NLRB),
for all components of the University of Rochester, including its
medical center and the corporate affiliates.
This
position provides legal counsel and advice on employment and labor law
matters for all components of the University regarding staff and
faculty, including unionized and non-unionized employee populations; and
adviseson typical labor and employment topics such as recruitment and
termination, compensation, leaves of absence, accommodations, complaints
of harassment and discrimination, performance management, affirmative
action, policy interpretation and changes, and other labor and
employment based regulatory and compliance matters. Collaborating with
individuals across all levels of the institution, this position requires
consistent delivery of superior quality legal services in a timely,
ethical, and efficient matter according to standards of professional
conduct, while contributing positively to a collegial, cooperative work
environment.
Responsibilities:
- Oversees, manages, and provides counsel for various internal and external legal matters (at times with outside counsel) including investigations, policy-related determinations, related internal appeals by employees, agency charges/complaints filed through governmental agencies, litigation, and pre-litigation matters.
- Manages legal projects, provides counsel, and identifies legal issues to management and recommends appropriate action, including working closely with the General Counsel, Labor & Employment Practice Group (“L&EPG”) and L&EPG Group Leader, and, as appropriate, the Chief Human Resources Officer and their staff, as well as affiliated corporate entities of the University.
- Produces periodic reports as requested to the General Counsel, Labor & Employment Practice Group Leader, and senior leadership at the University concerning statistics on internal and external employee complaints, proceedings, and resolutions of those complaints.
- Provides legal advice to Human Resources to included responses to regulatory agency inquiries, complaints, audits, and initiatives, as well as reviewing personnel and related University policies and suggesting legally necessary policy revisions and updates to reflect changes in the law on an ongoing basis.
- Develops, or assists with the development of, legally compliant training materials on labor and employment law topics and, as requested, delivers such training for administrative personnel and committees with related responsibilities.
- Fulfills the occasional need to render legal advice on topics tangentially related to labor and employment, such as payroll, benefits, ERISA, Title IX, and contract disputes.
- Proactively monitors and understands changes in regulations/laws relating to labor and employment matters and evaluates University policies in order to provide advice regarding necessary policy revisions and updates on an ongoing basis, as well as drafting revisions to said policies.
- Coordinates assignment to and work by outside counsel who may be retained to handle defense of claims, investigations, policy revisions and similar matters regarding labor and employment.
- Other duties as assigned including, but not limited to: acting on behalf of the General Counsel of the University in event of absence or as requested; other duties as may be requested by senior administrators or the L&EPG Leader.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctorate required
- 10 years of relevant legal experience with a demonstrated depth of specialized knowledge in one or more fields of law relevant to the needs of the University required
- or an equivalent combination of education and experience required
- Labor and employment law experience preferred
- Expertise and experience working in labor and employment law required
- Experience with large, complex employers preferred
- Experience with higher education institutions including faculty matters, health care clients, unionized employee populations preferred
- Experience litigating or managing labor/employment claims/litigation preferred
- Excellent written and oral communication skills required
- Strong analytical, interpersonal, and cross-cultural competencies required
- High level of integrity and professionalism required
- Ability to independently manage and prioritize work required
- Strong time management and organizational skills required
- Ability to work in and contribute to a collegial work environment while meeting deadlines and counseling administrators in sometimes challenging situations
- New York State bar admission or registration in New York to work for the University as in-house counsel upon hire required
