Sr. Director & Associate General Counsel, Employment Law & Ethics
Summary of Relevant Experience
Summary of Experience – Sr. Director & Associate General Counsel, Employment Law & Ethics @ National Geographic Society
- JD/MBA-credentialed employment and benefits attorney with approximately four years of progressive in-house counsel experience advising HR leaders and C-suite executives on ERISA, HIPAA, ACA, COBRA, FMLA, and ADA compliance across multiemployer funds and a Fortune 500 insurer.
- Litigation and claims counsel who has served as lead attorney on complex ERISA and employment disputes, managing outside counsel, developing case strategy, and overseeing dispute resolution from investigation through resolution.
- In-house compliance advisor who built and administered regulatory compliance programs, conducted internal investigations, and reported findings directly to senior leadership at multiemployer pension and health fund organizations.
- Benefits and M&A counsel who led due diligence on employee benefits matters in corporate transactions, drafted plan governance documents, and maintained ongoing regulatory compliance across large, complex employer organizations.
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Why this is a fit
Your ERISA, employee benefits, and employment law background aligns well with the core function, and the DC location matches your targets, but the role requires 12+ years of employment law counseling experience and is titled Associate General Counsel—a level above your current ~4 years in-house, making the seniority a significant gap that would likely disqualify you.
About the role
How You’ll Contribute How You’ll Contribute Job Description Summary The Senior Director and Associate General Counsel will provide legal advice in the management of all employment related matters including benefits, payroll and immigration. Provide legal advice relating to anti-discrimination laws with respect to both employee and external constituents. Act as the lead for the Legal & Business Affairs Department on ethical allegation matters, including with respect to ethical issues relating to NGS Explorers. Will be a collaborative, strategic and solutions-oriented advisor to numerous business clients regarding how these subjects influence NGS’s business strategy. This position reports to the Vice President & Senior Associate General Counsel for Privacy, Technology, Facilities and Operations. Your Impact Your Impact Responsibilities Include: Legal Guidance & Negotiations : Advise Human Resources professionals, Senior Leadership and other managers on NGS policies and practices relating to local and federal employment and anti-discrimination laws, including Titles II & VII, DC law, ACA, FMLA, ADA, FLSA, COBRA, ERISA, ADEA, USERRA, EO 11246 as well as U.S. immigration laws. Stay abreast of and advise regarding pending legislation and developments in case law. Advise on corporate downsizings, hiring, terminations, reorganizations, discipline and other matters. Draft, negotiate and review employment contracts, severance agreements, temporary staffing agreements and independent contractor agreements. Advise on and manage outside counsel with respect to benefits agreements and international employment law issues. (50%) Claims Management : Manage employment-related claims including those brought under the Society's Alternative Dispute Resolution program and keep program current with developing law. Work with and manage outside counsel and work with mediators, human resources and business units to present best case on behalf of Society for threatened and filed claims, including development of successful strategy and resolution of potential cases. Respond to subpoenas. Review and respond to EEOC and other agency charges of employment discrimination. Represent Society in mediations and arbitrations. (15%) Investigations : Conduct internal investigations and report to relevant decisionmakers relating to ethical complaints and other violations of organizational policies as directed by the Vice President & Senior Associate General Counsel for Privacy, Technology, Facilities and Operations and Chief Legal Officer. Manage outside counsel as needed in certain investigations as directed by the Vice President & Senior Associate General Counsel for Privacy, Technology, Facilities and Operations and Chief Legal Officer. Provide confidential reporting as required regarding investigations. (20%) Ethics : Act as the lead for the Legal & Business Affairs Department on ethical allegations matters. Responsible for development, adjustment, training, compliance and enforcement of NGS Code of Ethics. Educate managers and staff on Code of Ethics and other training programs. Review, respond and resolve ethical concerns raised by Society employees and third parties. Escalate where appropriate. (15%) What You’ll Bring Educational background JD, with license to practice as an attorney in DC Minimum Years and Type of Experience 12+ years law firm or in-house experience in employment law counseling. Necessary Knowledge and Skills Employment law counseling and employment litigation or dispute resolution experience required. Demonstrated substantive knowledge of the following laws and other employment and anti-discrimination laws required: Titles II & VII, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, ADA, USERRA. Experience conducting internal investigations and responding to employment discrimination claims required. Superior writing and analytical skills required, and an ability to quickly learn the fundamentals of different areas of the law. Ability to interface effectively with Senior L