Counsel - Employment and Compliance

Role Summary

The Counsel – Employment & Compliance will provide broad and in-depth legal support, advice, and guidance to the organization regarding employment and labor law matters, compliance audits, and workplace policy development. This position will partner with internal Human Resources Leaders and other key stakeholders to prepare and review employment-related templates, handbooks and policies, as well as preparing legal evidence and arguments to protect the Company’s interests, manage agency charges, and minimize employment-related legal risk.

This role also serves as a key leader of the Company’s enterprise compliance program, with responsibility for overseeing regulatory compliance, reporting, records governance, licensing, affirmative action programs, federal project compliance, corporate ethics, and policy governance across the organization. The position partners with executive leadership to ensure the Company maintains audit readiness and compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory obligations. All activities will be performed in support of the strategy, vision, and values of JE Dunn.

• Autonomy & Decision-Making: Makes most decisions and consults with supervisor as needed.
• Career Path: Senior Counsel

Key Role Responsibilities - Core

COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT FAMILY – CORE

• Provides day-to-day legal support and counseling on routine employment and labor law matters across a national footprint.
• Reviews and provides guidance on employment-related documents, including consulting agreements, progressive discipline documentation, separation agreements, and confidentiality agreements.
• Provides legal counsel and guidance on a variety of HR matters including employee benefits, employee relations, progressive discipline, and workplace accommodations.
• Researches and prepares appropriate and effective draft legal opinions, internal memoranda, and employee handbook guidelines & policies.
• Interprets federal, state, and local employment laws, rulings, and regulations (e.g., Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, OSHA, NLRB) to help the Company prepare clear, compliant, and effective workplace policies and practices.
• Assists with the management of employment-related claims, demands, and administrative charges (e.g., EEOC, DOL, state agencies). Provide assistance to gather and prepare evidence to formulate defenses or initiate legal actions.
• Implements and manages litigation hold memoranda for personnel records and related employment evidence.
• Provides legal guidance and support to HR and other stakeholders on immigration related employment matters and filings. Partner with outside counsel as appropriate.
• Leads, supports, and promotes a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within JE Dunn.
• Deeply understands JE Dunn’s policies and ensures positive, proactive compliance and implementation throughout the organization.
• Leads enterprise-wide employment compliance strategy, including OFCCP compliance, wage & hour enforcement, and regulatory investigations.
• Oversees Affirmative Action Programs (AAPs), including development, audit response, and regulatory compliance for veterans and individuals with disabilities.
• Conducts and reports annual pay equity analyses to executive leadership and the Board.

COUNSEL SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition, this position will be responsible for the following:

• Judges the merits of major employment claims or administrative charges filed against the company, and works with HR executives and business leadership to define a strategic defense or approve settlements where warranted.
• Advises Human Resources and executive teams concerning employment liability, the advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, workplace investigation findings, and legal rights/obligations.
• Partners with HR Leadership on workplace investigations and provides guidance as it relates to the preparation of evidence to defend the company against employment-related actions.
• Helps manage outside legal counsel retained for specialized employment litigation or local labor disputes.
• Monitors employment litigation proceedings and tracking legislative updates or shifting regulatory compliance trends.
• Assists with the development and delivery of training on legal topics for HR teams and people managers (e.g., anti-harassment, wage and hour compliance, interviewing best practices).

Key Responsibilities - Continued

Enterprise Compliance

• Provides leadership and oversight of the Company’s Compliance Department functions, including Records Management, Licensing Compliance, Regulatory Reporting, Affirmative Action Programs, Federal / Project Compliance, and Company Compliance (Ethics, Policy Governance, Security).
• Oversees the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of enterprise compliance programs.
• Establishes KPIs and reporting frameworks to measure compliance effectiveness.
• Ensures enterprise-wide audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
• Leads quarterly legislative and compliance reviews with HR and business stakeholders.
• Provides oversight and leadership to compliance team members and functional leads.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Assumes responsibility for day-to-day financial management of assigned scope of responsibility by understanding the budget process, accurately forecasting and limiting month-to-month fluctuations.
• Maintains fiscal records and follows procedures to ensure effective and efficient operations.
• Understands business plan and manages financial goals.
• Makes operational decisions in light of broader financial goals and constraints. 

MANAGING OTHERS

• Inspires a sense of team in the work environment. Utilizes communication and conflict resolution skills to foster teamwork and collaboration. Models a positive and professional attitude, maintaining composure under pressure. 
• Communicates and explains goals and encourages and motivates team performance and productivity in alignment with broader work program and corporate goals and plans. Leads and facilitates effective team meetings. Recognizes individual and team accomplishments.
• Assesses and manages quality of work produced by team.
• Creates, monitors and manages scheduling; directs assignments and goal setting for optimal productivity and resource management. 
• Participates in a range of talent management activities, which may include responsibilities such as evaluating and managing performance, providing formal and informal feedback, recruiting and staffing, employee learning and development, addressing employee relations risks and issues, etc. 
• Provides feedback and coaching to support individual employee performance, learning and career development. 
• Removes obstacles and solves problems and addresses escalated issues from team members to optimize team performance and productivity. 
• Serves as a change agent by supporting corporate and work program change initiatives.  Models and communicates positive approaches to adapting to change. 
• Supports internal succession planning and ensures key compliance processes are well-documented and transferable across the department.

Key Role Responsibilities - Additional Core

COUNSEL

In addition, this position will be responsible for the following:

• Judges the merits of major claims filed against or on behalf of the region, and works with the appropriate executive and project team to define a strategic defense and approve settlements of disputes where warranted.
• Advises the assigned region concerning claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, and legal rights and obligations.
• Gathers and prepares evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions.
• Helps manage outside counsel.
• Monitors legal proceedings. 
• Assists with development and/or training on legal topics.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to perform work accurately, completely, and in a timely manner.
• Communication skills (verbal and written): Advanced.
• Ability to follow up on inquiries and employee relations issues in a timely manner.
• Analytical skills: Advanced ability to independently analyze complex workplace problems, investigate complaints, and provide legally compliant solutions.
• Presentation skills: Advanced ability to conduct effective compliance and legal training presentations.
• Proficiency in MS Office: Intermediate.
• Legal writing skills: Advanced drafting of policies, position statements, and legal briefs.
• Legal research skills: Advanced proficiency tracking evolving employment statutes and case law.
• Collaboration: Advanced ability to build strong relationships and collaborate within HR, executive teams, and external partners.

Education

• Doctorate degree - Juris Doctor (Required)
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, architecture, engineering or other technical field (Preferred)
• In lieu of the above requirements, equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Experience

• 5+ years of legal experience dedicated to practicing employment law (Required)
• Employment law litigation and compliance counseling experience with a large law firm or corporate legal department (Preferred)
• In lieu of the above requirements, experience in a related compliance practice, such as corporate governance or regulatory law, may be considered

Working Environment

Benefits Information

The benefits package aligned to this position is Professional Non-Union. Please click the link below for more details.

Click here for benefits details.