Company: Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
Location: Dallas, TX
Overview
The VP Regional Labor & Employment Counsel, Central Region, will oversee and direct the legal counsel, offering advice to senior leadership and human resources regarding employment law and labor relations.
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic legal advice to business leaders and HR professionals regarding matters involving labor and employment, including benefits, collective bargaining agreement requirements, anti-discrimination and leave laws (i.e., Title VII, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, and state law equivalents).
- Assist team leaders with collective bargaining, administration and contract interpretation for the company’s 30+ collective bargaining agreements.
- Advise business leaders regarding union campaigns and union avoidance.
- Advise business leaders regarding grievances, union terminations and matters concerning labor relations.
- Oversee complex investigations by the Employee Relations Team regarding employee complaints in order to provide legal advice and manage risk.
- Partner with outside labor and employment counsel to maintain contract compliance and accomplish labor goals.
- Anticipate issues, estimate risks strategically and identify proactive solutions that will eliminate or mitigate risks.
- Identify and analyze legal issues, draft key documents, present clear recommendations and assure legal compliance.
- Protect the organization’s rights, obligations, privileges and legal interests by providing legal direction and ensuring legal activities meet needs of the organization, including, for example, affirmative action plans, pay equity, etc.
- Perform other job related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree and 10+ years of experience or equivalent education and related experience.
- JD from an accredited law school and licensed to practice law.
- 10+ years of legal practice experience with a law firm and/or in house legal department, including experience in traditional labor matters, collective bargaining negotiations and people management experience.
- Knowledge of the major responsibilities, accountabilities and organization of the legal function or department; ability to provide legal consulting, advice and assistance.
- Experience negotiating with labor unions.
- Knowledge of and ability to interpret and draw accurate conclusions from both legal and factual information.
- Demonstrated sound business ethics and consistently adhering to and promoting these in all business and personal transactions.
- Ability to manage deadlines, organize and prioritize work and work with other functional teams.
- Flexible work schedule and ability to travel as needed.
- Excellent communication skills – written, verbal, persuasion, motivation, facilitation of strong working relationships.
- Knowledge of MS Office Suite and/or software applications related to job functions.
- Excellent interpersonal, customer service, analytical/problem solving, problem management, presentation development, presentation and communications skills.
- Ability to travel overnight, approximately 50%.
