Associate General Counsel - Employment

Society Overview

The American Chemical Society's vision is to improve all people's lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Nearly 150 years after its founding, the Society remains a champion for science, scientific advancement, and scientists in a global community of members and customers. ACS Publications produces over 80 peer-reviewed journals, which are ranked the "most-trusted, most-cited and most-read" journals in chemistry. The ACS Chemical Abstract Service is a leader in scientific information solutions for innovators around the world to accelerate scientific breakthroughs. ACS Society Programs brings broad networks of scientists together to create connections, foster a passion for science, and create opportunity among its more than 220,000 members worldwide in a way no other professional organization can match.

Office of General Counsel

The ACS Office of General Counsel takes great pride in building strategic partnerships with the business to advance the ACS mission. We focus on opportunities to engage meaningfully with global operations and programs leaders and on being integral contributors to the business. We value teammates who are curious about new challenges and opportunities, creative in their problem solving, committed to excellence, and kind.

Overall Function

The Associate General Counsel - Employment will provide advice and counsel to ACS and its affiliates in the United States and around the world on a wide range of employment and labor matters, including employment law compliance, talent acquisition and management, hiring, performance reviews, discipline, separations, severance, compensation and benefits, employee relation issues, reductions in force, labor law compliance, worker classification, restructuring, restrictive covenants, workplace investigations, leave requests, accommodation requests, and background checks. You will assist in the development, management, and continuous improvement of global employment policies and practices. Reporting to ACS' General Counsel, you will also work very closely with HR and business leadership. Success in this role requires the ability to thrive in a complex, challenging environment and a commitment to building strong, trusting relationships across the organization and developing practices on a global scale. The ideal candidate will be drawn to the opportunity to create and mature a strategic function that is a sought-after, highly-engaged resource trusted to advance ACS's reputation and success.

Key Responsibilities

• As a member of the Office of General Counsel's team, we all share a responsibility for:




• Upholding and advancing ACS' core values and acting in alignment with its commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) across its mission and operations;
• Operating from a position of trust in one another's professional skills, assuming common purpose and good intentions, and consistently demonstrating kindness; and
• Succeeding together.

• As an individual contributor and team member, this role will:
  
  
  
  • Provide global labor and employment advice and counseling;
    
    
    
    • Serve as the subject-matter expert with a global mindset in order to provide practical and strategy-focused advice
    • Partner with cross-functional teams, including HR, to provide strategic, goal-oriented, employment-related guidance for successful execution of organization initiatives
    • Identify, assess and recommend risk mitigations to address labor and employment concerns
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

• Advise on global mobility matters, including risks associated with tax, social security, permanent establishment, direct employment, etc.

• Proactively advise the organization on local, regional, and global labor and employment matters
• Anticipate labor and employment-related legal needs, where possible, and partner closely with HR and other business partners to ensure compliance
• Develop a deep understanding of the global workforce and the strategy and work of the business including HR
• Partner with the HR team on developing effective and compliant employment-related policies and practices
• Effectively work with domestic and multinational outside legal counsel, as necessary, to achieve operational efficiency and cultural goals while complying with applicable law
• Review and update employment-related documents, such as employment agreements and related policies and procedures for alignment with local, regional, and global law and organizational values and strategic objectives
• Coach HR professionals and managers on how to manage people in accordance with applicable laws and company policies

• Advise on HR and ethics policies and assist in workplace investigations where necessary

• Provide counsel on benefit programs and compensation structures

• Review and support disciplinary actions, restructuring initiatives, and terminations

• Develop and deliver trainings for organization, including executives, management and HR stakeholders to maintain compliance
• Manage guidance and support to HR on local employee relations topics, leave requests, claims and mitigation opportunities

• Oversee and assist with employment-related regulatory, administrative and litigation and arbitration matters; and
  
  
  
  • Manage organization's responses to pre-action demands
  • Assist in developing the strategy to respond to certain charges, claims and demands
  • Effectively work with outside counsel, as necessary, in organization's defense
  
  
  
  
• Support the General Counsel on other matters for the organization and its global affiliates.

Qualifications

• JD from accredited law school; Active and in good standing with at least one state bar.
• Minimum 10 years of experience with multinational organizations or law firms, with significant nonprofit experience being a major plus;
• Substantial relevant subject matter experience required in the following:
  
  
  
  • US employment requirements set forth in federal, state, and local rules, regulations and laws, including FMLA, ADA, ADEA, Title VII, CFRA FCRA, DCHRA, and FEHA;
  • US labor requirements set forth in federal, states, and local rules, regulations and laws, including FLSA and NLRA;
  • US benefits-related requirements set forth in federal, state, and local rules, regulations and laws, including ERISA;
  • High-level understanding of the labor, employment and benefits-related risks and issues that are common in various global regions, including the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific;
  • Workplace standards, regulatory compliance, contracts, separation and administrative proceedings and litigation; employment-related immigration requirements; and
  • Navigating, understanding and applying global workforce standards and labor and employment laws.
  
  
  
  
• Strong issue spotting, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to distill complex issues, communicate complex concepts in a straightforward manner, and advise internal business clients with practical solutions.
• Ability to make sound risk and business judgment calls
• Demonstrated ability to work cross functionally and effectively in a fast paced, professional team environment.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse disciplines, cultures and backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills, including ability to distill complex issues and strategically advise internal business clients with practical solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and sometimes competing priorities.
• Optimism, patience, and a sense of humor are welcomed.

DC-based: This role is based in our Washington, D.C. office. A reasonable rate of compensation for this position is between $189,000 and $225,000 per year.

ACS currently provides the following benefits for this position: paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, paid holidays, health insurance, flexible spending account or health care savings account, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, retirement benefits, short- and long-term disability, and 4-week work from anywhere; each benefit is subject to the terms of the applicable program. Additional benefits may apply based on skills, experience, and location.

Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of ACS. ACS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.