Reference Number: 1920
Department: Law
Closing Date: 09/11/2024
If you wish to solicit an employee referral for this position, please ensure the employee submits the referral prior to submitting your application.
Description
The Sr Counsel Labor & Employment (L&E) will be the lead attorney for system-wide legal services related to all L&E issues. This position requires extensive legal knowledge, training and experience in Employment law. Responsibilities include defending clients on all employment matters, labor relations issues and consultation to internal customers including Human Resources and Labor Relations. This position has responsibility for directing and coordinating the response to all government inquiries from the EEOC, OFCCP, DOL and other state agencies, as well as managing a litigation docket of employment cases and government charges. This position also has oversight of the Safety reporting team and provides day to day counseling on safety compliance issues especially those with the FRA. Finally, this position will serve as the internal legal contact for Labor Relations and Executives in the national labor negotiation process.
Accountabilities
- Lead and coordinate legal team to defend Union Pacific on all labor, employment and safety issues
- Provide counsel and advice to a number of internal stakeholders on employment issues including HR Business Partners, Health and Medical, Talent Acquisition, DE&I and Compliance
- Internal expert on all state and federal laws pertaining to a large employer, such as FMLA, ADEA, Title VII, ADA, USERRA, EO 11246, and corresponding state laws
- Oversight and preparation of UP's responses to state and federal employment discrimination charges and inquiries
- Manage litigated L&E matters
- Oversight of Safety reporting team and provide day to day counseling on safety issues
- Lead attorney for CHRO and Workforce Resources on employment matters
- Conduct confidential reviews of employee related matters including compensation, ratings and other workforce changes
- Identify areas of risk for the company through collaboration with corporate audit and corporate investigations
- Provide consultation and expertise on all collective bargaining negotiations
Qualifications - Required
- A Juris Doctor degree
- Admitted to practice law in one or more states in the United States. The successful candidate will be expected to promptly register as in-house counsel with the Nebraska State Bar, or, in the alternative, obtain a license to practice law with the state of Nebraska
- 10 or more years of work experience
- 5 or more years of experience in Employment law.
Qualifications - Preferred
- 5 or more years of experience in Labor law.
Physical and Mental Job Requirements
Work Conditions
What we offer:
- A strengths-based, engagement-focused, and performance-oriented culture
- A flexible, casual and hybrid work environment that allows you to work on-site and from home. (as the job allows)
- Ongoing learning, development, and Educational Assistance (including little to no out-of-pocket cost for online and in-person courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha)
- 401(k) with 100% match up to 6%, plus additional automatic 3% (contribute 6% and UP will contribute 9% [6% + 3%])
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 40% match up to 5% (contribute 5% and UP will contribute 2%)
- Medical, dental and vision insurance, company-paid disability, life, and AD&D insurance
- Health Savings Account (with company contribution) Dependent Care Savings Account and Transportation Spending Account
- On-site cafeteria (with employee discount), fitness center (free to employees), federal credit union, all in Union Pacific Center headquarters building in Omaha, Nebraska
- Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs
- Adoption/Surrogacy Assistance, paid Maternity and Parental Leave along with nearby state-of-the-art child development center
- Competitive compensation including eligibility for annual merit, bonus, and equity programs dependent on job level and personal and company performance