Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment

CONTEXt OF THE JOB:

The University of Delaware Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) Labor and Employment attorney provides subject matter expertise in advising and representing the University in all aspects of labor and employment-related matters. Reporting into the Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel must be able to prioritize multiple competing priorities and communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. Experience working in an in-house environment, especially within higher education, will be strongly considered. The Associate General Counsel will be expected to handle matters and transactions from beginning to end with minimal supervision and input from the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, participate in team-wide process improvement initiatives, and provide advice and guidance on complex legal matters to the University leadership and departments.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide practical, risk-based guidance on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including leave entitlements, workplace accommodations, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, recruiting, hiring, tenure, immigration, and wage and hour issues.
• Counsel HR and management on discipline, performance management, investigations, and employee separations, including collective bargaining procedures where applicable.
• Advise on restructurings and operational changes, including bargaining and notice obligations.
• Represent or manage employment and labor matters before agencies, such as the EEOC, DDOL, DOL, OSHA, NLRB, and state and federal courts.
• Oversee responses to administrative charges, subpoenas, and agency investigations involving both labor and employment claims.
• Serve as a legal advisor on labor relations issues, including collective bargaining strategy, contract interpretation, and labor management relations.
• Advise management on CBA interpretation.
• Support management during CBA negotiations, including preparation of proposals, analysis of counterproposals, and risk assessment, as well as during CBA implementation.
• Represent management in or oversee arbitrations and unfair labor practice matters, including preparation of cases and/or coordination with outside counsel as needed.
• Counsel on union organizing activity.
• Draft and update employment policies, labor-related procedures, and management guidance applicable to unionized and non-unionized employees.
• Stay abreast of legal and