Sr Counsel, Employment Law

The Sr. Counsel, Employment Law provides support to the Owens Corning businesses and a portion of the Corporate functions. This position acts as a key partner to the Human Resources and Labor Relations team, providing valuable guidance on a wide variety of employment related issues. The Sr. Counsel, Employment Law serves as the first point of contact and is responsible for providing strategic advice to business units and facilities regarding employment laws/regulations to enable the Company’s talent agenda and implement its policies/programs, all while ensuring compliance.

Reports to: Director, Employment Law

Span of Control:  Individual Contributor

Implement a compliance framework and strategy that enables business success

• Continuously builds an intimate knowledge of our Company, including internal structures, business strategies, and goals to ensure that all guidance is provided within an appropriate context
• Builds employment legal expertise internal and external to the Company that supports and anticipates legal challenges, opportunities, and trends
• Communicates legal and compliance issues and strategy to leaders in a timely and effective way and advises business leaders on mitigation strategies
• Inspires teamwork across all functions and business groups to maximize the performance of Owens Corning and the development of people
• Participate in the development of a labor and employment law strategy that ensures compliance with policies and laws across all business units and functions, while enabling quick and effective decisions regarding OC employees.  Execute on this strategy in assigned business units, including:
  • Ensuring ADA, FLSA, EEOC, NLRA, FMLA and ERISA compliance
  • Providing proactive counseling and training that builds capability in business and HR leaders
  • Offer timely advice with enabling alternatives

• Partner with the Director, Ethics Compliance to resolve Helpline Reports and to assist in conducting internal investigations relating to employee conduct.

Act as an independent legal advisor

• Advise and counsel business partners for an entire business segment (or more) on a broad spectrum of employment law issues and projects, including (but not limited to): talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, leaves of absence and accommodations, wage and hour, internal investigations, compensation and benefits, reorganization, privacy, contingent workforce issues, and immigration
• In coordination with the Director, Employment Law, select and manage outside counsel on employment matters and litigation, ensuring they understand and execute on actions needed for OC success. This includes:
  • Conducting factual investigations and witness interviews
  • Overseeing discovery coordination and production,
  • Preparing for and representing the Company at legal proceedings
  • Advising Company management and stakeholders as to the anticipated legal risk and other consequences of instituting, prosecuting and defending lawsuits
  • Negotiating case settlements
• Oversee investigation and response to claims, demand letters, administrative complaints (EEOC, state FEP, and other), audits, and other employment-related inquiries.
• Perform legal research and legal analysis, advise business partners on recommended course of action and risks to Owens Corning.
• Escalate and communicate legal and compliance issues in a timely and effective way

Partner with Human Resources to enable the business strategy and talent agenda, while ensuring employment law compliance

• Act as an advisor for Human Resources on matters related to FMLA, performance management, employee handbooks, background screens, and FLSA matters
• Educate and build capability in our Human Resource partners to handle these issues in a compliant manner
• Determine the best course of action for Owens Corning to manage NLRB charges; manage outside counsel (when engaged) to effectively resolve charges
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders and organize, execute, and manage projects with a team-oriented approach
• Relationship of complete candor and trust with the Human Resources Business Partners
• Responsible for ensuring their business groups avoid legal surprises and that leaders are fully briefed on all relevant legal issues (such as upcoming changes to existing employment laws)
• Enable the Owens Corning performance management and talent agenda through advice that is meaningful, mitigates risk and provides alternatives that allow business objectives to be met

Employment Law Center of Excellence

• Evaluate policies, handbooks, and processes to ensure compliance and educate business partners on appropriate information; maintain best in class templates that increase efficiency

• Draft and review employment-related agreements, advise business partners on executing agreements in a manner that reduces risk to Owens Corning
• Develop and conduct internal training and education presentations and materials
• Maintain a no surprises mindset on outside legal spend. Track spend to budget. 
• Develop a reputation for self and the employment law team as being uniquely skilled at working with partners at all levels and building capability across the organization

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 5 to 10  years of experience working as an employment law attorney in either a law firm/corporate setting

• Juris Doctorate and Bar Membership in at least one state required 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Employment Law Expertise.  Brings employment law expertise to the legal function and can communicate legal challenges to human resources and business leaders. Develops practical solutions to complex employment law matters. Listens carefully and identifies high-risk situations requiring escalation and mitigation.
• Strategic Mindset.  Demonstrates the ability to identify and respond to trends, and to develop sustainable improvements and solutions.  
• Compliance Minded. Demonstrates the ability identify compliance gaps and to challenge at all levels when faced with possible violation of policy or the law.
• Strong Organizational Skills.  Demonstrates the ability to meet deadlines and communicate issues as they arise, with specificity and determine actions necessary for a timely remedy of issues.
• Communication.  Clearly conveys relevant information and ideas. Adjusts approach to capture audience attention and ensures there is an understanding of the message.  Seeks to understand others through active listening.
• Diversity/Cultural Competence.  Understands, communicates with, and effectively interacts with people across the organization. Is self-aware and values the differences in others. Effectively achieves business results working across and with diverse teams.

• Customer Orientation.  Has an external (outside-in) orientation and understanding that all business opportunities start with knowledge of how to create value for a customer.
• Results Oriented.  Energetic, resourceful, with strong service orientation and positive can-do attitude.  Fully committed to the job and to deliver outstanding work.  Never satisfied with status-quo, continually striving for excellence. 
• Change Agent.  Comfortable planning for the future, while managing day-to-day legal matters.  Able to anticipate risks and propose practical plans to mitigate them.  Appreciates impact of the Owens Corning Legal Department and how the department is an integral part of the company’s business strategy.
• Adaptability.  Able to improvise, adapt and overcome when faced with problems. Ability to respond quickly to the demands of the moment. 
• Accountability.  Knows what needs to be done and gets it done.  Willingly takes responsibility for the organization; unafraid of owning the results, actions and decisions of self or organization.
• Learner Mindset.  Committed to continuing education and skill sharpening in employment and labor law.
• Judgment and Decision Making.  Recognizes issues, problems or opportunities and determines whether action is needed. Choose appropriate action by formulating clear decision criteria and evaluates options by considering implications and consequences.  Implements decisions or initiates action within a reasonable time. Escalates and informs as appropriate. 

About Owens Corning  

Owens Corning is a residential and commercial building products leader committed to building a sustainable future through material innovation. Our products provide durable, sustainable, energy-efficient solutions that leverage our unique capabilities and market-leading positions to help our customers win and grow. We are global in scope, human in scale with more than 25,000 employees in 31 countries dedicated to generating value for our customers and shareholders and making a difference in the communities where we work and live. Founded in 1938 and based in Toledo, Ohio, USA, Owens Corning posted 2024 sales of $11.0 billion. For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com. 

Owens Corning is an equal opportunity employer. Except in limited circumstances such as formal apprenticeship programs, Owens Corning does not employ anyone under the age of 18.

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