Associate General Counsel, Employment

This is an incredible opportunity for someone to join a fast-paced and highly innovative global consumer products company with a very well-regarded business-minded legal team. The Associate General Counsel, Employment will advise the Company on all aspects of employment law consistent with company policies and risk tolerance. This position will primarily be responsible for employment law advice and counseling, management of employment agreements and policies, and assistance with employment litigation with some opportunity for other special projects for the Company as well as other matters as assigned by the Chief Legal Officer.  SharkNinja’s legal department encourages its associates to grow and be willing to take on work outside their specific area and gain experience both cross-functionally within the legal team and beyond. This position will report to the Senior Vice President, Senior Associate General Counsel, Global Litigation & Compliance, as well as a dotted reporting line to the Chief Legal Officer, and will be business minded and an excellent employment attorney.  

We are a legal team of business drivers. You will learn many facets of the business working on a wide range of domestic and global agreements that could span across products, technology, supply chain, IT, marketing/sales, distribution, and various commercial relationships.   The legal team is comprised of business minded attorneys that cultivate their skills to lead many business initiatives and outcomes throughout the organization. We are a department that enjoys working closely together, with a strong internal reputation, which has fun rolling up our sleeves to deliver the best consumer experience. The ideal candidate is someone that is CURIOUS, enjoys driving a contract to exceed a business outcome, and wants to elevate their “legal agility” to work with a fun highly innovative, fast paced and truly passionate business minded team.

Responsibilities: 

• Provide day-to-day advice and counseling to assigned business clients, both domestically and globally, on a range of human resources topics such as workplace investigations, org design, compensation and benefits, leaves of absence and accommodation of disabilities, performance management and discipline, terminations, wage and hour, hiring and recruitment, and workforce restructuring.
• Establish and nurture good working relationships with internal clients and leaders, based on mutual trust and respect, as well as knowledge of the company’s business, needs and goals.   
• Draft, negotiate and finalize a range of domestic and foreign employment agreements including letters, stock grants, bonus awards, severance agreements, and benefits-related agreements.
• Provide practical and strategic legal counsel to HR professionals and senior management on US and global employment law-related matters, including compliance with federal, state and local employment laws, accommodations and disability and leave related matters, compensation plans, whistleblower requirements, restrictive covenant protections, employment issues associated with corporate reorganizations, acquisitions and divestitures, diversity equity and inclusion practices, ERISA and benefits law and wage and hour compliance
• Advise Employee Relations team and other HR professionals on sensitive employment matters such as discipline and terminations, investigation of internal complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and employee disability issues, leaves and accommodation requests
• Advise regarding pay practices and compensation plans, including drafting of commission plans and deferred compensation arrangements
• Oversee employment litigation in federal and state courts, arbitration tribunals and administrative agencies, including assigning and managing outside counsel, managing budgets and reserves, recommending strategy for defense, overseeing litigation hold process and document collection, participating in mediations, and recommending settlement strategy
• Develop and manage employment-related company policies.
• Oversee company training to ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations.
• Apply practical knowledge of international public companies and related international entities as they relate to employment issues and company operations.
• Ability to pivot quickly with the business needs and be extremely responsive to clients and senior leadership. 

Requirements: 

• Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from an accredited law school. 
• Must be an active licensed attorney in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or be able to waive in under corporate in-house exception. 
• Minimum of 12-15 years’ experience practicing in all aspects of employment law. 
• Excellent written, oral, listening, and organizational skills with proven ability to interact effectively with varied audiences, including executive team members. 
• Excellent communication, negotiation skills, and executive level presentation skills. 
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritize and manage workload, manage simultaneous tasks, and meet deadlines within a changing fast-paced environment. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence with the ability to stand firm on issues with business clients when necessary. 
• Collaborative team player. 
• A high degree of self-sufficiency, ability to operate with minimal supervision, independent judgment, and business appreciation all with a view to managing risk in the most cost-effective manner. 
• Superior legal and analytical skills – excellent judgment and initiative in selecting the most effective solutions and possess a business-oriented approach to problem solving. 
• Strong business acumen including the ability to think like a businessperson and integrate legal and business issues, to partner effectively with business leaders.   
• Business-oriented approach to problem solving, tempered by an appreciation for legal complexity and risk. 
• Detail-oriented and resourceful with excellent follow-through skills. 
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and to meet tight deadlines.
• Collaborative, business minded, and team orientated promoting innovation and motivation throughout the team. 
• “Roll up the sleeves” mind set. 
• Practical knowledge of international public companies and related international entities as they relate to employment agreements and company operations.
• Experience practicing law in the legal department of a consumer goods company is highly desirable.