Deputy General Counsel, Labor & Employment

Posted:
2/25/2026, 5:20:30 AM

Location(s):
Illinois, United States

Experience Level(s):
Expert or higher ⋅ Senior

Field(s):
Legal & Compliance

Job Summary

Job Description

The Deputy General Counsel, Labor & Employment is a senior legal leader with enterprise-wide accountability for the company’s global labor and employment legal strategy and staff. This role serves on the Legal Leadership Team and captains the Labor & Employment pillar within the Legal Department. This role also serves as an advisor to executive leadership and HR on complex employment issues with a focus on compliance and risk mitigation. The position will manage the legal labor and employment team charged with developing and implementing scalable policies and providing standardized legal guidance while reinforcing a positive workplace culture. This position is central to both the company’s governance and its people strategy by overseeing all aspects of labor and employment law, including discrimination, wage and hour, workplace investigations, employment litigation, and the legal team’s participation in positive employee relations initiatives.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal and Strategic Counsel: Advise senior leadership on all Labor & Employment law matters, including risk management, compliance, and legal frameworks, organize Legal's participation and advice on basic Human Resource business processes, and design programming and standardized content for internal Legal and enterprise-wide use and education.

Legal Department: Participate as a member of the Legal Department leadership team, leading the Labor & Employment pillar.

Employment Relations: Organize and provide Legal advice on positive employee relations and other employment relations initiatives, including Belonging.  

Policy and Compliance: Develop, implement, update, and enforce enterprise-wide legal and compliance policies related to Labor & Employment and employee relations. 

Assessment and Remediation: Participate with other Legal, Compliance and Human Resource leaders in scoping the assessment and remediation of Labor & Employment and Human Resources control gaps globally, and provide ongoing oversight of new controls.

Internal investigations: Oversee Labor & Employment legal staff's participation in investigations and inquiries relating to workplace issues, such as harassment and discrimination.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution: Participate in managing employment litigation and employee disputes with internal Legal staff responsible for litigation management and participate in the development of litigation and dispute management and avoidance programs. 

Contract Management: Oversee Labor & Employment legal staff's work on employment agreements, severance agreements, non-competition reviews, and other legal documents, including the updating of forms and policies to track legal and regulatory changes.

External Counsel Management: Oversee relationships with external law firms to ensure high-quality and cost-effective legal support. 


 

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education

Juris Doctor granted by an ABA accredited law school.

Certification / Licensure

Member of a state bar in good standing.

Work Experience

  • At least 10 years of dedicated Labor & Employment law experience, including litigation.

  • Experience developing legal strategy and operationalizing legal advice within a corporation.

  • Experience leading Labor & Employment legal function at a global public company.

  • Experience advising and presenting to senior management, executive leadership, and boards and committees.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

  •  Legal expertise: Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local Labor & Employment laws, such as Title VII, the ADA, NLRA, FMLA, and FLSA.

  • Employee relations: Experience in partnering with commercial functions and Employee Relations on positive employee relations initiatives and responses to concerted activity. 

  • Analytical skills: Strong ability to analyze and provide counsel and risk assessment on complex legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational issues.

  • Leadership and management: Demonstrated ability to supervise personnel, manage workflow, and provide leadership, and ability to advise and collaborate with senior management and executive leadership on important Labor & Employment, employee relations, and risk management topics.

  • Communication skills: Exceptional written and oral skills and executive presence.  

Medline Industries, LP, and its subsidiaries, offer a competitive total rewards package, continuing education & training, and tremendous potential with a growing worldwide organization.

The anticipated salary range for this position:

$234,000.00 - $351,000.00 Annual

The actual salary will vary based on applicant’s location, education, experience, skills, and abilities. This role is bonus and/or incentive eligible. Medline will not pay less than the applicable minimum wage or salary threshold.

Our benefit package includes health insurance, life and disability, 401(k) contributions, paid time off, etc., for employees working 30 or more hours per week on average. For a more comprehensive list of our benefits please click here. For roles where employees work less than 30 hours per week, benefits include 401(k) contributions as well as access to the Employee Assistance Program, Employee Resource Groups and the Employee Service Corp.

We’re dedicated to creating a Medline where everyone feels they belong and can grow their career. We strive to do this by seeking diversity in all forms, acting inclusively, and ensuring that people have tools and resources to perform at their best. Explore our Belonging page here.

Medline Industries, LP is an equal opportunity employer. Medline evaluates qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, neurodivergence, protected veteran status, marital or family status, caregiver responsibilities, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.