Associate General Counsel - Employment

Description:

Ready to help us transform healthcare? Bring your true colors to blue.

The Opportunity:
We are seeking a strategic, business-minded employment law attorney to join our legal team as Associate General Counsel — Employment Law. This is a high-visibility, sole employment law practitioner role serving as the primary legal advisor to Human Resources, senior leadership, and business units on the full spectrum of employment law matters — from day-to-day counseling to enterprise-level risk management.

This is an ideal position for an attorney who wants to operate at the intersection of employment law and healthcare — with the sophistication and resources of a large in-house legal team, the breadth and autonomy of a sole-practitioner seat, and the meaning that comes from supporting a mission-driven company.

Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Employment Law Advisory

• Serve as the primary employment law business partner to HR and Company leadership, delivering proactive, solutions-oriented counsel across the full lifecycle of the employment relationship.
• Advise on complex employee relations issues including workplace investigations, leaves of absence (FMLA, MA PFML), disability accommodations (ADA, MA anti-discrimination law), performance management, discipline, and terminations.
• Counsel on wage and hour compliance (FLSA, MA Wage Act), hiring and recruitment practices, workforce restructurings and reductions-in-force, and organizational change.
• Lead legal support for immigration matters, including employment-based visa sponsorship, green card processes, and I-9 compliance.

Policy, Compliance & Risk Management

• Develop, review, and update employment policies, employee handbooks, and workplace procedures to reflect current law and emerging best practices.
• Assess and audit compliance requirements under federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations; proactively advise HR and leadership on new legal developments and their business impact.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory trends in employment law, including emerging areas such as AI in employment decisions, pay transparency requirements, employee data privacy, and non-compete reform.
• Advise on pay equity compliance, including Massachusetts Equal Pay Act (MEPA) obligations, compensation auditing, and salary transparency best practices.

Inclusion & Belonging

• Partner with HR leadership to ensure employment practices, policies, and programs support the Company's commitment to inclusion and belonging while maintaining full legal compliance.
• Provide guidance on affirmative action obligations, EEO-1 reporting, and government contractor compliance requirements (OFCCP).
• Assess legal risks associated with hiring and screening tools and other HR technologies.

Labor Relations

• Advise on labor relations matters including NLRA compliance, management training, and monitoring of evolving NLRB guidance.
• Provide counsel on the impact of labor developments on employee handbooks, workplace communications, and social media policies.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation Management

• Manage and resolve employment disputes through negotiation, mediation, and other pre-litigation mechanisms; develop cost-effective resolution strategies.
• Represent the Company before administrative agencies including the EEOC, MCAD, and Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.
• Oversee and manage outside counsel in employment-related litigation and administrative proceedings; drive litigation strategy, budgets, and outcomes.
• Track and report on litigation trends, matter spend, and risk exposure to the General Counsel.

Training & Communication

• Design and deliver training programs for managers, HR, and employees on employment law topics including anti-harassment, reasonable accommodations, documentation practices, lawful interviewing, and emerging compliance obligations.
• Translate complex legal principles into practical, actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders across the organization.

Healthcare Industry & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Legal colleagues on employment-related aspects of corporate transactions, vendor agreements, and regulatory matters unique to the healthcare and health insurance industry.
• Advise on employment implications of ERISA-governed benefit plans, health plan operations, and regulatory audits.
• Support compliance efforts related to HIPAA (as it pertains to employee health information), ACA employer mandates, and Massachusetts state health insurance regulations.

Qualifications:
Required:

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active member in good standing of the Massachusetts Bar.
• Eight or more years of progressive employment law experience at a reputable law firm, in-house legal department, or a combination thereof.
• Deep expertise in federal and Massachusetts employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, MEPA, MA Wage Act, MA Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, and affirmative action/OFCCP compliance.
• Demonstrated experience managing employment litigation and representing employers before administrative agencies.
• Proven ability to serve as a trusted, strategic advisor to senior business leaders.
• Excellent written and oral communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Strong business judgment and the ability to contextualize legal risk within business priorities.
• Ability to manage a high volume of matters, prioritize effectively, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred:

• In-house experience at a health plan, health system, insurance company, or other regulated industry.
• Substantive knowledge of ERISA, COBRA, ACA employer provisions, and employee benefits law.
• Experience advising on labor relations (NLRA/NLRB) matters.
• Familiarity with employment-based immigration law (visa and green card sponsorship).
• Experience with AI governance in employment, employee data privacy, and pay equity auditing.
• Background advising on workforce integration during M&A transactions, divestitures, or organizational restructurings.
• Experience managing outside counsel relationships, budgets, and legal operations

This position is eligible for the Flex persona.

Minimum Education Requirements:
High school degree or equivalent required unless otherwise noted above

Location:

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