Principal, Employment Counsel (Remote)

Description:

Skillsoft is seeking an experienced Principal Employment Counsel to join our team! In this fast-paced exciting role, the Employment Counsel will work closely with the People Team and business leaders to provide timely, solutions-focused advice on a broad range of employment and employee relations matters, contributing to the overall success and growth of the company.

The successful candidate will serve as a trusted legal partner who can identify risk, exercise sound judgment, and develop practical solutions that support Skillsoft's business objectives and values. This role offers the opportunity to advise a global organization on complex and evolving employment issues, manage international disputes and investigations, develop scalable employment practices, and collaborate across functions and regions.

This role requires a proactive and business-oriented mindset, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication and interpersonal expertise.

Responsibilities:
Employment Advice and Counsel:

• Provide accurate and timely legal advice and counsel to internal clients on a wide range of employment corporate matters, including recruiting, hiring, onboarding and performance management.
• Advise on sensitive and complex employee relations matters, balancing legal risk, employee experience, business objectives, and operational realities.
• Translate complex legal requirements into clear, actionable guidance for People Team professionals, managers, and business leaders.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and develop a deep understanding of Skillsoft's workforce, business priorities, and operating model.

Contract Review and Negotiation:

• Draft, review, and update employment-related documents, including, offer letters and employment agreements; restrictive covenant, confidentiality, and intellectual property agreements, separation agreements and releases; commission, bonus, and incentive plan documents; Performance management and disciplinary documentation; Investigation plans, interview outlines, findings, and remediation documents; employee policies, handbooks, notices, acknowledgments, and consent forms; workforce transition materials.
• Review employment communications for legal risk, clarity, consistency, and alignment with company practices.
• Develop practical templates, playbooks, checklists, and self-service resources for common employment matters.
• Support periodic reviews of employment policies and practices to identify compliance gaps and opportunities for simplification or standardization.

Global Employment Compliance

• Provide employment law counseling across the jurisdictions in which Skillsoft operates, coordinating with local counsel and regional stakeholders as appropriate.
• Monitor developments in global labor and employment laws and advise on changes needed to Skillsoft policies, practices, agreements, and processes.
• Develop and maintain tools that help Skillsoft identify, prioritize, and manage employment-related legal and compliance risk, including support regarding employee training and compliance.

Investigations and Employee Relations

• Advise on and conduct workplace investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, misconduct, conflicts of interest, policy violations, and other sensitive employee matters.
• Work with the People Team to define an appropriate investigation plan, privilege structure, interim measures, documentation approach, findings, remediation, and follow-up.
• Provide clear and balanced recommendations regarding corrective action, remediation, process improvements, and retaliation monitoring.

Dispute Management

• Manage employment litigation, administrative charges, labor proceedings, pre-litigation disputes, demand letters, and settlement negotiations in the United States and internationally.
• Develop case strategy in partnership with internal stakeholders and external counsel, including review of factual records, assessment of exposure, preservation and discovery strategy, and evaluation of settlement options.
• Engage and supervise counsel when as needed.

General Compliance

• Support Skillsoft's Enterprise Compliance Program Which Includes Such Areas as Erm, Esg, and Other Regulatory Compliance.
• Strengthen Compliance Program Infrastructure by Maintaining Policies, Controls, and Documentation that Feed Erm and Audit Committee Oversight, and Partner with Legal Operations to Reduce Key-Person Dependency Across Compliance Readiness.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• 8+ Years of Professional Experience as A Corporate Attorney, Preferably in A Similar Internal Role or With a Reputable Law Firm with A Juris Doctor (j.D.) Degree from An Accredited Law School and Active Membership in The Bar Association.
• Strong Experience and Knowledge of United States Employment Law, with Demonstrated Ability to Advise on Global or Multi-Jurisdictional Employment and Other Regulatory Matters, and Manage Local Counsel.
• Experience Advising on Workplace Investigations, Employee Relations Matters, Employment Disputes, Administrative Proceedings, and Employment Litigation.
• Strong Drafting and Review Experience Involving Employment Agreements, Separation Documents, Policies, Handbooks, Investigation Materials, and Other Employment-Related Documents.
• Experience Advising on And Supporting Corporate Compliance Programs, Including Policy Governance, Risk Assessments, Compliance Training, Internal Controls, Investigations, and Regulatory Compliance Initiatives.
• Familiarity with Enterprise Risk Management (erm), Esg-Related Compliance Considerations, Audit and Compliance Governance Processes, and Partnering with Cross-Functional Teams to Develop Scalable Compliance Frameworks and Controls.
• Demonstrated Ability to Identify Emerging Legal and Regulatory Risks, Develop Practical Compliance Solutions, and Implement Sustainable Processes that Support Business Objectives While Promoting a Culture of Integrity and Accountability.
• Excellent Analytical, Problem-Solving, and Decision-Making Skills, with The Ability to Provide Practical Advice that Aligns Legal Risk Management with Business Objectives.
• Exceptional Written and Verbal Communication Skills, with The Ability to Explain Complex Employment Law Concepts Clearly and Effectively to Non-Legal Stakeholders.
• Skilled at Working Collaboratively with The People Team and Other Cross-Functional Stakeholders, While Also Working Independently, Prioritizing Tasks, and Managing Multiple Matters Simultaneously.
• Ability to Be Agile and Take Initiative, Recognizing Opportunities and Initiating Actions to Develop Practical, Scalable, and Productive Ways to Support the Business.
• Demonstrated Emotional Intelligence, Sound Judgment, and A Collaborative Approach, with The Ability to Navigate Sensitive and High-Stakes Issues Professionally While Maintaining Perspective, Humility, and A Healthy Sense of Humor.
• Thrives in A Fast-Paced, Team-Oriented Environment and Brings a Positive, Pragmatic Mindset, Taking the Work Seriously and Delivering at A High Level without Taking Themselves Too Seriously.

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