Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE The Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment serves as a labor and employment lawyer and serves as a strategic advisor to Human Resources and business leadership across the enterprise. Reporting directly to the General Counsel, this role provides practical, business-focused legal counsel on a broad spectrum of labor and employment matters, including employee relations, workplace investigations, employment litigation, labor relations, wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, accommodations, policy development, workforce restructuring, and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will partner closely with Human Resources, Operations, and executive leadership to proactively identify and mitigate employment-related risks, develop compliant and scalable employment practices, manage employment disputes and litigation, and support the Company's talent and business objectives. This role requires a strategic thinker who can balance legal risk with practical business solutions in a fast-paced, multi-state manufacturing environment. WHAT YOU’LL DO Employment Law Counseling & Business Partnership • Serve as a labor and employment legal advisor to Human Resources, business leaders, and executive leadership. • Provide proactive legal counsel regarding employee relations issues, disciplinary actions, performance management, reductions in force, restructurings, terminations, restrictive covenants, workplace accommodations, leave administration, and other employment matters. • Partner with Human Resources to develop legally compliant and business-focused solutions to workforce challenges. • Advise management on legal risks associated with employment decisions and recommend practical mitigation strategies. • Support organizational transformation initiatives, workforce planning, plant consolidations and closures, acquisitions, divestitures, and integration activities. • Participate in strategic business discussions and provide employment law risk assessments and recommendations. Employment Litigation & Dispute Management • Lead the management of employment litigation, arbitrations, agency charges, and pre-litigation disputes. • Oversee matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, leave and accommodation disputes, and other employment-related claims. • Conduct early case assessments and develop litigation and resolution strategies. • Manage outside counsel and ensure legal matters are handled efficiently, strategically, and within budget. • Oversee mediation preparation, witness preparation, litigation holds, discovery coordination, and settlement negotiations. • Provide regular reporting to the General Counsel and executive leadership regarding litigation trends, exposure, and significant developments . Labor Relations • Advise the Company on labor relations issues, including union organizing activity, collective bargaining negotiations, grievance management, unfair labor practice charges, and labor arbitrations. • Partner with Human Resources and Operations leaders to develop proactive labor strategies and maintain positive employee relations. • Provide guidance regarding compliance with the National Labor Relations Act and related labor regulations. • Support management teams during collective bargaining negotiations and labor-related disputes. Investigations & Employee Relations • Oversee and conduct, where appropriate, sensitive workplace investigations involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ethics concerns, workplace misconduct, and other employee issues. • Advise Human Resources and business leaders regarding appropriate investigation protocols and corrective actions. • Ensure investigations are conducted consistently, fairly, and in compliance with applicable laws and Company policies. • Identify recurring employee relations trends and recommend preventive measures and policy enhancements. Employment Compliance & Policy Development • Monitor federal, state, and local employment law developments and assess potential business impact. • Draft, review, and update employment policies, employee handbook provisions, workplace procedures, and employment-related agreements. • Provide legal guidance regarding compliance with federal, state and local employment laws and regulations. • Develop and deliver employment law training programs for Human Resources professionals, managers, and leadership teams. • Partner with Compliance, EHS, and audit teams on employment-related compliance initiatives. Risk Management & Legal Operations • Monitor and analyze employment litigation and employee relations trends to identify emerging legal risks. • Support budgeting, reserve reporting, and management of employment-related legal spend. • Evaluate outside counsel performance and oversee outside counsel relationships. • Develop and implement processes that improve consistency, efficiency, and compliance in employment law support across the enterprise. • Promote best practices in documentation, investigations, employee relations, and employment decision-making . WHAT YOU’LL NEED • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school • Licensed to practice law and in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction • 12+ years of labor and employment law experience, including significant experience advising employers on complex employment matters. • Experience in manufacturing, industrial products, or construction/building materials industry preferred • Substantial experience managing employment litigation, including class and collective actions, administrative agency charges, and workplace investigations. • Demonstrated expertise in federal and state employment laws and regulations. • Experience serving as a trusted legal advisor directly to executives, senior Human Resources leadership and business leadership. • Strong experience managing outside counsel and legal budgets. • Ability to balance legal risk with practical business objectives and operational realities. • Exceptional analytical, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. • Proven ability to influence decision-making across all levels of an organization. • Substantial labor relations experience, including NLRB proceedings, collective bargaining, and labor arbitrations. LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES: • Cornerstone Building Brands (CBB) Values and Behaviors & Mindsets – Act consistently with CBB’s Values (Safety, Integrity, & Inclusion) and Behaviors & Mindsets (Customer-Centricity, Interconnectedness, Continuous Improvement). • Communication - Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical business guidance • Delivers Results – Prioritizes achieving outcomes without compromising values • Influences with Impact – Clearly communicates with confidence to drive action and build enthusiasm • Raises the Bar – Inspires growth by challenging limits and pursuing excellence • Knows the Business – Exhibits strong business judgment, understands priorities, and acts decisively • Manages Courageously – Adapts to change and effectively resolves conflict • Resiliency – Rebounding from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. The US base salary range for this full-time position is $200k - $240k base salary + bonus + medical, dental, vision benefits starting day 1 + 401k and PTO. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. (Full-time is defined as regularly working 30+ hours per week.) Why work for Cornerstone Building Brands? Our teams are at the heart of our purpose to positively contribute to the communities where we live, work and play . Full-time* team members receive** medical, dental and vision benefits starting day 1. Other benefits include PTO, paid holidays, FSA, life insurance, LTD, STD, 401k, EAP, discount programs, tuition reimbursement, training, and professional development. *Full-time is defined as regularly working 30+ hours per week. **Union programs may vary depending on the collective bargaining agreement. Cornerstone Building Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, or status as a protected veteran. You can find the Equal Employment Opportunity Poster here . You can also view Your Right to Work Poster here along with This Organizations Participation in E-Verify Poster here . If you'd like to view a copy of the company's affirmative action plan for protected veterans or individuals with disabilities or policy statement, please contact Human Resources at 281-897-7788 or HRCompliance@cornerstone-bb.com. If you have a disability and you believe that you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please contact Human Resources at 281-897-7788 or HRCompliance@cornerstone-bb.com. This email is used exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only emails received for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018 Must be at least 18 years of age to apply. Note to External Recruiters Cornerstone Building Brands does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not pay fees for any candidate submissions that were not expressly authorized. Notice of Recruitment Fraud We have been made aware of multiple scams whereby unauthorized individuals are using Cornerstone Building Brand's name and logo to solicit potential job-seekers for employment. In some cases, job-seekers are being contacted directly, both by phone and e-mail. In other instances, these unauthorized individuals are placing advertisements for fake positions with both legitimate websites and fabricated ones. These individuals are typically promising high-paying jobs with the requirement that the job-seeker send money to pay for things such as visa applications or processing fees. Please be advised that Cornerstone Building Brands will never ask potential job-seekers for any sort of advance payment or bank account information as part of the recruiting or hiring process. Why work for Cornerstone Building Brands? Our teams are at the heart of our purpose to positively contribute to the communities where we live, work and play . Full-time* team members receive** medical, dental and vision benefits starting day 1. Other benefits include PTO, paid holidays, FSA, life insurance, LTD, STD, 401k, EAP, discount programs, tuition reimbursement, training, and professional development. *Full-time is defined as regularly working 30+ hours per week. **Union programs may vary depending on the collective bargaining agreement. Cornerstone Building Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, or status as a protected veteran. You can find the Equal Employment Opportunity Poster here . You can also view Your Right to Work Poster here along with This Organizations Participation in E-Verify Poster here . If you'd like to view a copy of the company's affirmative action plan for protected veterans or individuals with disabilities or policy statement, please contact Human Resources at 281-897-7788 or HRCompliance@cornerstone-bb.com. If you have a disability and you believe that you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please contact Human Resources at 281-897-7788 or HRCompliance@cornerstone-bb.com. This email is used exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only emails received for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018 Must be at least 18 years of age to apply. Note to External Recruiters Cornerstone Building Brands does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not pay fees for any candidate submissions that were not expressly authorized. Notice of Recruitment Fraud We have been made aware of multiple scams whereby unauthorized individuals are using Cornerstone Building Brand's name and logo to solicit potential job-seekers for employment. In some cases, job-seekers are being contacted directly, both by phone and e-mail. In other instances, these unauthorized individuals are placing advertisements for fake positions with both legitimate websites and fabricated ones. These individuals are typically promising high-paying jobs with the requirement that the job-seeker send money to pay for things such as visa applications or processing fees. Please be advised that Cornerstone Building Brands will never ask potential job-seekers for any sort of advance payment or bank account information as part of the recruiting or hiring process.

Requirements

Must-haves

Employment Law Counseling & Business Partnership
Serve as a labor and employment legal advisor to Human Resources, business leaders, and executive leadership.
Partner with Human Resources to develop legally compliant and business-focused solutions to workforce challenges.
Advise management on legal risks associated with employment decisions and recommend practical mitigation strategies.
Support organizational transformation initiatives, workforce planning, plant consolidations and closures, acquisitions, divestitures, and integration activities.
Participate in strategic business discussions and provide employment law risk assessments and recommendations.
Employment Litigation & Dispute Management
Lead the management of employment litigation, arbitrations, agency charges, and pre-litigation disputes.
Oversee matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, leave and accommodation disputes, and other employment-related claims.
Conduct early case assessments and develop litigation and resolution strategies.
Manage outside counsel and ensure legal matters are handled efficiently, strategically, and within budget.
Oversee mediation preparation, witness preparation, litigation holds, discovery coordination, and settlement negotiations.
Provide regular reporting to the General Counsel and executive leadership regarding litigation trends, exposure, and significant developments .
Labor Relations
Advise the Company on labor relations issues, including union organizing activity, collective bargaining negotiations, grievance management, unfair labor practice charges, and labor arbitrations.
Partner with Human Resources and Operations leaders to develop proactive labor strategies and maintain positive employee relations.
Provide guidance regarding compliance with the National Labor Relations Act and related labor regulations.
Support management teams during collective bargaining negotiations and labor-related disputes.
Investigations & Employee Relations
Oversee and conduct, where appropriate, sensitive workplace investigations involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ethics concerns, workplace misconduct, and other employee issues.
Advise Human Resources and business leaders regarding appropriate investigation protocols and corrective actions.
Ensure investigations are conducted consistently, fairly, and in compliance with applicable laws and Company policies.
Identify recurring employee relations trends and recommend preventive measures and policy enhancements.

Nice-to-haves

Experience in manufacturing, industrial products, or construction/building materials industry preferred

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

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Effort: medium

Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Dental

Vision

401k

Pto

Professional Development