Associate General Counsel

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 213,000 - 261,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is seeking an Associate General Counsel — Employment Law in Boston, MA. You will serve as the primary employment-law advisor to HR, senior leadership, and business units, handling day-to-day counseling and enterprise risk management.

This in-house role operates at the intersection of employment law and healthcare, offering autonomy and meaningful impact within a mission-driven organization. Strong leadership and strategic advisory skills are essential.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school.
• Active member in good standing of the Massachusetts Bar.
• Eight or more years of progressive employment law experience.
• Deep expertise in federal and Massachusetts employment laws.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic employment law advice to HR and senior leadership across the employment life cycle.
• Lead complex employee relations issues, investigations, and performance matters.
• Oversee wage/hour, leaves, and compliance with MEPA, FLSA, and state laws.
• Manage employment disputes and supervise outside counsel when needed.
• Advise on policy development, training, and risk management in a healthcare context.

Skills

Strategic advisory

Litigation management

Policy development

Negotiation

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Massachusetts Bar in good standing

Job 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

Boston

Time Type

Full time

Salary Range: $213,390.00 - $260,810.00

The job posting range is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, and business or organizational needs and affordability.

This job is also eligible for variable pay.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and a suite of well-being benefits to eligible employees.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company’s sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

WHY Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA?

We understand that confidence gap and imposter syndrome can prevent amazing candidates coming our way.

We might be just what we need for this role or possibly another one at Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be brilliant. We encourage you to bring us your true colors, , your perspectives, and your experiences. It’s in our differences that we will remain relentless in our pursuit to transform healthcare for ALL.

As an employer, we are committed to investing in your development and providing the necessary resources to enable your success. Learn how we are dedicated to creating an inclusive and rewarding workplace that promotes excellence and provides opportunities for employees to forge their unique career path by visiting our Company Culture page.

At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, we believe in wellness and that work/life balance is a key part of associate wellbeing. For more information on how we work and support that work/life balance visit our How We Work Page.