Lead Labor & Employment Counsel — Strategy & Litigation

Smithfield Foods; Smithfield (VA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 243,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Job summary

Smithfield Foods is seeking an experienced attorney to provide comprehensive labor and employment legal support across the company. The role reports to the Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment and collaborates with the Legal Department and business units to manage risk and ensure compliant operations.

Responsibilities include advising on wage and hour, safety, discrimination, privacy, immigration, and labor relations; conducting investigations; managing litigation; and guiding

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Bar admission to practice in at least one U.S. state.
• Minimum 5+ years of substantive business law experience in a corporate or law firm.

Responsibilities

• Provide labor and employment strategy in collaboration with business leaders and the AGC for Labor and Employment.
• Advise HR and leadership on wage/hour, workplace safety, discrimination, privacy, labor-management relations, and immigration.
• Conduct EEO and ethics investigations and assist with government inquiries.
• Manage all aspects of labor and employment litigation, including risk assessment and case strategy.
• Oversee discovery requests, subpoenas, and information production requirements.
• Manage outside labor and employment counsel, budgets and overall costs.
• Assist in witness preparation for depositions, mediations, and trial conferences.
• Support department planning, budgeting and overall legal strategy.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Education

Juris Doctorate

Job description

Smithfield Foods is seeking an experienced attorney to provide comprehensive labor and employment legal support across the company. The role reports to the Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment and collaborates with the Legal Department and business units to manage risk and ensure compliant operations.

Responsibilities include advising on wage and hour, safety, discrimination, privacy, immigration, and labor relations; conducting investigations; managing litigation; and guiding