Strategic Corporate Employment Counsel – Chicago

NewCold; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 145,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

NewCold is seeking a dynamic Corporate Employment Counsel to join our North American legal team in Chicago, IL. You will partner with executive leadership and HR to deliver practical legal guidance across employment, safety, contracts, and corporate matters in a fast‑growing, global organization.

You will handle M&A support, financing matters, and risk management while helping scale operations for North America.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial awareness aligned with business goals and operations.
• Proactive, self-starting mindset with end-to-end ownership of matters.
• Clear and confident communicator translating legal concepts for non-legal stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Internal client-focused with a track record of timely, actionable guidance.
• Attention to detail with the ability to simplify and negotiate contractual terms.
• 5–7 years of post-JD legal experience, ideally in both in-house and law firm settings.
• Hands-on experience advising on labor and employment issues, with OSHA exposure.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to North American leadership and operations.
• Partner with HR on employment matters including hiring, wage/hour compliance, terminations, leaves, and investigations.
• Lead workplace safety legal matters, OSHA compliance, incident response, and regulator interactions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad portfolio of commercial contracts and vendor agreements.
• Support corporate M&A activities from due diligence to closing and post‑closing integration.
• Assist in financing, including structuring and documenting facilities and related incentives.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Ownership mentality

Effective communication

Project management

Client-service orientation

Attention to detail

Labor & employment experience

Workplace safety/OSHA exposure

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

NewCold is seeking a dynamic Corporate Employment Counsel to join our North American legal team in Chicago, IL. You will partner with executive leadership and HR to deliver practical legal guidance across employment, safety, contracts, and corporate matters in a fast‑growing, global organization.

You will handle M&A support, financing matters, and risk management while helping scale operations for North America.