Associate Senior Counsel Employment Law

Position Overview

The Associate Senior Counsel - Employment Law serves as a trusted legal advisor providing experienced practical counsel across a broad range of employment law matters. This role partners closely with Human Resources Employee Relations Compliance business leaders and Legal colleagues to support organizational objectives identify and address legal risk and promote compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

The Associate Senior Counsel independently manages assigned employment law matters of moderate to significant complexity applying sound judgment and delivering clear business-focused guidance. This individual collaborates with and escalates higher-risk novel sensitive or precedent-setting matters to more senior employment counsel as appropriate. The role also contributes to team effectiveness through knowledge sharing process improvement cross-functional collaboration and guidance to legal professionals and business partners.

Core Responsibilities

Serve as a legal advisor to Human Resources Employee Relations business leaders and other stakeholders on a broad range of employment law matters.

Provide practical risk-based legal guidance regarding compliance with federal state and local employment laws including the ADA ADEA Title VII FMLA FLSA FCRA and other applicable employment and labor requirements.

Advise on employee relations matters including investigations accommodations leaves of absence discrimination and harassment claims reductions in force discipline terminations and wage and hour issues.

Partner with business and HR leaders on workforce initiatives organizational changes restructurings and employment programs identifying legal considerations and supporting effective implementation.

Develop and execute legal strategy for assigned administrative charges demand letters pre-litigation disputes and employment litigation consulting with more senior employment counsel on higher-risk or precedent-setting matters.

Manage and support responses to claims filed before federal state and local agencies including the EEOC DOL and comparable regulatory bodies.

Manage outside counsel on assigned employment matters overseeing work product aligning external advice with internal strategy and promoting cost-effective representation.

Monitor and assess legislative regulatory and judicial developments affecting employment practices; identify legal risks and recommend practical compliance or mitigation measures.

Draft review and revise employment-related policies procedures guidelines handbooks legal memoranda and communications.

Draft review negotiate and advise on employment-related agreements including arbitration agreements separation and release agreements restrictive covenant agreements retention agreements and executive employment arrangements.

Provide legal guidance regarding restrictive covenants confidentiality obligations employee mobility issues and emerging legal developments affecting post-employment restrictions.

Share knowledge and provide guidance to paralegals junior legal professionals and business partners on employment law matters and effective legal processes.

Participate in and as appropriate lead defined workstreams within cross-functional working groups and enterprise initiatives involving employment law considerations.

Develop and deliver training for Human Resources professionals Employee Relations teams managers and business leaders on employment law developments organizational policies and risk mitigation.

Contribute to Legal department priorities through collaboration knowledge sharing professional engagement and continuous improvement of employment law processes and

Required Qualifications

Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction and in good standing. Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.

Minimum of 8 of legal experience with substantial experience focused on employment law.

Demonstrated experience advising organizations on a broad range of moderately complex to complex employment law matters.

Experience managing or supporting administrative claims employment litigation and outside counsel relationships.

Sound business judgment and the ability to provide practical solution-oriented legal advice in a fast-paced environment.

Excellent written verbal analytical and interpersonal communication skills.

Demonstrated ability to build effective relationships communicate with stakeholders at varying levels work independently within assigned areas recognize when escalation is appropriate and manage competing priorities across multiple matters.

Preferred Qualifications

In-house employment law experience within a large complex highly regulated organization.

Experience supporting national employers operating across multiple jurisdictions.

Experience participating in cross-functional initiatives and supporting employment law compliance programs across a complex organization.

Experience providing guidance coaching or knowledge sharing to legal professionals and business partners.

*This role is Hybrid in office 3 days a week.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

For this position we anticipate offering an annual salary of 157100 - 261800 USD / yearly depending on relevant factors including experience and geographic location.

This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus and long term incentive plan.

At The Cigna Group youll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment youll be offered several health-related benefits including medical vision dental and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k) company paid life insurance tuition reimbursement a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year paid holidays and leaves of absence. For more details on our employee benefits programs click here .

About The Cigna Group

Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group were dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race color age disability sex childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation sexual orientation gender identity or expression veteran or military status religion national origin ancestry marital or familial status genetic information status with regard to public assistance citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process please email for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Iowa Kansas Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Nebraska Ohio Pennsylvania Texas Utah Vermont and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal state and local ordinances.

Required Experience:

Senior IC