Corporate Employment Counsel (Director of ER)

Canon has an immediate need for a Director, Employee Relations. This role will be based in Manhattan at our corporate headquarters. We are seeking a results-oriented individual with 10+ years of experience. You must have multi-state experience including the state of California.

Candidates must be credentialed to practice law in the State of New York or one with a reciprocity arrangement.

This is a Hybrid role. You will be required to be in our NYC office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

OVERVIEW

Responsible for ensuring global employee relations practices within the organization. This individual keeps abreast of employment laws & recommends changes to existing employment policies to make certain the organization remains compliant.

In addition, this individual directs the organization’s diversity, employee reward & recognition & Environmental, Health & Safety programs. Participates in special projects as needed.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Liaison and counsel to Senior Management team on Human Resources and other business matters
• Develops, implements and advises on disciplinary matters across all departments
• Partners with HR staff of applicable International Operating Companies to ensure consistent employee relations policies throughout global operations.
• Directs employee communication strategy through oversight of distribution of employee newsletter & other HR communications
• Serves as Injury and Illness Prevention Program Administrator and participates on global EHS council
• Researches best practices in employee recognition and suggests enhancements to existing recognition programs and monitors and reports effectiveness of programs on employee retention
• Directs or conducts investigations regarding violations of Company policies & responds to complaints made to employee hotline
• Participates on Company’s “Green Committee”
• Partners with Legal Department on employment law related issues
• As co-chair of Company’s Diversity Council, leads and directs Company’s diversity initiatives
• Consults with Senior Management on all significant employee relations developments and issues
• Partners with the training and recruiting teams to ensure training and development and recruiting practices reflect corporate policies and human resource objectives
• Assists in the development and analysis of reports that measure human resource effectiveness
• Provides employee relations counseling and advice to business partners throughout organization
• Reduces legal risks by tracking workplace issues, ensuring appropriate investigation and resolution, analyzing trends, and recommending or implementing programs to prevent workplace issues
• Represents Company’s response to charges of discrimination and identifies trends in workplace issues and recommends civil rights/EEO related charges
• Conducts audits of areas with a high number of employee relations incidents
• Develops offer letters with recruiting and review for legal compliance
• Reviews Exit Interview Forms and analyze data for retention recommendations
• Reviews global employee policies and procedures in employee handbooks and recommend enhancements
• Ability to travel as required, locally and nationally; 10-20%.
• No physical requirements
• Mental qualifications include ability to ensure all employees are satisfied within organization

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To be eligible for this position, the applicant must meet the minimum qualifications. Deviations to this requirement must be approved by the Chief Human Resources Officer

• 10+ years employee relations experience
• 5+ years legal background
• Advanced report writing skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Word & Excel and Presentation Software
• Excellent relationship management skills
• Ability to deal with high stress situations
• Ability to maintain high levels of confidentiality
• Excellent customer service and problem solving skills
• Strong interpersonal, analytical and communication skills
• Effective organization and planning skills
• Strong conflict resolution skills with the ability to make effective decisions & achieve desirable results
• Advanced knowledge of the EEO laws and guidelines
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Knowledge of the principles of HR management and labor relations
• Excellent presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent leadership skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

EDUCATION Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school with an emphasis on Employee or Labor Relations and admission to the NY, NJ, or CT State Bar Association.

What We Offer:

An opportunity to join an established team and be part of a successful and proven global organization!

A competitive compensation program!

Large Company Benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision/401k with a competitive company match!

Employee discounts on Canon products and vendor discount programs for Canon employees!

World-class Training and Career Development Programs!

This role will report to the Chief Human Resources Officer for 4-6 months but will report into the General Counsel's office in early 2027.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to these positions. They set the minimum requirements, responsibilities, and skills required of the position; they are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.