Employment Counsel

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025! The Employment Counsel will provide legal guidance and strategic support on employment law matters, including investigations, litigation, compliance, and workforce initiatives across the organization. With limited supervision, you will manage a diverse portfolio of employment law issues, assess legal risk, develop resolution strategies, oversee outside counsel, and partner closely with HR and business leaders to ensure consistent, compliant employment practices and mitigate organizational risk.

Location: Plymouth, MN - Hybrid

Your Responsibilities:

• Legal Operations, Technology & System Administration, Data Management
• Employee Relations Leadership – provide strategic counsel to HR and business leaders on performance management, discipline, accommodations, leave matters, and other sensitive employee‑relation issues; conduct and oversee workplace investigations with appropriate escalation, documentation, and risk evaluation
• Litigation and High‑Risk Matter Oversight – Manage employment litigation, administrative agency matters, and pre‑litigation disputes; manage outside counsel; develop settlement strategies; and guide escalation for issues with significant legal or business impact
• Risk Insights and Analytics – Assess employment law risk, identify trends in employee relations matters, and deliver proactive mitigation strategies; develop and analyze metrics on claims, investigations, and litigation to inform risk, resourcing and policy decisions
• Compliance and Documentation Management – Monitor changes in employment and related regulatory requirements (including wage/hour, leave, accommodations, and immigration compliance where applicable) and ensure timely updates to policies, practices, and documents to maintain organizational compliance
• Workforce Strategy Support - Partner with HR and leadership on restructurings, RIFs, and organizational changes, ensuring legally compliant processes and consistent application of employment practices
• Training and Preventive Compliance – Design and deliver targeted training programs for HR and business leaders on key employment law topics (e.g., investigations, accommodations, performance management, and risk mitigation); evaluate training effectiveness and adjust based on trends, claims, and investigation data
• Policy Development and Standardization – Develop, harmonize, and implement employment policies, procedures, and templates across business units and entities to ensure consistency, scalability, and legal compliance
• Investigations Governance – Establish and maintain investigation protocols, documentation standards, escalation frameworks, and quality controls to ensure consistent, defensible handling of employee relations matters
• Outside Counsel and Legal Operations Management – Oversee outside counsel performance, budgeting, and matter strategy; leverage matter management and e‑billing systems to monitor spend, track outcomes, and improve efficiency
• Cross‑functional Responsibilities: Provide limited support to the litigation and disputes team

Your Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor, from an accredited law school and admission into the State Bar of Minnesota; Active bar membership in at least one US jurisdiction
• 6+ years of experience advising on multi‑state employment law matters
• Deep knowledge of employment litigation, agency proceedings, and federal, state, and local employment laws
• Proven ability to manage employment related litigation, oversee outside counsel, and control legal spend
• Strong capability in issue spotting, evaluating legal risk, and delivering practical, business oriented solutions
• Skilled in conducting and overseeing sensitive workplace investigations with discretion and sound judgement
• Proficient in drafting and reviewing agreements, policies, template, and other employment related documents
• Communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non‑legal and senior stakeholders, exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Manage multiple priorities, exercises independent decision making and leads high visibility or high‑risk matters
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with HR, business leaders, and cross functional team
• Strong skills in Microsoft office 365 and Adobe, with familiarity in e‑billing and matter management systems
• Highly organized, self‑motivated, and able to thrive in a fast‑paced environment while providing practical, solution‑oriented guidance
• Experience supporting large, multi‑state or national employers; manufacturing or industrial environment is a plus, with strong familiarity across high‑risk jurisdictions such as California and Canada (preferred)
• Background in advising in‑house on employment matters, including M&A, restructurings, reduction in force, and other workforce transactions (preferred)
• Skilled in using metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools to identify trends, guide strategy, and mitigate legal exposure (preferred)
• Proven ability to advise senior leaders on sensitive, high‑impact issues and to design, standardize, and implement employment policies and process across diverse business units (preferred)

Your Benefits:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options
• Dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and company‑paid holidays
• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law
• Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service
• Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $126,100 - $221,900 + 25%-30% bonus in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade in which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied! Building a more sustainable planet. Creating comfortable, healthy spaces for people to connect, live and work. Perfecting the air we share.

Daikin Applied is not just an HVAC company. We're part of a global technology powerhouse that uses Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) to transform the world. We're innovators and leaders. Not only as a business, but as individuals. And we are honored to say we were named to Forbes' America's Best-In-State Employers list for 2025, ranking #1 in Minnesota for Manufacturing and Engineering.

You see, we're not just innovating on the outside. We're innovating on the inside to unlock people's unlimited potential and bring out the diverse and groundbreaking ideas that will help us solve today's most pressing challenges. That's why Daikin offers more than a job.

Here's where you'll be heard, be valued, belong -- and be able to make your mark. Over the past several years, we’ve proudly welcomed several organizations into our family, each bringing unique strengths, deep expertise, and talented teams.

As we continue to grow, these partners play a vital role in expanding our capabilities and shaping the future of our organization.

Whichever Daikin Applied company you join, you’ll be part of a unified, supportive environment where you can make an impact and grow your career.