Associate General Counsel - Labor & Employment

Associate General Counsel - Labor & Employment

Join to apply for the Associate General Counsel - Labor & Employment role at Smithfield Foods

Associate General Counsel - Labor & Employment

Join to apply for the Associate General Counsel - Labor & Employment role at Smithfield Foods

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A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We’re looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now!
The Value You'll Bring
The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.
Are you a strategic legal professional with deep experience in labor and employment law? As Associate General Counsel – Labor & Employment, you will play a key role in delivering expert legal counsel and managing risk across a wide range of labor and employment matters. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, you’ll serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, HR, and operations, ensuring compliance with legal obligations while supporting business goals.
This is a high-impact position that calls for strong legal judgment, a practical mindset, and the ability to lead through collaboration and influence. If you're someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and brings clear, solutions-driven thinking to complex legal issues, this role offers an opportunity to contribute meaningfully at a senior level.
What You’ll Do
The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

• Strategic Legal Advisory: Serve as a thought partner to the business and legal leadership, providing forward-looking guidance on complex labor and employment issues, including wage and hour compliance, workplace safety, discrimination and harassment, employee privacy, union matters, and immigration.
• Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management: Monitor and interpret emerging legislation and regulatory developments impacting labor and employment. Proactively develop and implement strategies and policies to mitigate risk and ensure compliance.
• Litigation Management: Direct the Company’s response to employment-related litigation and government inquiries. Oversee internal and external litigation teams, manage discovery, prepare strategy, and represent the Company in mediations and settlement negotiations.
• Internal Investigations: Lead or oversee sensitive workplace investigations, including those involving discrimination, harassment, ethics complaints, and hotline reports. Provide recommendations and draft investigation summaries and response materials.
• Government & Agency Response: Collaborate with the Chief Legal Officer to manage responses to federal and state agency investigations and audits (e.g., EEOC, DOL, OSHA, NLRB), including drafting position statements and coordinating witness preparation.
• Outside Counsel Oversight: Manage relationships with external counsel, including budgeting, case strategy, legal spend, and performance to ensure alignment with Company objectives and values.
• Policy Development & Training: Advise on and help design Company-wide employment policies and compliance initiatives. Develop and deliver training for HR and business leaders on key legal topics and best practices.
• Labor Relations Strategy: Partner with internal teams to formulate and implement proactive labor relations strategies, support collective bargaining efforts, and advise on union-related matters.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Act as a key member of the Legal Department leadership team, contributing to department-wide planning, budgeting, and strategic initiatives.
  

• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school and 15+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required
• Must be admitted to practice law in at least one state.
• Minimum 10+ years of substantive business law experience with a corporate legal department or a well regarded law firm.
• Competence as a lawyer; ability to manage heavy workload in a highly dynamic environment with minimal supervision.
• Good communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills within and across departments and externally; must be proactive in providing counsel to clients.
• Sound judgment; ability to clearly make reasoned recommendations and determine who should be kept informed.
• Self-starter with good business sense and a sense of urgency, honesty and fairness.
• Good team player; calm under pressure.
• Self-confident and inspires confidence from clients.
• Willing to travel on an occasional basis.
• Committed to being a legal business partner to internal clients.
• Strong writing skills required.
• Strong communication skills required.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
  

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Legal

• Industries

  Food and Beverage Manufacturing

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