Employment & Labor Law Counsel (107049) - American Water Works Company : Job Details

Requisition ID: 107049

Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued.

People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.

We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role!

About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, we keep life flowing by providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations.

As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $30 to $34 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce, and strengthening communities.

Primary Role

This role is a member of the Employment and Labor Law team and is responsible for advising management, human resources, and other business functions on a wide range of employment and labor laws. This role also helps support the identification, development, and implementation of enterprise-wide employment and labor law initiatives and drives legal strategy to align with and achieve the Company's strategic goals.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide legal guidance on employment and labor law issues to various internal teams, including human resources, compliance and ethics, health and safety, business development, security, ID&E, and operations teams. Issues include, for example, leaves of absence, accommodations, background checks, drug testing, employee benefits, performance management, discipline, labor grievances, labor negotiation strategy and mid-contract issues, wage and hour, and affirmative action plans.
• Identify and develop appropriate strategies to ensure compliance with new employment and labor laws and emerging trends.
• Draft and develop employment-related policies and procedures and review Company policies to ensure compliance with employment and labor laws.
• Work strategically with senior business and HR leaders, supporting the development and effective implementation of enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Develop and deliver training to employees.
• Advise on internal investigations.
• Review and draft various employment-related agreements, acquisition related documents, and commercial contracts.
• Manage outside counsel in employment litigation, labor arbitrations, and agency proceedings. Represent the company in pre-litigation matters.
• Assist with labor negotiations and arbitrations if expertise aligns.

Knowledge/Skills

• Track record of successfully building professional relationships, institutional knowledge, and technical capacity to support functional excellence.
• Able to manage multiple projects and deliver outstanding results through effective management skills using strong, collaborative relationships and strategic thinking.
• Able to interface effectively and successfully with different management teams earning their respect, trust, and confidence.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Expertise in employment and labor law, including litigation and counseling. Traditional labor knowledge/experience is a plus given a highly unionized employee population.

Experience/Education

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Five or more years of licensed practice in US labor and/or employment law.
• Member in good standing with state bar.

Competencies

• Champions safety
• Customer obsessed
• Cultivates innovation
• Nimble learning
• Drives results
• Collaborates

Join American Water... We Keep Life Flowing

American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.