The Counsel, Employment & Labor will report to the Assistant General, Employment, Labor & Compliance and provide legal support to clients across Cox Media Group (CMG), with a focus on advising and counseling on day-to-day as well as non-routine employment, labor and related compliance matters, drafting and reviewing employment-related agreements, drafting position statements and other submissions to state/federal administrative agencies, conducting training, supporting internal investigations, and managing labor-related disputes and negotiations. The Counsel, Employment & Labor also will be responsible for responding to demand letters, managing outside counsel in defending against claims in a cost-effective manner, and working with the Legal Operations & Employment Practices Manager to establish and refine processes designed to create more streamlined workflows between the Employment Team and its internal clients, including People Solutions.

The successful candidate will have a proactive and strategic-focused mindset, strong counseling experience and excellent communications skills and be able to offer creative, legally-compliant solutions to issues that are presented. CMG requires new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless granted an accommodation or determined by CMG to be exempt from this requirement.

While the Counsel, Employment & Labor role is based in Atlanta, GA, CMG is willing to consider remote candidates in California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. No relocation assistance is available.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work closely with People Solutions to develop best practices, training, and labor and employment strategy
• Provide timely advice on a broad range of day-to-day matters including hiring/background screening, leave of absences/accommodations, termination/discipline, wage and hour, immigration, and benefits
• Manage union negotiations, contracts and related matters
• Lead or assist in leading strategic-focused projects that have employment or labor law implications
• Review, draft, and advise on employment-related agreements, including employment agreements and separation agreements
• Assist and support employee and compliance investigations performed by People Solutions as well as perform such investigations, as needed
• Draft position statements and other submissions such as responses to state and federal requests for information needed to respond to administrative agencies and handle related mediations
• Stay abreast of developments in federal, state, and local employment and labor law and assist in the development and implementation of related compliance plans
• Develop/update policies and guidelines in collaboration with People Solutions
• Review and advise on compensation plans