Associate Counsel-Labor

Apply now Job no:522588
Position type:Staff Full Time
Campus:UMass President's Office
Campus Location: Westborough
Department: PO-General Counsel
Categories:Legal Affairs
Advertised:Mar 01 2024 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close:

Primary Work Location:

Amherst, Westborough or Boston, Massachusetts

Job Summary:

Labor and Employment attorney position in the Office of the General Counsel (“OGC”) responsible for providing legal advice and representation, including concerning of alternative dispute resolution procedures and litigation prevention strategies, related to labor and employment matters for the University's five campuses and System Office.  

Essential Functions:

• All aspects of arbitration and administrative advocacy including, but not limited to, case assessment and preparation, presentation of oral argument, witness examination, and submission of written briefs, position statements, appeals, and supporting materials before selected neutrals or administrative agencies.
• Act as University Representative in alternative dispute resolution forums, such as sponsored mediation, fact finding, settlement facilitation, or non-binding interest arbitration.
• Provide advice and guidance to campus and system labor relations representatives on a broad range of topics including, contract administration, compliance, and personnel actions.
• Preparation of legal memorandum, reports, and written responses to procedural and policy inquiries from campus representatives and executive officers.
• Review and provide legal comment on University policies, governing documents, proposals, and public statements.
• Work with campus and system Human Resource Offices, Labor Relations Offices, Compliance, EEO and other campus labor and employment professionals to provide legal advice, counsel, and representation concerning grievances, arbitration demands, and Department of Labor Relations and other state and federal agency administrative matters. 

Other Functions:

• Act as a resource and liaison with campus and system Human Resources, EEO, Compliance, and OGC concerning external inquiries, information requests, and reviews.  
• Assist other OGC attorneys as needed in responding to MCAD/EEOC discrimination complaints.
• Special projects as requested by campuses or as assigned by OGC leadership.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience):

• J.D. Degree and licensure in Massachusetts.
• No less than five and preferably more than ten years of legal experience in labor arbitration advocacy or related field or activity, preferably with experience in a higher education setting.
• Experience practicing law in a trial setting or representing clients at administrative hearings.
• Knowledge of Public Sector Labor Law including familiarity with administrative procedures at the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations and/or other state and federal labor agencies.
• Familiarity with Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures and experience with case settlement.
• Excellent written and oral communications and inter-personal skills and the ability to interact with senior administration, managers, supervisors, and employees as well as excellent analytical and problem solving skills, and the flexibility to work with a wide variety of matters and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience):

• Experience with contract negotiation and collective bargaining.
• Experience in employment and civil rights law, including practice before MCAD and/or EEOC.
• Interest in developing superior communication and mediation skills.
• Interest in engaging in continued professional development through internal and external means. 

Working Conditions:

Standard office workplace, located in Amherst, Westborough or Boston; travel by car as necessary to University campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and Worcester, Massachusetts state and federal courts, Massachusetts administrative agencies, and other in-state locations.

Additional Details:

Salary commensurate with experience up to $140,000