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Senior Counsel – Labor and Human Resources

Job ID: R-37365 Job Type: Full time Location: Shawnee Mission, Kansas
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Position Summary / Career Interest:

The Senior Counsel -- Labor and Human Resources develops, directs, and administers the University of Kansas Hospital Authority's labor relations strategies and policies, represents UKHA on all labor relations negotiations and matters, advises and trains Human Resources and management on employment laws, investigates and handles charges of discrimination and employment litigation, and provides legal support to the Employee Health department's compliance, case management, and litigation matters.


Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions
  • Establishes and maintains satisfactory labor-management relations, interprets and administers the Memoranda of Agreement and other union-related agreements, and assists with and/or handles grievances.
  • Serves as the primary advisor on labor relations and advises all levels of management and human resources on labor law compliance, employee relations, collective bargaining and other labor-related issues.
  • Leads all aspects of labor negotiations, including preparing for negotiations, drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements with unions, and implementing those agreements.
  • Represents UKHA in administrative proceedings, arbitration hearings, and other dispute resolution forums, and advocates for UKHA’s interests while maintaining positive labor relations.
  • Collaborates and manages relationships with external labor organizations, outside counsel, consultants, and industry associations as needed to support UKHA’s labor objectives.
  • Advises Human Resources, management, and executives on employment laws and best practices.
  • Investigates and handles charges of discrimination and employment litigation, and (where appropriate) manages outside counsel.
  • Works proactively to counsel and train Human Resources, management, and employees on employment laws, employment policies, positive employee relations, labor issues, and best practices.
  • Negotiates and drafts severance agreements and other employment-related documents.
  • Provides strategic legal advice to the Employee Health department, including workers' compensation matters, employee pre-boarding workplace exposures, and immunizations, to comply with applicable laws, minimize legal risk and liability, and reduce litigation and litigation-related costs.
  • Monitors and understands changes in regulations/laws, workforce trends, and best practices relating to labor, Employee Health matters, and workers' compensation, and evaluates/modifies UKHA's policies to conform to such changes, trends, and best practices.
  • Must be able to perform the professional, clinical and or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
  • These statements are intended to describe the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Skills and duties may vary dependent upon your department or unit. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Required Education and Experience
  • Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school.
  • 7 or more years in a law firm and/or an in-house legal department
  • 7 or more years of labor relations experience, negotiating successful labor relations agreements, and managing an organization’s labor relations function
  • 5 or more years of employment law and employment counseling experience

Preferred Education and Experience
  • 3 or more years of general and workers' compensation litigation experience (a combination is preferred)

Required Licensure and Certification
  • License to Practice Law - State Bar Association Admission in good standing to the Kansas Bar, or member in good standing of another state bar and registered as in-house counsel in the state of Kansas.

Required Language Skills
  • Advanced English - Read, write, and speak English

Knowledge Requirements
  • Significant experience in dispute resolution and contract analysis with strong negotiation skills.
  • Strong academic credentials and solid work ethic.
  • Stellar analytical, verbal and written communication, negotiation, and influence skills.
  • Broad background in handling traditional labor law matters, including collective bargaining negotiations, grievance handling, arbitrations, and proceedings before administrative agencies.
  • Broad background in providing solid and collaborative advice and counsel to human resources and management in labor-related, compliance, and workers’ compensation matters.
  • Up-to-date knowledge of labor issues, workers’ compensation developments, and case law.
  • Ability to work efficiently and independently under tight deadlines and pressures.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office 365
  • Combination of law firm and in-house legal experience preferred
  • Combination of general and worker’s compensation litigation preferred
  • Comprehensive business knowledge in specific human resources functions preferred.
  • Understanding of human resources principles, policies, practices and compliance requirements preferred.
  • Experience in planning, directing and organizing labor activities of a public employer and experience with the NLRB or PERB preferred.
  • Experience in advising on and handling employment law issues and claims preferred.
  • Experience working in the academic medical center space preferred.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.

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  • Administrative/Business Operations, Shawnee Mission, Kansas, United StatesRemove