Senior Labor & Employment Counsel, USA

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

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At ABB, we help industries outrun - leaner and cleaner. Here, progress is an expectation - for you, your team, and the world. As a global market leader, we’ll give you what you need to make it happen. It won’t always be easy, growing takes grit. But at ABB, you’ll never run alone. Run what runs the world.

As part of our strategic growth agenda, we are hiring a new Senior Labor & Employment Counsel for our US organization.

As Senior Labor & Employment Counsel, you will have the opportunity to shape and influence Labor & Employment strategies across ABB in the United States. Your expertise will help ensure that the business operates within a strong legal, compliance, and regulatory framework on all Labor & Employment (L&E) matters.

In this highly critical and visible role, you will lead a broad range of L&E activities, either directly or in partnership with local legal counsel, and serve as a trusted strategic partner to all our Business Areas (Motion, Electrification and Automation Business Areas). Working under the strategic direction of the Global Head of L&E Law for Motion, you will provide critical input into the development of the US L&E agenda, collaborate closely with the Group Head of L&E and the Heads of L&E for the BAs, and help shape Motion’s regional strategy.

This role is open to remote candidates located within the United States (with a preference for those in the Eastern or Central Time Zones to be able to easily interface with internal customers domestically and internationally). #LI-Remote

This role is contributing to the Motion, Electrification & Automation Business, and part of our Legal and Integrity function in our US organization.

This role reports to our global Head of Labor and Employment and Corporate Governance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Employment Related Litigation: You will manage all employment-related litigation and provide strategic or advisory guidance as appropriate. You will help develop litigation and settlement strategies, lead settlement negotiations, select outside counsel, oversee related fees and costs, and serve as the liaison between outside counsel and the ABB Business Unit involved in the litigation.
• Labor & Employment Issues: You will develop strategies for union contracts and, when appropriate, participate directly in union negotiations. You will manage union-related matters, including union avoidance, organizing campaigns, and labor arbitrations. You will provide HR professionals and company management with practical legal advice on employment matters to reduce potential legal exposure.

• L&E Issues Continued: This advice will cover areas such as severance packages, separation agreements, employee performance concerns, termination decisions, compliance with state and federal employment laws, the drafting and review of employment-related agreements, restrictive covenants such as non-compete and trade secret provisions, and labor and employment due diligence for acquisitions. You will also advise internal investigations involving Code of Conduct or HR compliance matters. In addition, you will review employment policies and procedures, provide legal guidance, and update them as laws evolve. You will keep HR professionals and company management informed of relevant legal and legislative developments in employment and labor relations.

• L&E Issues Continued: As needed, you will oversee fiduciary activities related to Benefit and Investment Committee matters to ensure compliance with ERISA standards. You will also serve as a strategic legal advisor on emerging HR and L&E technologies, including digital and behavioral assessments, by anticipating regulatory developments and helping to mitigate organizational, reputational, and litigation risks.

• L&E Issues Continued: If required, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight on HR and labor compliance, advising HR and business leaders on evolving regulatory requirements, emerging risk areas and appropriate mitigation strategies. You will help shape a robust and sustainable compliance framework across key employment areas, including wage and hour, leave and accommodations, worker classification, employment recordkeeping and other changing regulatory requirements.
• Management of Legal Administrative Labor & Employment Actions: You will oversee all employment-related administrative charges brought by federal or state agencies, including the EEOC and NLRB. You will also manage and conduct mediations arising from external claims.
• Training & Audits: You will provide employment-related compliance training by developing and delivering sessions directly or coordinating with an appropriate training provider. You will also design and implement train-the-trainer programs to support workplace compliance training. You will identify areas of potential risk or exposure and take appropriate steps to mitigate them, including conducting internal audits, delivering targeted training, and reviewing policies.

• T&A Continued: In addition, you will help ensure strong corporate governance within your area of responsibility in the country, including the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of matters related to mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor Degree and at least 10+ years’ experience in US Employment and Labor Law (additional bachelor's degree in business or human resources preferred)

• Prior litigation experience or extensive experience in managing litigation as an inhouse attorney

• Technical ability to research, review and understand local, state and federal employment laws and how they relate to Company’s business operations

• Strong people skills, including negotiations

• Superior communication skills (both verbal and written) with all levels of internal and external stakeholders

• Successful ability to multi-task

• Strong organizational, collaborative and follow up skills

• Work experience in a multinational environment and providing advice in relation to multi-jurisdictional/ cross-border projects, including exposure to strategic business decisions

• Willing to work flexible hours when necessary to connect with colleagues abroad.

• Ability to travel as needed.

• Candidates must already possess authorization to work for ABB in the US.

What's in it for you:

We empower you to take initiative, challenge ideas, and lead with confidence. You’ll grow through meaningful work, continuous learning, and support that’s tailored to your goals. Every idea you share and every action you take contributes to something bigger

ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer for protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities at ABB.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their- sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age,  race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.

For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer for Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762.

Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB's career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762 or by sending an email to US-AskHR@abb.com. Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner.

While base salary is determined by things such as the successful applicant’s qualifications and experience, this position is expected to pay between $191,300 and $306,080 annually and is eligible for a short-term incentive plan/annual bonus.

ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees:

[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]

Go to MyBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn more

Health, Life & Disability:

• Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan. 
• Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
• Vision benefit
• Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
• Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
• Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums
• Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid
• Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid.  Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
• Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
• Employee discount program

Retirement:

• 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions 
• Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)

Time off:

ABB provides 11 paid holidays.  Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.