Director & Associate General Counsel - Litigation & Employment

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With little supervision and acting on own initiative, the Associate General Counsel (the "Counsel") supports the Deputy General Counsel, the General Counsel & VP – Government Affairs and overall business in employment counseling and litigation, corporate policies and procedures, and general corporate representation. The Counsel advises the Business and Executive Team on providing practical advice and counseling regarding a broad spectrum of labor and employment. Responsibilities also include drafting and reviewing agreements, templates, employee handbook, and other employment–related documents, managing litigation, government agency investigations, proactive training, and administrative charges as well as the assessment, selection, and supervision of outside counsel. The Counsel will also work with the Staff Attorney and a cross–functional internal teams to develop and implement document retention, e–discovery, and other knowledge management policies and procedures. The Counsel supervises the Legal Operations Manager role.

• Oversees, directs, and manages departmental activities and team performance
• Drives and models company culture and holds self, peers, and direct reports accountable for demonstrating a constructive company culture through influential, personal behavior and actions
• Develops and implements clearly defined operational and individual goals to develop employees, achieve productivity levels, and to attain the company's strategic plan
• Researches best practices, stays abreast of industry trends, and maintains awareness of regulatory changes to ensure compliance and continually improve operations
• Executes departmental financial objectives by preparing budgets, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, and initiating corrective action
• Achieves departmental results to ensure the effective delivery of the strategic plan
• Develops staffing needs; attracts, motivates, and retains a workforce with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve goals and objectives
• Promotes and ensures a safe and healthy work environment for all employees
• Leads the way and prepares departmental staff for success in a continually changing environment
• Fosters a work environment that encourages creative thinking, promotes flexibility, and drives innovation
• Addresses employee issues, concerns, and complaints in an objective and confidential manner; notifies HR Business Partner and keeps immediate manager informed as appropriate
• Ensures compliance and consistent application of company policies, initiatives, and decisions
• Coaches, guides, and develops direct reports; fully engages in the GPS (Performance Management) process; provides high–quality feedback, and ensures proper GPS documentation of employee performance, recognition, and deficiencies
• Works closely with Human Resources Department to provide counsel on all employment matters and related litigation and mediation including handling issues such as those relating to discrimination, disability accommodation, hiring, performance management and discharge, wage and hour, wrongful termination, employee privacy, non–compete agreements, protection of trade secrets, union organizing campaigns, immigration, benefits, leaves of absences, wage and hour issues, and other relevant labor and employment issues
• Stays abreast of new employment and labor laws and trends, and prepares reports and training on them to Legal Department members, HR and management, as appropriate
• Drafts and analyzes employment agreements, compensation plans, employment policies, including the Company handbook and other employment–related policy documents
• Evaluates effectiveness of current corporate policies and researches, designs, and implements new policies and processes as required
• Establishes best practices and templates for use in all employment related matters
• Works closely with Human Resources as needed to review and consult on employee disciplinary actions and investigations and to assist with other employee relations issues
• Manages and directs investigation and analysis for all pre–litigation matters including, but not limited to, agency charges, attorney demand letters, government agency responses, and employment lawsuits
• Supports Company benefits programs, by providing legal advice on benefits policies, individual benefits issues and managing workers compensation issues in association with and support of the Company Benefits Manager
• Provides advice and counsel on prelitigation and litigation–related matters, including case analysis and strategy, coordination of discovery, litigation preparedness, and related matters
• Handles day–to–day responsibility for oversight on all litigation matters, mediations and arbitrations, except trademark and patent– related litigation and manages related outside counsel
• Provides legal and risk analysis for company disputes and determines appropriate courses of action, up to and including litigation
• Works with insurance companies to optimize coverage as applicable
• Responds to subpoenas, complaints and administrative agency investigations
• Strategically identifies practical solutions for avoiding and/or reducing legal risk
• Leads effort on reviewing, developing, evaluating, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive records retention, knowledge management program, including document management and retention and e–discovery
• Supports the General Counsel & VP and Business on Mergers & Acquisition transactions, including diligence, drafting and transition and implementation
• Effectively communicates risk and strategy to business partners including Senior Management
• Serves as point of contact for a variety of the Company's business units, including practical legal advice on matters
• Serves as a member of the Data Governance Committee and the Safety Steering Committee
• Drafts, negotiates and provides strategic insight on contracts as need requires
• Works with business and functional leaders as required to assess and advise on legal matters
• Researches legal and business issues as required

Other duties may be assigned

Other duties may be assigned

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's and Juris Doctor degree and is a member in good standing with the California Bar
• 8–10 years of experience as an employment law and litigation attorney in a mid–size or large law firm or in–house legal department
• Consumer products industry experience required, with wine industry experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written and oral communication skills for advising the General Counsel and other senior leadership, creating reports/presentations, and extensive business and legal correspondence
• Aptitude in effectively presenting information and responding to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public
• Thorough understanding of state and federal civil procedure, and of California and Federal employment laws and regulations
• Experience dealing cross–functionally with multiple business groups
• Possesses the combination of strategic analysis coupled with a hands–on/can–do attitude
• Expertise with simplifying complex and ambiguous problems

• General office environment with occasional travel
• Required to drive automotive vehicle or equipment

• Acts in a manner reflective of the Company culture of High Moral Standards, Innovation and Continuous Evolution, Trust in Team, Continuous Improvement, and Sustainable Relationships
• Communicates, interacts, and works effectively with others; receptive to feedback and coaching; voices concerns in a constructive manner
• Demonstrates commitment to safety first; communicates safety concerns; promotes a safe work environment based on established safety standards and training
• Follows all Company policies and procedures

Management retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

California Pay Transparency Disclaimer: This is a Exempt position. The pay range for this position is $135,135.12 to $211,365.12.

Actual placement within range will be contingent upon a number of factors, including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, education, experience, internal equity and alignment with market data.

Delicato Family Wines offers its employees a generous and comprehensive benefits package. The core health insurance components include medical, dental and vision, where Delicato covers nearly the entire cost for employees and a large percentage for dependents. Additional health benefits include life, disability and flexible spending accounts. Other benefits include 401(k) with generous company match, discretionary profit sharing, paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, wine & merchandise discounts, tuition reimbursement, gym discounts & many more.

Delicato Family Wines is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Nearest Major Market: Napa
Job Segment: Performance Management, Employee Relations, Workers Compensation, Equity, Manager, Human Resources, Finance, Management