Sr Employment Attorney

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

This is a hybrid (onsite/virtual) with minimum onsite requirements on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday assigned to One Energy Plaza located in Jackson, MI. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).

The Senior Employment Attorney provides legal advice and recommendations to executives and management regarding matters of complexity which have or may have a material impact on the business. The incumbent is considered an expert in their legal practice area (employment, labor, and benefit related legal matters) and works independently and with a base of regular clients and partners to meet their legal needs and goals and helps those clients and partners develop strategies important to the business. Research legal principles and precedents, draft and execute legal documents, and gather relevant case related information using multiple sources and methods, with the matters occasionally requiring consultation with outside counsel and experts.

• Provide legal counsel to clients regarding employment practices and compliance (including labor, non-labor, and benefits issues)
• Conduct legal research, keep clients informed of developments in the relevant practice subject areas, explain legal concepts, develop strategies to mitigate legal risk
• Provide direction to, and work collaboratively with, other professional, paraprofessional and support staff to develop solutions to problems presented
• Conduct training for co-workers on various legal topics and advise/assist less experienced attorneys
• Identify, assess, and manage legal risks associated with the company's business activities. Assist with the development and implementation of policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• Manage outside counsel and legal vendors
• Represent the company externally in matters such as negotiations, regulatory or court proceedings, or meetings with customers or other stakeholders
• Serve as leader and advisor, lead cases or projects and provide legal counsel on a broad range of significant corporate and business matters as applicable to their practice area. Handle all aspects of work, including, by way of example, project management, draft and negotiate contracts and agreements, manage litigation or regulatory matters (e.g., drafting discovery and legal pleadings, briefs, attending hearings), advise on corporate and governance issues, and handle fewer complex mergers and acquisitions
• Other duties as assigned or may be necessary

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Practice area expert (to include Title VII, Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, ADA, MPWDA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, NLRA, ERISA) and leader of cases or projects of moderate- to high-complexity
• Demonstrated dependability as an Attorney
• Ability to handle multiple projects, and the ability to meet competing deadlines
• Knowledge of State and federal laws and regulations in legal specialty
• Ability to analyze and, through appropriate inquiry, develop facts and provide advice on the applicable law

• Juris Doctor Degree with four (4) or more years of experience as an attorney with a law firm and/or as in-house counsel
• Admission to Michigan's or other acceptable jurisdiction's state bar

• Four (4) or more years of experience advising on employment-related matters including risk assessment, administrative charges, and litigation
• Four (4) or more years of experience advising on labor-related matters, including contract interpretation, arbitration, and unfair labor practice charges
• Four (4) or more years of experience advising on ERISA and non-ERISA benefits matters (health and welfare and retirement plans) and executive compensation matters

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Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don't discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capABLE, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.