Corporate Counsel

Be Part of the Future of Sleep

At Serta Simmons Bedding (SSB), we're more than a mattress company, we're a leading global sleep company with a mission to help people sleep better so they can live healthier lives. With a 150-year heritage in delivering industry-leading sleep solutions, we own iconic brands including Serta®, Beautyrest®, Simmons® and Tuft & Needle®.

About this role:

In this role you will serve as a critical influencer in developing and driving company-wide promotion and adoption of best practices in compliance and employee relations. Advise on development of SSB’s employee relations philosophy, guiding principles and practices. Develop and drive implementation of sustainable, consistently followed employee relations processes and practices to achieve legal and corporate compliance across SSB and its subsidiaries. Collaborate with Human Resources to implement best practices for people management and development. Participate in providing other legal services as requested and develop an in-house generalist skill set. Supervise Legal Department support staff as appropriate and contribute to continuous improvement of Legal Department processes.

What You'll Do:

Build credibility and trust with management and employees.

Collaborate with SSB Operations, including plant management, to advise and provide direction on change initiatives as it pertains to employee relations, assess organizational capabilities, and develop programs and actions to address needs in problem areas.

Assist and coach Operations leaders and Human Resources in employee and labor relations matters. Provide strategic advice and counsel, along with tactical guidance, to internal stakeholders regarding employment and labor laws.

Manage administrative charges (NLRB, EEOC, FEP, DOL, etc.) as directed by Associate General Counsel.

Keep abreast of all changes to local, state, and federal regulations regarding employment law. Socialize key changes as appropriate.

Serve as a liaison between SSB Legal/Compliance, Internal Audit and Human Resources as a quality control measure to ensure thoroughness of employee investigations, completion of severance agreements, and documentation of disciplinary actions and/or responses to administrative agency charges.

Identify areas for process improvement and potential liability, communicating those issues to functional manager.

Work directly with Associate General Counsel to respond to compliance requests and personnel analysis for litigation, investigations and audits.

Assist Finance and Internal Audit with internal HR-related audits; support external HR-related audits.

Assist with the maintenance of an effective corporate compliance program including the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure that the organization's practices remain observant to all pertinent laws and regulations.

Advise HR Compliance Manager on matters of compliance to include policies, personnel records management, performance improvement management, severance agreements, complaint processes, investigative procedures, talent acquisition processes, and training for HR personnel and management on employment regulations.

What You'll Do - Continued

Lead the effort to cultivate a positive labor relations environment across SSB’s manufacturing network, by supporting union-free initiatives and fostering positive working relationships with existing collective bargaining units.

Develop in-house generalist skill set with a broad scope of engagement, for example, real estate, product liability and safety, retailer/consumer dispute management, antitrust, commercial litigation management.

Manage outside Counsel and Litigation Relationships

How You'll Do It:

Achieve optimal results without compromising the organization or safety of its people Listens to and values internal/external customers' needs, suggestions, and feedback Thrives in a fast-paced, extremely dynamic environment Highly adaptive, resilient leader and problem solver Build and maintain effective partnerships and alliances and interact with a range of interpersonal styles to establish relationships in all sectors of the business Operate effectively in a matrix reporting relationship, serving multiple functional and operational areas Strong active listening & communications skills, both interpersonal and organizational Ability to lead others through stressful situations and earn the respect of others Assessment & interpretive skills required. Critical thinker, with the ability to quickly identify root causes of problems and develop creative and strategic solutions, continuous learner Sound quantitative, analytical and planning skills Well-developed negotiation and mediation skills, ability to overcome objections and drive compliant solutions that meet business objectives

What You'll Need:

J.D., currently licensed to practice in at least one US jurisdiction

5+ years' broad ranging experience in Employment Law/Civil Rights practice in a large firm or employment boutique

Employment counseling and litigation background, including trial experience

Strong negotiation skills are required

Some in-house experience is preferred

Job Factors/Work Environments

Hybrid office environment - 3 days per week - Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.

Some travel required.

Key Relationships

Key leaders in every function of the business, as well as Human Resources and Operations leaders at the plant level

Why work at Serta Simmons Bedding?

When you join SSB, you become part of a winning and diverse team that is excited and committed to helping people get better sleep. We provide inspiring career opportunities, competitive benefits, employee perks, and the chance to be part of the future of sleep.

Benefits and Perks (USA, Salary non-union- optional):

Health, Dental, and Vision (starts on day one) Annual employee contribution to HSA 401K with company match Paid Time Off / Vacation 12 company holidays Sick days Company paid short- and long-term disability Paid parental leave Discount programs including Friends and family discounts Referral Bonus Tuition Reimbursement

Employees are required to comply with COVID policies established by a vendor or customer.

It is our policy to abide by all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination, with respect to all terms and conditions of employment, based solely on a person’s race, color, religious creed/religion, sex (including sexual orientation, or gender identity), pregnancy, childbirth or other related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, disability, age, military status, or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping or expression), genetic information (including family medical history), or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.

SSB will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees who need them, as required by law.

The hiring salary range for this position applies to where legally required, and most other geographies. Starting pay for the successful applicant depends on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education. The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, tuition assistance program and PTO or, if applicable, as otherwise dictated by the appropriate Collective Bargaining Agreement.

---