VP, Employment Law & News Talent Cntrcts

This role will provide strategic and practical legal counsel to Versant’s Human Resources professionals and business executives regarding employment laws, as well as negotiate and draft employment agreements with on- and off-air News Talent and executives. This will be a key role as we build a Labor & Employment group for this newly-formed media company. Job Duties Advise business executives and Human Resources on all aspects of employment law, including discrimination and harassment claims, accommodations and family and medical leave issues, performance management, business restructurings and acquisitions, employment policy development, wage-and-hour and compensation issues, independent contractor analyses, and pay equity Provide counsel and oversight on internal investigations of employment-related complaints, ensuring that claims are addressed promptly, thoroughly and appropriately Negotiate and draft employment agreements for executives and talent providing services in Entertainment, News, and Sports content Strategize and build a contract process using legal technology to ensure consistency and equity in application of contract provisions and approach Provide legal support in connection with the design, implementation, and administration of employee benefit plans and programs Represent Versant, in collaboration with internal litigation group lawyers, and outside counsel as appropriate, in the mediation and litigation of employment claims Draft settlement and separation agreements, mediation briefs, and federal, state and local agency position statements Support labor matters as needed Create and deliver training on timely employment law topics to management, Human Resources and business lawyers Lead, manage and support enterprise-wide employment law project teams Stay current on developments in employment and employee benefits law, including legislative and regulatory changes.