Acting Executive Director, International Employment Law

Condé Nast is one of the world's most renowned media publishing companies, creating and distributing every type of media today, spanning print and digital publishing in all formats. With a portfolio of some of today's most influential brands, the company continues to grow its audience through a global operational and content infrastructure across its 12 owned and operated markets. Headquartered in New York City, the company's owned and operated markets include China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico & Latin America, Spain, Taiwan, UAE/Dubai, the U.K., and the U.S., with additional local license partners in over twenty additional markets across the globe. Lead brands include Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ, Architectural Digest, Condé Nast Traveler, Vanity Fair, Wired, Allure, Ars Technica, Bon Appétit, House & Garden, Pitchfork, Tatler, and Vogue Business.Job Description

Location:

London, GB

Condé Nast is a global media company, home to iconic brands including Vogue, The New Yorker, GQ, Glamour, AD, Vanity Fair and Wired, among many others. The company's award-winning content reaches 84 million consumers in print, 367 million in digital and 379 million across social platforms, and generates more than 1 billion video views each month. 

The company is headquartered in New York and London, and operates in 32 markets worldwide, including China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico & Latin America, Spain, Taiwan, the U.K. and the U.S., with local license partners across the globe. 

Condé Nast thrives on collaboration, and our teams come together in the office four days a week (Monday - Thursday).

We value diversity of background, views and cultures. We celebrate people for their personal qualities, skills and contributions, recognising the power our brands have to influence and shape culture. 

The purpose of this role is to support the General Counsel by leading and overseeing the full range of Employment law (including pensions, incentives and immigration),  in all of our international markets.  

The role involves close working with senior leaders across the business and directly advising C-Suite colleagues on sensitive people-related matters, up to and including the CEO. The role involves becoming a close partner of the global People Team community and a trusted advisor to the Chief People Officer and the People Leadership team in all international markets.

The role involves providing strategic, cross border employment law advice to enable CN to achieve its business goals.

Specific Responsibilities

• Partnering with Conde Nast People Team colleagues (both in HQ and in our wholly owned international markets) to ensure internal legal best practices for managing employee relations.
• To lead on all non-US employment law work, working closely with People Team colleagues to ensure the provision of advice and support as necessary and to partner closely with US legal colleagues on global matters. 
• Advising upon individual and collective consultation processes;
• Overseeing employment contracts and exit paperwork up to MD level; 
• Providing legal advice and support on issues relating to diversity and inclusion;
• Manage the relationship with outside employment counsel in all international markets and manage associated budget; 
• Leading the advice on day to day employment matters including contract templates, disciplinary and grievance processes, redundancy and restructuring.
• Supporting the People Team to address workforce representation related issues, including workers’ councils and other representative bodies.
• Advising on changes in local law or regulation that may impact policies and procedures.
• Management of employment litigation.
• Handling people compliance queries, issues and employee investigations as they arise as well as queries from auditors and regulators.
• Providing guidance and training to colleagues on employment law and compliance matters
• Supporting the management of the company whistleblowing hotline in partnership with People Team and the General Counsel.
• Leading on international pension law advice.
• Leading on global mobility legal advice, including immigration and visa management. 
• Supporting the Quarterly Business Standards and Audit, and Quarterly People Risk meetings with ELT members. 
• Contributing ideas for the development and enhancement of the culture, strategy and operations of the global Business & Legal Affairs  department.
• Supporting Advance Legal and the US People Team on cross border or US related employment matters if and when requested and ensuring a joined up approach between US and international matters if necessary.
• Supporting the reporting of People compliance matters, including to ELT, shareholder and the Board.

Skills and Experience

• Qualified legal professional in the UK and/or EU
• Significant Experience of International Employment Law & Litigation and operating international people compliance programmes
• Relevant in-house experience of providing employment advice to a global business
• Demonstrated experience in working with and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools, alongside advising People Team and business stakeholders on the legal, compliance, and regulatory implications of deploying AI technologies in the workplace, including data privacy, risk mitigation, and policy development.

• Experience of handling international employment law issues, including consultations and labour relations matters
• Experience of working on internal investigations and disciplinary matters 
• Experience of working with company compliance policies 
• UK Pensions experience preferable

What benefits do we offer? 

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays) and extra days of annual leave if you move house or want to volunteer. 

• You’ll have access to a competitive pension scheme, Bupa Private Healthcare, Season ticket loans and eye tests.

• We offer a range of tools to support your wellbeing, including core hours, 10 remote days (from home or a country with a Condé Nast office location), access to our Employee Assistance Programme, corporate gym membership and cycle to work scheme.
• We’re a dog-friendly office, plus you’ll enjoy discounts and magazine subscriptions, keeping you up to date with all things Condé Nast.

• We encourage personal and professional growth through the Condé Nast Learning Hub, where you’ll find an extensive portfolio of learning courses and training available in local languages.
• Our Employee Resource Groups provide a platform for employees to identify shared objectives, exchange ideas, and work on community priorities for our global workforce.
  

What happens next?

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply below, and we will review your application as soon as possible. You can update your resume or upload a cover letter at any time by accessing your candidate profile.

Condé Nast is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status and other legally protected characteristics.