Counsel - Employment Law

About the Department
The Legal department is comprised of our Legal and Patents functions. We depend on our legal team to help drive growth and maintain the highest level of standards and practices across all of our legal efforts. It's a tall order, which is why we only hire those who thrive on protecting the interests of our patients, employees and business, all while creating and implementing efficient and innovative solutions. As part of the team, you'll work with employees across the organization to oversee legal matters and provide guidance on strategies that drive business and policy priorities and shape the reputation of Novo Nordisk Inc. (NNI). At Novo Nordisk, your skills, dedication and ambition will help us change lives for the better. In exchange, we'll offer you an opportunity to work with extraordinary talent and benefit from a range of possibilities for professional and personal development. Are you ready to realize your potential?
The Position
This hybrid role will sit in and support the Employment Law Team. Provide legal counsel to global healthcare company on relevant issues involving application of U.S. law, regulations, and industry standards.
Relationships
Acts as counsel for particular customer group(s) and interacts with headquarters and other affiliates as required. Interacts with department colleagues and various departments within Novo Nordisk. May interact with government agencies, law firms, trade organizations and other external agencies.
Essential Functions

• Provides legal advice and counsel to companies in the Novo Nordisk group in broad range of legal areas, including employment law (hiring, discipline, performance management, terminations, wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence and accommodations, background checks and other pre-employment screenings, internal investigations, restrictive covenants, policy development, drafting, review and implementation, and restructures); employee benefits (design, implementation, compliance, and governance of ERISA health and welfare plans, pension plans, 401(k) plans, non-qualified retirement plans, severance plans, as well as compliance with applicable securities laws relating to benefits plans involving company stock); compensation (design, implementation, compliance, and governance of company compensation plan and policies, executive contracts and compensation); Mobility (immigration and relocation); payroll (state and federal wage and hour law compliance, unemployment, garnishments, payroll taxation); talent acquisition, and the Diversity, Equity Inclusion & Belonging team.
• Coordinates closely with managing attorney in providing advice and counsel to customer group(s), including support of employment issues related to acquisitions as needed
• Proactively prevents or minimizes legal risk to the Company, and helps drive legal strategy to align and achieve business strategic goals
• Reviews Company policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local labor and employment laws
• Keeps informed of new laws, regulations, and industry trends affecting the company, and assists with development of policies and training as needed
• Performs other duties as assigned by senior management
• May draft, review and negotiate employment and master services contracts
• Provides legal support to customer group(s), with moderate oversight and guidance from managing attorney

Physical Requirements
0-10% overnight travel required.
Qualifications

• A J.D. and a state bar admission is required
• 4+ years of legal experience is required; in house experience as an employment law counselor is preferred
• Experience within the healthcare/pharmaceutical industry is preferred though not required
• Strong problem-solving skills - demonstrates and exercises creativity and initiative
• Strong written and verbal communications skills - able to effectively collaborate and communicate with other client groups within the company

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.
At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we're life changing.
Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.
If you are interested in applying to Novo Nordisk and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply, please call us at 1-855-411-5290. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.