Senior Counsel, Labor and Employment

Req ID: 11004

Remote Opportunities: Remote

We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light, and more things to come… for our customers, our communities, and our planet.

Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light, and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL) and the Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives.

We are positioned at the intersection of sustainability and technology. Our businesses develop technology that helps save our customers energy and reduce their carbon emissions. We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and location-aware applications.

Job Summary

The Senior Counsel, Labor and Employment will be a senior, enterprise-level member of the LBE team and will report to the Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Legal Centers of Expertise. This role will lead the Labor & Employment Center of Expertise and will serve as a strategic legal partner to Human Resources, business partners, and the General Counsels of each business segment. In addition to responsibility for labor and employment legal strategy across the U.S. and globally, this role will involve significant international work and will require leadership in managing and integrating labor and employment advice on a global scale, including expanding our contingent workforce in certain geographies. Prior experience advising technology-driven multinational organizations with complex workforce models will be given strong consideration.

This is a hybrid role based in Atlanta, GA, requiring up to 50% onsite presence.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

U.S. Domestic Labor & Employment (30%)
In partnership with HR, this attorney will lead legal strategy and provide counsel on a wide range of employment matters, including:

Employment Processes & Toolkits: Guidance on background checks, drug testing, onboarding, leaves of absence, and accommodations.
Contingent Workforce Strategy: Advise on independent contractor classification, Employer of Record (EOR) relationships, and development of contingent workforce models across geographies.
Severance Programs: Support strategy and review of severance agreements.
Audits: Oversee wage and hour, pay equity, and other high-level employment-related audits.
Restrictive Covenants: Review candidate agreements, advise on obligations of exiting employees, support litigation or disputes, and coordinate with outside counsel on drafting and revisions.
HR Policies: Collaborate with HR and subject matter experts to ensure legal compliance of internal policies.
FLSA/Wage & Hour Compliance: Develop compliance strategies and mitigate risk.
Labor Relations: Support general labor strategy and collective bargaining negotiations (led by HR).
Associate Relations: Provide legal support on escalated matters such as terminations, disciplinary actions, performance issues, and investigations.
Workforce Restructuring: Advise on reductions in force and plant closures.
Cross-Functional Support: Offer legal counsel to Learning & Development, Environmental Health & Safety, Enterprise Security, and Communications teams.

Multinational Labor & Employment (30%)
This attorney will act as the enterprise lead for all international labor and employment matters. Responsibilities include coordinating legal advice from local counsel on issues such as:

Hiring and engagement of associates and contractors across multiple regions
Employment-related matters during the setup of new international entities
Employment considerations during the closure or merger of international entities
Global mobility issues and compliance
Cross-border employment structures and workforce compliance

Mergers & Acquisitions (15%)
This attorney will support labor and employment aspects of M&A activity, including:

Providing legal advice and leadership on L&E due diligence for all M&A transactions
Engaging and managing outside counsel for employment-related M&A matters
Managing post-close workforce-related legal integration activities
Advising deal teams and executive sponsors on workforce structure, compliance risks, and retention implications

Total Rewards (15%)
This attorney will coordinate and interpret outside counsel advice related to compensation and benefits matters, including:

Executive and non-executive compensation plans, including Short-Term and Long-Term Incentive Plans, and sales commission plans
General employee benefits, such as 401(k), pension, and other retirement programs
Executive employment agreements
Support for compensation and benefits plan design reviews and ensuring compliance with applicable employment laws

Litigation (10%)
This attorney will support the enterprise in managing employment-related disputes by:

Partnering with litigation and outside counsel on employment litigation matters
Serving as the escalation point for labor and employment disputes across the enterprise
Contributing to and informing overall litigation strategy

Educational Requirements

This role requires a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from accredited institutions
A minimum of 8–10 years of experience as a practicing attorney in the labor and employment field is required

We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, covered veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please click here and here for more information.

Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities: As an equal opportunity employer, Acuity Inc. is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, you may contact us at (770) 922-9000. Please clearly indicate what type of accommodation you are requesting and for what requisition.

Any unsolicited resumes sent to Acuity Inc. from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to an Acuity Inc. mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Acuity Inc. employees, or to Acuity Inc. resume database will be considered Acuity Inc. property. Acuity Inc. will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.

Acuity Inc. will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor, but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.

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The range for this position is $154,700.00 to $278,400.00. Placement within this range may vary, depending on the applicant’s experience and geographic location. For a list of our benefits, click here

Nearest Major Market: Atlanta
Job Segment: Machinist, M&A, Drafting, Employee Relations, Labor Relations, Manufacturing, Management, Engineering, Human Resources

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