Director, Senior Corporate Counsel - Employment Legal

Salesforce seeks to hire an in-house employment lawyer for the EMEA region. This position will be based in Milan, Italy or Madrid, Spain and will report to the Vice President, EMEA Employment Legal and Compliance, based in London. The role will provide legal counseling to the Employee Success, Labour Relations and Employee Relations organizations and the business, and manage disputes in the EMEA region.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice and support to relevant internal groups on employment related matters, which may include hiring and recruiting, investigations, discipline and termination, reorganizations, leaves of absence, disability accommodation, wage and hour, anti‑discrimination, compensation and benefits (including sales compensation plans and bonus programs), mergers and acquisitions (due diligence and integration), labour relations and collective matters, non‑competition and non‑solicitation, protection of confidential information, and other issues.
• Handle legal demand letters, charges and other disputes independently.
• Manage labour and employment litigation and contentious matters as they arise.
• Partner with various internal stakeholders to determine strategy and approach on employment‑related policies, guidelines, processes and training materials with an approach that balances pragmatism, risk, and compliance.
• Develop, update and maintain employment documentation including contracts of employment, confidentiality agreements, settlement agreements and sales compensation documentation.
• Evaluate and manage external local counsel on employment related matters, including litigation.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Participate in and influence the decision‑making process with appropriate clients and stakeholders.
• Consistently anticipate, communicate and propose mitigation strategies for potential risks in active projects. Identify and assess legal risks and opportunities.
• Handle sophisticated legal projects independently.
• Recognize when to elevate certain matters to the attention of the legal leadership.
• Educate clients on legal matters, policies and procedures.
• Establish and maintain relationships, credibility and trust with clients, legal team members and other colleagues.
• Travel to team meetings in Milan or Madrid or other scheduled locations.

Qualifications

• 12+ years’ post‑qualification experience in employment law (although all candidates with the right level of skills and experience will be considered).
• Excellent academic credentials and quality post‑qualification experience.
• 4+ years’ in‑house experience is preferred (this experience could be secondment‑based).
• Current qualification in Italy or Spain (depending on home location).
• Experience of working with a US multinational is desirable.
• Experience of working with a tech firm is also desirable.

Experience

• Advising on employment law and practice in several EMEA jurisdictions with experience in practical applications, defining and delivering solutions to complex issues.
• Employment litigation in Italy or Spain (depending on home location) and other EMEA jurisdictions.
• Experience advising on collective and labour relations matters.
• Proven ability to provide tailored, practical and commercial advice in a user‑friendly manner.
• Advising on the legal and practical employee aspects of both share and business acquisitions including information and consultation requirements under the Acquired Rights Directive.
• Co‑ordinating or project managing pan‑European projects.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent written/verbal communication and negotiation skills.
• Highly responsive and service‑oriented attitude.
• Proven ability to organise, prioritise and manage deadlines in a fast‑based and demanding work environment.
• Ability to maintain strong working relationships with demanding internal clients.
• Sound and practical business judgement.
• Fluency in additional languages a plus.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Salesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non‑discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. It means that at Salesforce we believe in equality for all. We can lead the path to equality by creating a workplace that’s inclusive, and free from discrimination. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications – without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit. The same goes for compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training and education.