Senior Counsel

Senior Counsel - Employment Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
• Phoenix, AZ, United States

As a Senior Counsel - Employment, you will provide strategic legal guidance on complex matters that may include high-value transactions, litigation, regulatory compliance, and corporate initiatives with significant financial impact. You'll bring deep expertise in employment law (including benefits & compensation), partnering closely with senior leadership, company officers and subsidiaries to support business objectives. This role is a key leadership position within the Legal Department, offering the opportunity to influence major decisions and drive legal excellence across the organization.

• Provide day-to-day employment law counseling on matters such as hiring, performance management, employee discipline, terminations, accommodations, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, workplace investigations, employee relations, and state specific employment law mandates.
• Ensures compliance with federal and state employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, ADEA, and state specific requirements.
• Drafts, reviews, and updates employment‑related policies, handbooks, and procedures.
• Advise and counsel Company Officers and senior management on diverse issues of laws that arise in the Company's business operations, specifically employment law; research and prepare legal memoranda and opinions applying technical legal knowledge to varying business situations and personnel issues; assist Company management with risk identification and management.
• Supervise federal or state litigation when the Company or one of its subsidiaries is a party in interest. Oversee employment‑related litigation and EEOC charges.
• Respond to administrative complaints and information requests and represent the Company in such matters.
• Negotiate resolutions of employment disputes, severance agreements, and settlement agreements.
• Assist the Company and its subsidiaries with business transactions, corporate governance, and the development of new products, services, and business relationships.
• Provide employment‑law support for corporate transactions, including due diligence, integration planning, and work‑force related risk assessments.
• Confere and negotiate with attorneys and management in other companies.
• Attend high‑level conferences involving BCBSNC management and senior government positions.
• Provide training to internal clients and Company leadership on timely and relevant legal issues.
• Represent the Company before federal and state regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the Company.
• Assist the Company and its subsidiaries with ensuring compliance with laws and regulations governing its business, including preparation and timely submission of mandated regulatory filings.
• Select and oversee outside counsel representing the Company and its subsidiaries.
• Research, interpret, and advise on statutory and case law, administrative rules, and regulations. Monitor legislative and regulatory proposals, evaluate such proposals, and assist Company management with formulating the Company’s position on these matters.
• Lead practice area team (e.g., litigation, network management, government programs); informally coach and mentor Legal Department team members.
• Participate in development of, interpret, and improve Company policies. Assist the Company with implementing existing and new programs, policies, and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• 8+ years of relevant legal experience
• Licensed to practice law in North Carolina or must obtain License within 1 year of employment.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to align legal strategy with organizational goals
• Exceptional analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts clearly and concisely
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment.

• The opportunity to work at the cutting edge of health care delivery…