Employment Legal Counsel - Office with Flex - Dublin, Ireland
ICON plc is a world-leading healthcare intelligence and clinical research organization. We’re proud to foster an inclusive environment driving innovation and excellence, and we welcome you to join us on our mission to shape the future of clinical development
The role is Office Hybrid (60% office-based) in our HQ in Leopardstown, Dublin 18.
This is an newly created and exciting opportunity for legal counsel with experience in Employment Law to join ICON’s highly professional and experienced in-house legal department. You’ll be providing legal support and advice as part of ICON’s Global Employment Law team regarding all aspects of employment law matters. As the legal expert to our Human Resources teams, you’ll be advising on matters relating to employee relations, internal investigations, policies and procedures.
Although your aligned region will be EMEA, there will be opportunity to be involved in employment law globally.

Responsibilities will include:

• Advising on a wide range of employment law issues to Human Resources team across EMEA on a range of employment law issues including recruiting, hiring, performance management, employee relations, compensation and benefits, leaves of absence, contingent workforces, and other employment-related matters.
• Drafting and advising on employment-related agreements, guidelines, contracts, benefits plans, and policies.
• Partnering with Legal and Human Resources to build efficient processes to maintain compliance with EMEA employment laws and regulations.
• Providing pragmatic day-to-day employment advice and counselling to members of Human Resources that aligns with business goals while minimizing legal risk.
• Responsible for managing employment disputes across Europe, including administrative, tribunal, and court proceedings, through effective coordination of external counsel.
• Manage various legal projects to completion in an efficient and effective manner and liaise with internal stakeholders in the business for input and support in such projects.
• Engage and liaise with external counsel where it is required

Experience & Knowledge Requirements:

• A qualified lawyer with 5+ PQE and a strong level expertise in EU/ EMEA Employment Law.
• Ability to dispense direct and actionable feedback to business stakeholders at all levels tactfully.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to quickly assess potential for risk and opportunity.
• Ability to synthesize large volumes of information and present concise, commercial conclusions and recommendations to the business.
• Self-starter with the ability to work under their own initiative - although there will be peer support from the wider legal team, this will be the only Employment Counsel specialist/ Subject Matter Expert in the EMEA region.
• Demonstrate ability to work under pressure and/or tight timelines in a fluid/fast-paced, highly collaborative, team environment.
• Proven discretion, tact and probity in handling confidential and sensitive information.

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What ICON can offer you:
Our success depends on the quality of our people. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to build a diverse culture that rewards high performance and nurtures talent.
In addition to your competitive salary, ICON offers a range of additional benefits. Our benefits are designed to be competitive within each country and are focused on well-being and work life balance opportunities for you and your family.

Our benefits examples include:

• Various annual leave entitlements
• A range of health insurance offerings to suit you and your family’s needs.
• Competitive retirement planning offerings to maximize savings and plan with confidence for the years ahead.
• Global Employee Assistance Programme, TELUS Health, offering 24-hour access to a global network of over 80,000 independent specialised professionals who are there to support you and your family’s well-being.
• Life assurance
• Flexible country-specific optional benefits, including childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidised travel passes, health assessments, among others.

Visit our
careers site
to read more about the benefits ICON offers.
At ICON, inclusion & belonging are fundamental to our culture and values. We’re dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. ICON is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please let us know
Interested in the role, but unsure if you meet all of the requirements? We would encourage you to apply regardless – there’s every chance you’re exactly what we’re looking for here at ICON whether it is for this or other roles.

• Advising on a wide range of employment law issues to Human Resources team across EMEA on a range of employment law issues including recruiting, hiring, performance management, employee relations, compensation and benefits, leaves of absence, contingent workforces, and other employment-related matters.
• Drafting and advising on employment-related agreements, guidelines, contracts, benefits plans, and policies.
• Partnering with Legal and Human Resources to build efficient processes to maintain compliance with EMEA employment laws and regulations.
• Providing pragmatic day-to-day employment advice and counselling to members of Human Resources that aligns with business goals while minimizing legal risk.
• Responsible for managing employment disputes across Europe, including administrative, tribunal, and court proceedings, through effective coordination of external counsel.
• Manage various legal projects to completion in an efficient and effective manner and liaise with internal stakeholders in the business for input and support in such projects.
• Engage and liaise with external counsel where it is require