Director, Employment Law, APAC Region

Director, Employment Law

ABOUT US

Cognizant is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating, and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build, and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant, a member of the NASDAQ-100, is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com.

LEADING AT COGNIZANT

This is a Leadership role at Cognizant. We believe how you lead is as important as what you deliver. Cognizant leaders at every level: Drive our business strategy and inspire teams around our future. Live the leadership behaviors, leading themselves, others and the business. Uphold our Values, role modeling them in every action and decision. Nurture our people and culture, creating a workplace where all can thrive.

At Cognizant, leadership transcends titles and is embodied in actions and behaviors. We empower our leaders at every level to drive business strategy, inspire teams, uphold our values, and foster an inclusive culture.

The Role

Cognizant helps companies modernize technology, reimagine processes and transform experiences so they stay ahead in a fast-changing world, and every choice we make aligns to our vision: to become the pre-eminent technology services partner to the world's top companies. Our in-house legal team is looking for a Director, Employment Law to join us on that journey.

Our experienced legal team works closely with our business, sales, human resources, marketing, and other internal client groups throughout the world as they deliver digital and information technology solutions for our customers around the globe. We're looking for a leader who will serve as the primary point of contact on employment law issues for senior HR leaders in the APAC region, as well as business leaders and other lawyers in the Legal Department. In this role, you'll identify and assess legal risks and opportunities, manage appropriate use of outside counsel, ensure compliance with applicable law, and manage and resolve employment-related disputes. Cognizant has thousands of employees in the region, spread out across multiple countries and jurisdictions, so we'll be looking for a knowledgeable, resourceful, experienced, pragmatic, business-minded lawyer to guide us as we make key decisions related to our most important asset – our people.

The position reports to the Global Head of Employment Law and will regularly interact with senior stakeholders, especially, senior HR leadership. This is a highly visible position within the Cognizant Legal Department and offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge, high-profile legal issues, including initiatives relating to return-to-office, pay equity, and more, in addition to the day-to-day ER challenges that arise across more than 15 countries. To be successful, you'll need to have knowledge and experience to quickly understand and assess complex employment law issues as well as the consultative spirit to drive and support the right outcomes, always doing the right thing the right way. If that sounds like you, we invite you to reach out to learn more.

At Cognizant, we are a high-performing team with heart. Our solutions are in demand and we're passionate about making a difference. If you have experience in the APAC region, care about delivering excellent work product, and are committed to helping your team drive incredible outcomes; if you want to grow your career with a team that wants to build something great together, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the point of contact for all Employment Law issues in the APJ Region, including complex forward-looking strategic issues, specific advice, and day-to-day employee relations.
• Advise HR leadership regarding the above; providing or identifying legal counsel for multiple countries including Australia, Philippines, Malaysia, and more, and possess a deep and nuanced understanding of the complexities of those geos therefore being able to approach how to advise on the diverse set of legal issues.
• Proactively address employment law issues and policies; stay up to date on the law and advise the company accordingly; help to guide sound decision making and up to date policies and best practices.
• Manage employment litigation; respond to DOL investigations and administrative complaints.
• Manage ad hoc employment law projects advising HR and management as appropriate.
• Manage and oversee outside counsel relationships with law firms including managing the budget.
• May supervise other junior employment or commercial lawyers in other APAC countries.
• Act as legal advisor on employment issues to executives including other members of the legal team.
• Make recommendations and escalate material employment law issues when appropriate.
• Provide operational and strategic support to our in-house commercial lawyers HR teams and business teams on deals.
• Advise on and assist with the employment law aspects of any acquisitions including post-acquisition integration.
• Advise on and assist in relation to any collective employment law rights and obligations.
• Handle reactive queries and proactive advice related to recruiting, compensation, employee benefits, employee mobility, performance management, discipline, terminations, and internal investigations, leaves of absence and accommodations, HR policies, and restrictive covenants.
• Support or lead required trainings and equip our employee population.

Consistently demonstrate the Cognizant Way to Lead, which means operating with Personal Leadership (building trust, collaboration, and inclusion), Organizational Leadership (driving vision and purpose, demonstrating a strategic and enterprise mindset, and creating and communicating a bold direction that inspires purpose), and Business Leadership (exemplifying client focus, managing ambiguity with accountability and results, and operating with financial acumen).

Qualifications

• A qualified lawyer admitted to a regional bar who has specialized in employment law for a significant portion of their career.
• Approx 7+ years experience either obtained in another in-house role or reputable law firm, however experience outside this range will also be considered if the person demonstrates the appropriate skills, experience, and judgement.
• Fluent spoken and written English must be able to read and draft documents / emails in business and legal English and be able to give verbal explanations in English where necessary.
• Experience in counseling human resources professionals at all levels on the full range of employment law issues.
• Experience in defending employers in court litigation, government agency investigations, mediations/arbitrations, and settlement negotiations.
• Ability to work efficiently, meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment, prioritize work, and adjust to frequent workload fluctuations.
• Commitment to promoting an ethical workplace culture and supporting compliance processes and programs.
• Embodiment of our Leadership Competencies and the Cognizant Way to Lead: Leading Self, Leading Others, & Leading the Business.
• Executive leadership and a desire to create a culture that enables exceptional outcomes; the embodiment of Cognizant's Values of: Work as One, Dare to Innovate, Raise the Bar, Do The right Thing, & Own It.

The following qualifications are preferred though not essential:

• Experience with IT Service providers, professional service organizations, or technology companies.
• Experience with managing employment law issues involving hiring processes, contingent workforces, and immigration.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement standardized legal workflow processes.
• Experience working with multinational employers and exposure to international law issues.

Certification Required: Qualified Lawyer