Associate General Counsel – Labor, Employment & Immigration

Inside the Role At Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), we are driving the future of transportation. As part of our Legal & Compliance organization, the Associate General Counsel (AGC) – Employment, Labor & Immigration serves as a key member of the Legal Leadership Team and a trusted strategic advisor to senior executives, Human Resources leaders, and business stakeholders across the enterprise. This role reports to the Chief Legal Officer. This leader is responsible for developing and executing the legal strategy for labor relations, employment law, workplace investigations, and immigration matters across DTNA and affiliated organizations. In addition to providing exceptional legal guidance, the AGC will help shape the future of the Legal function by advancing continuous improvement, leveraging technology and data-driven solutions, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering a culture of proactive, business-focused legal counsel. The successful candidate will combine strong legal judgment with strategic leadership, helping the organization navigate immediate workforce challenges while positioning DTNA for long-term success. This individual will lead a small team of respected subject matter experts and further develop the team's capabilities in strategic thinking, technology adoption, process improvement, and enterprise influence. This role requires a leader who can balance legal risk, business objectives, employee experience, and organizational health while providing practical counsel that stands the test of time. Posting Information We provide a scheduled posting end date to assist our candidates with their application planning. While this date reflects our latest plans, it is subject to change, and postings may be extended or removed earlier than expected. We Take Care of Our Team Pay offered dependent on knowledge, skills, and experience Benefits include annual variable pay bonus program; company paid company vehicle with insurance and fuel card; 401k company contribution with company match up to 6% as well as non-elective company contribution of 3 - 7% depending on age; non-qualified deferred compensation plan with company contribution of 7% of variable pay;  starting at 4 weeks paid vacation; 13+ holidays per calendar year; Paid parental leave; employee assistance program; comprehensive health care plans and wellness programs; onsite fitness (at some locations); tuition assistance program; volunteer paid time off; short-term and long-term disability plans. What You Drive at DTNA Enterprise Legal Strategy Develop and lead DTNA's labor, employment, and immigration legal strategy in alignment with business objectives and long-term enterprise priorities. Advise executive leadership, Human Resources, and business stakeholders on complex workforce-related matters. Anticipate emerging legal, regulatory, workforce, and cultural trends and proactively position the organization to manage evolving risks and opportunities. Serve as a trusted counselor during organizational change initiatives, workforce transformations, restructurings, talent strategy discussions, and culture-related initiatives. Help shape enterprise thinking regarding workforce strategy, culture, belonging, employee experience, and leadership effectiveness. Ensure legal advice reflects not only current legal requirements but also long-term business sustainability, employee experience, and organizational effectiveness considerations. Leadership & Organizational Influence Serve as a visible and influential member of the Legal Leadership Team, contributing to the overall strategy, performance, and advancement of the Legal & Compliance organization. Build strong relationships and credibility across all levels of the company, including executive leadership, Human Resources leadership, employee relations teams, labor relations professionals, and operational leaders. Provide thoughtful, practical business guidance that balances legal risk, operational realities, and organizational objectives. Lead through influence while fostering collaboration across legal, HR, operations, compliance, and other corporate functions. Act as a key strategic advisor on culture, belonging, employee experience, leadership effectiveness, and workforce-related initiatives. Labor Relations Lead legal support for collective bargaining negotiations, labor strategy, labor arbitrations, grievance management, union organizing activity, and unfair labor practice matters. Partner closely with labor relations leaders to develop forward-looking labor strategies that strengthen business resilience and workforce stability. Monitor and advise on labor law developments and assess strategic implications for DTNA operations. Employment Law Oversee legal support for all aspects of employment law, including workplace investigations, discrimination and harassment matters, wage and hour compliance, accommodations, leaves of absence, reductions in force, policy development, employee relations, and employment litigation. Guide risk-based decision making and develop scalable approaches to recurring employment issues. Ensure consistent and practical application of employment-related legal advice across the enterprise. Support the development and implementation of policies, practices, and training programs that promote compliance and effective people management. Immigration Provide strategic oversight of DTNA's immigration programs and policies. Partner with business leaders and talent teams to support global mobility and workforce needs. Ensure effective governance, compliance, and operational effectiveness of immigration-related processes. Continuous Improvement & Legal Innovation Champion continuous improvement within the Labor, Employment & Immigration team and across the broader Legal organization. Identify opportunities to streamline processes, enhance service delivery, reduce complexity, and increase operational efficiency. Lead adoption of legal technology, automation, artificial intelligence, knowledge management, and data analytics solutions to improve team effectiveness. Develop scalable, repeatable approaches that enable the team to focus on high-value strategic work while maintaining strong substantive legal support. Establish meaningful metrics and performance indicators to measure efficiency, effectiveness, and business impact. People Leadership Lead a team consisting of: Corporate Counsel - Labor Relations Corporate Counsel - Employment Law Immigration Specialist Develop and inspire a high-performing team while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning. Preserve and strengthen the team's deep subject matter expertise while expanding strategic thinking, business acumen, technology adoption, and operational excellence capabilities. Create an environment focused on continuous learning, collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Knowledge You Should Bring Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school. Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. 15+ years of progressive experience managing disputes and litigation with a minimum of 5 years in labor, employment, and/or immigration law. Significant in-house and/or law firm experience advising large, complex organizations. Demonstrated experience leading labor relations strategy and providing counsel on sophisticated employment law matters. Proven experience advising senior executives and Human Resources leadership. Experience leading, mentoring, or developing professionals and building strong team performance. Effective communication, influencing, relationship-building, and executive presentation skills. Exceptional Candidates Might Have Experience supporting unionized workforces and collective bargaining activities. Experience within manufacturing, automotive, transportation, industrial, or similarly complex industries. Experience implementing or championing legal technology, AI-enabled tools, automation, knowledge management, or process improvement initiatives. Working knowledge of culture, belonging, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, or workforce transformation topics. Experience supporting senior executives through periods of organizational change and business transformation. Where We Work This position is open to applicants who can work in (or relocate to) the following location(s)- Portland, OR US. Relocation assistance for this position is available when the selected candidate meets eligibility criteria. Schedule Type: Hybrid (4 days per week in-office / 1 day remote). This schedule builds our #OneTeamBestTeam culture, provides an unparalleled customer experience, and creates innovative solutions through in-person collaboration. At Daimler Truck North America, we recognize our world is changing faster than ever before. By listening to the needs of today, we’re building to solve with cutting-edge solutions in sustainability and future driving technology across electric, hydrogen and autonomous. These solutions, backed by years of innovative success and achievement, continue DTNA’s legacy as the undisputed industry leader. Our evolving brand portfolio is second to none, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, Demand Detroit, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis, and Financial Services. Together, we work as one team towards our envisioned future – building a cleaner, safer and more efficient tomorrow for all. That is what we are working toward - for all who keep the world moving. Additional Information This position is not open for Visa sponsorship or to existing Visa holders Applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country the position is located in at the time of application Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check Final candidate may be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen Contractors, professional services, or other contingent workers should confirm with their local agency if they are eligible to apply for FTE positions EEO - Disabled/Veterans Daimler Truck North America is committed to workforce inclusion and providing an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (including transgender and transitioning status), genetic information, or veteran status. For an accommodation or special assistance with applying for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources department at 503-745-8982 or toll free 800-206-3369. For TTY/TDD enabled call 503-745-2137 or toll free 866-355-6935.