Counsel

The Labor Counsel for collectively bargained player policies and labor litigation will report to the Senior Vice President, Labor Relations and will provide primary support to the SVP in the  administration and enforcement of player policies, including the NFL-NFLPA Performance-Enhancing Substances (PES) Policy,  the Policy and Program on Substance of Abuse (SOA), the NFL Personal Conduct (PCP) Policy and Gambling Policy. 

Counsel will work with the NFL Players Association to ensure the ongoing integrity and operation of the programs, including oversight of the policies’ respective jointly appointed experts (toxicologists, behavioral health clinicians and physicians), specimen collection vendors and laboratories and, when necessary, engage in negotiations with the NFL Players Association to update or revise the policies.  Counsel will be responsible for reviewing potential violations of the policies and making recommendations for appropriate accountability measures and litigating appeals of discipline imposed under the Policies. 

Counsel will also assist in negotiation, administration and enforcement of the NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), including representing the league and clubs in arbitration under the CBA.  He or she will represent the league and/or member clubs in grievance hearings involving the league and/or member clubs and supervise outside counsel in certain matters. 

This critical role will require strong investigative and litigation skills.  Experience in enforcement of labor policies, workplace drug testing and criminal litigation would be helpful. 

Responsibilities

• Administration and enforcement of the NFL-NFLPA CBA.
• Represent the league and 32 member Clubs in litigation under the CBA.
• Oversight and administration of the NFL-NFLPA PES Policy and the SOA Policy.
• Demonstrate expertise in anti-doping investigations and enforcement and supervise experts retained jointly by the NFL and NFLPA in administration of the policy and enforcement.
• Develop and lead programming designed to educate and inform NFL Players about their obligations under the policies.
• Support NFL Clubs in enforcement and player conduct matters.
• Supervise outside counsel in litigation brought in federal and state court challenging policy enforcement.
• Defend disciplinary decisions at appeal hearings related to violations of the various policies, including discipline resulting from positive test results, refusals to test, tampering incidents, violations of law, and other conduct constituting conduct detrimental to the league.
• Litigate grievances on behalf of the league and member clubs under the CBA.
• Provide counsel to the league and clubs regarding rights and obligations under the CBA, the Salary Cap system, Player Personnel rules, and other collectively bargained league rules.
• Supervise outside law firms, consultants and others involved in the administration of the CBA, policies and/or litigation.
• Assist in negotiations with the NFL Players Association.
• Independently develop and maintain working relationships with club and NFLPA representatives.

Required Qualifications

• Law Degree (J.D.); Minimum 5 to 6 years of litigation experience at a top law firm or in federal or state criminal practice.    
• Experience working with workplace (or other sports league’s) policies, including anti-doping procedures, drug screening and conduct policies or demonstrated proficiency in similar areas.
• Experience conducting and maintaining a docket of litigation matters and investigations.
• Significant litigation experience, including handling arbitrations and/or trials.

 

Terms / Expected Hours of Work

• NFL employees are required to work 40 hours in-office per week.

 

Salary / Pay Range

This job posting contains a pay range, which represents the range of salaries or hourly rates that the NFL believes, in good faith, at the time of this posting that it might be willing to pay for the posted job in the location(s) specified. The NFL expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Only in truly rare and exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position, would the NFL consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range.