Senior Legal Counsel, California Wage and Hour Compliance (Finance)

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced and detail-oriented professional to lead our wage and hour compliance efforts across California. This role is critical in ensuring adherence to California's complex labor laws and regulations, minimizing legal risks, and fostering a compliant and equitable workplace for our frontline employees. You will be a leader who simplifies complexity, bringing clarity and creating processes that are both logical and user-friendly.

We prefer that this person is located in California but will consider a hybrid role at our Northfield, IL Corporate Headquarters.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Regulatory Compliance:

  • Develop, implement, and oversee wage and hour compliance programs in alignment with California labor laws, including meal/rest breaks, overtime, timekeeping, and paid sick leave.

  • Monitor legislative changes and ensure timely updates to company policies and practices.

• Process Simplification:

  • Translate complex regulations into practical, understandable processes and workflows.

  • Design and implement compliance systems that are efficient, intuitive, and easy to follow for employees and managers alike.

• Policy Development and Training:

  • Create and maintain comprehensive wage and hour policies and procedures.

  • Conduct training sessions for managers and supervisors to ensure consistent enforcement of compliance standards.

• Auditing and Reporting:

  • Lead regular audits of payroll and timekeeping systems to identify and address potential compliance issues.

  • Collaborate with internal audit teams to ensure comprehensive compliance checks across all sites.

  • Prepare detailed reports on compliance status and recommend corrective actions as needed.

• Partnership and Collaboration:

  • Build strong partnerships with payroll, site HR teams, site leaders, and operational stakeholders to ensure compliance integration at all levels.

  • Serve as a bridge between field teams and corporate leadership, fostering alignment on compliance goals.

• Technology-Driven Compliance:

  • Stay informed on technological advancements in compliance and recommend innovative solutions to improve efficiency and accuracy.

• Employee Relations:

  • Serve as the primary point of contact for wage and hour-related inquiries and disputes in California.

  • Collaborate with HR and legal teams to resolve employee concerns and mitigate risks.

• Leadership and Strategic Guidance:

  • Partner with cross-functional teams, including HR, Legal, Audit, and Operations, to ensure seamless compliance across all departments.

  • Provide strategic guidance to senior leadership on compliance matters, risk management, and process improvements.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in wage and hour compliance, with a strong focus on California labor laws.

• Proven ability to simplify complex regulatory requirements into actionable and scalable processes.

• Expertise in leveraging technology solutions to support compliance initiatives.

• Strong collaboration skills with experience working across diverse teams, including site HR, audit, and operational leadership.

• Exceptional knowledge of California labor codes, including PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) requirements.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Medline Industries, LP, and its subsidiaries, offer a competitive total rewards package, continuing education & training, and tremendous potential with a growing worldwide organization.

The anticipated salary range for this position:

$175,760.00 - $263,640.00 Annual

The actual salary will vary based on applicant's location, education, experience, skills, and abilities. This role is bonus and/or incentive eligible. Medline will not pay less than the applicable minimum wage or salary threshold.

Our benefit package includes health insurance, life and disability, 401(k) contributions, paid time off, etc., for employees working 30 or more hours per week on average. For a more comprehensive list of our benefits please click here. For roles where employees work less than 30 hours per week, benefits include 401(k) contributions as well as access to the Employee Assistance Program, Employee Resource Groups and the Employee Service Corp.

Every day, we're focused on building a more diverse and inclusive company, one that recognizes, values and respects the differences we all bring to the workplace. From doing what's right to delivering business results, together, we're better. Explore our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page here.

Medline Industries, LP is an equal opportunity employer. Medline evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.