Chief Labor & Employee Counsel - Chicago, IL

Company: Archer Daniels Midland
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 3, 2026

Job Description:

Chief Labor & Employment (L&E) Counsel, Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) Reports to: VP, Corporate, Securities and M&A, ADM Location: Chicago, IL or Erlanger, KY Position Summary: The Chief L&E Counsel is responsible for providing strategic and practical legal support on a wide range of complex labor and employment law and employee benefits matters. These matters include those relating to hiring and termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, wage and hour matters, employee benefits, executive compensation, collective bargaining agreements, employee health & safety, employee relations, and employee disputes, mediations, arbitrations and investigations. The Chief L&E Counsel will lead the ADM L&E legal team, and will work closely with the Human Resources function, business executives and other leaders, as well as regional and business unit counsel. Job Responsibilities: Provide advice and guidance to senior members of the Human Resources team on complex labor and employment issues. Support the design and implementation of policies, best practices, guidelines, tools and programs that align with and advance the Company’s global strategy, values, and business goals. Advise on the design, implementation and administration of qualified and non-qualified employee benefit and compensation plans, including retirement/pension, health and welfare, equity, incentive, and deferred compensation plans. Provide guidance on applicable ERISA, IRS, DOL and other benefit-related law compliance matters, as well as on governance, fiduciary oversight and risk management for employee benefit plans. Advise on executive compensation matters, including employment agreements, separation agreements, restrictive covenants, and related disclosures and board/committee approvals. Support due diligence, integration planning, and workforce/benefits transitions in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and reorganizations. Support global mobility programs, including employment-based visa sponsorship, compliance with I-9 and E-Verify requirements, expatriate assignments, and cross-border benefit considerations. Support internal investigations into workplace or benefits-related issues and help manage employment and ERISA/benefits litigation with internal and external counsel. Advise on labor relations matters, including collective bargaining, union organizing campaigns, contract administration, grievance and arbitration proceedings. Candidate Profile and Experience: The ideal candidate will have: A Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree; admission to practice in at least one jurisdiction. At least 10 years of labor, employment and benefits legal experience, preferably with a mix of top law firm and in-house practice in a multinational context. Strong expertise in U.S. labor, employment and benefits law; additional experience with EMEA, LATAM or APAC jurisdictions is preferred. Demonstrated experience advising executives on sensitive, complex, high-stakes employment and benefits issues. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic and global environment; excellent judgment, problem-solving, and negotiation skills, with a pragmatic approach to balancing legal risk and business needs. Demonstrated experience managing outside counsel is a plus. In addition, as this is a leadership role within ADM, it requires commitment to integrity, safety, diversity, quality with the following competencies: 1) excellent influencing, communication and presentation skills; 2) business acumen; 3) time management and organization skills and an ability to multitask; and 4) comfort working in matrixed and entrepreneurial environments with an ability to manage through influence and building relationships with key partners across other areas of ADM. Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings. ADM requires the successful completion of a background check. REF:101123BR About ADM At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com. IncludingYou Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM’s efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments — environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together. We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law Benefits and Perks Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including: Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable). Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection. Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares). Additional benefits include: Paid time off including paid holidays. Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave. Tuition assistance. Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs. *Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors. The pay range for this position is expected to be between:

Keywords: Archer Daniels Midland, Hammond , Chief Labor & Employee Counsel - Chicago, IL, Human Resources , Chicago, Indiana