Human Rights Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. 

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

PepsiCo's Law and Compliance & Ethics function is a critical business partner, enabling strategic objectives while protecting the company legally, ethically, and reputationally. Our team is deeply embedded across the business, with dedicated legal professionals aligned to business units, markets, and specialized practice areas to deliver practical, solutions-oriented counsel.

Like all departments, we are committed to working Faster, Stronger and Better-continuously transforming how we operate. We leverage technology, simplify and modernize processes, and evolve our capabilities to meet the changing needs of the business and deliver best-in-class legal support.

Due to a recent promotion, we have an opening on our Employment Law and Human Rights team.

This position is a hybrid role (min. 3 days/week in office) with a preference for the selected candidate to be based in the Plano, TX area.

By joining our best-in-class Employment Law and Human Rights team, you will help us achieve the goals above by:

• Ensuring legal compliance with employment and labor laws with corporate, global and field based clients, including support of the People (HR) function's Centers of Excellence 
• Providing effective counsel to the business in all areas of employment law, including EEO, anti-harassment and retaliation, wage and hour, ADA and religious accommodations, leave rights, wrongful termination, performance management, disciplinary issues, non-competition and non-solicitation issues, various state, federal and global laws, and any other employment related matters
• Assisting the Company with its Code of Conduct and compliance initiatives 
• Formulating and drafting policies and training on employment law topics, including providing capability building and training sessions presented both in person and online
• Effectively and efficiently managing employment litigation, including setting litigation strategy, oversight of outside counsel, and mediation and resolution of claims on single-plaintiff and class/collective action cases
• Advising the Company regarding legal analysis and document creation related to restructuring activity 
• Other duties as assigned, e.g., conduct investigations, creating and/or facilitating employment law related-trainings, special projects
• Overseeing Company's responses to administrative charges and representing the Company before governmental agencies

Compensation & Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $132,200 - $262,400.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 25% of annual salary paid out annually and an additional target payout of 10% of annual salary is paid out over 3 years following the end of the performance period.
• Long term incentive equity may be awarded based on eligibility and performance.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Active membership in at least one U.S. state bar in good standing
• 4+ years of relevant legal experience, including law firm and/or in-house practice with a focus on U.S. employment law
• Demonstrated experience advising on a broad range of U.S. employment law issues (e.g., EEO, wage and hour, accommodations, leave, performance management, restructuring, and separations, etc.)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, practical guidance to stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Experience managing and resolving employment-related disputes, including negotiating settlements with opposing counsel and/or government agencies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior in-house employment law experience supporting large, complex organizations
• Experience managing employment litigation or administrative charges, including working with outside counsel
• Experience drafting and advising on employment-related agreements, policies, and handbooks
• Experience counseling HR and business leaders on day-to-day employment issues and risk mitigation
• Exposure to multi-state employment law issues or systemic risk areas (e.g., accommodations, investigations)

Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status. PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Age If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy. Please view our Pay Transparency Statement.