Overview
This role involves providing practical, day-to-day legal guidance on a wide range of employment matters to the People team and cross-functional partners. The Employment and Benefits Counsel will serve as a trusted advisor on employee relations, investigations, separations, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, and related compliance issues. The position also supports benefits and immigration-related matters, partnering closely with Legal and People stakeholders to deliver timely, business-oriented advice.
Responsibilities
- Provide day-to-day employment law advice to HR business partners and People team stakeholders on employee relations, performance management, workplace concerns, and policy interpretation.
- Lead and support employee relations investigations, ensuring thorough, fair, and compliant outcomes.
- Advise on separations, including terminations and reductions in force, balancing legal risk with business needs.
- Counsel on leave of absence and reasonable accommodation matters, including managing the interactive process and ensuring compliance with applicable laws.
- Deliver practical guidance on general employment law issues, policies, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Support benefits-related legal matters and assist with immigration-related matters.
- Contribute to employment law trainings, guidance materials, and process improvements to help HR business partners and managers handle recurring issues consistently.
Requirements
- 5–7 years of relevant legal experience, with a mix of law firm and in-house experience preferred.
- J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
- Strong working knowledge of California employment law required/preferred.
- Extensive experience handling employee relations issues, investigations, separations, and employment counseling.
- Proven ability to provide pragmatic, business-oriented legal advice in a fast-paced environment.
- Solid understanding of leave of absence, reasonable accommodation, and related compliance frameworks.
- Experience or exposure to employee benefits law preferred; immigration knowledge is a plus.
- Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and exercise sound judgment in balancing legal risk and business objectives.
Compensation & Benefits
- For candidates living in San Francisco / Bay Area, San Jose, New York City, or Seattle metros, the expected salary range is $212,500 - $275,000.
- For candidates living in Austin, TX or Washington DC metros or in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, or Washington states, the expected salary range is $191,300 - $247,500.
- For candidates living in all other US locations, the expected salary range is $181,100 - $234,300.
Actual offered salaries will vary based on factors such as calibrated job level, qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role.
Location
This position is open to candidates across various U.S. locations, with salary ranges adjusted accordingly.
Equal Opportunity & Accommodation
The organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on sex, race, color, age, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, state, or local law. Qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will also be considered consistent with applicable law.
Reasonable accommodations are provided to individuals with disabilities during the application process upon request.