Senior Director and Senior Counsel, Head of Global Labor and Employment

Overview

This is a remote position based in the United States (excluding Alaska, Mississippi, North Dakota, and the Virgin Islands). Occasional visits to an office may be required for team meetings or events.

The organization is seeking a Senior Counsel and Senior Director, Head of Global Labor and Employment. This leadership role reports to the Vice President, Deputy General Counsel – Risk & Compliance and involves leading the global labor law function across U.S. and international markets. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on involvement in complex employment matters and requires close collaboration with executive leadership, legal teams, and People Operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all global workforce legal issues related to employee relations and labor matters across corporate and international operations
• Build, develop, and manage a distributed team of employment attorneys in the U.S. and internationally, fostering alignment and high performance
• Serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite and executive leadership on workforce strategy, risk, and compliance
• Handle and advise on complex and sensitive matters including executive-level issues, internal investigations, reorganizations, and reductions in force
• Develop and implement global employment policies, practices, and governance frameworks aligned with local laws and company objectives
• Provide clear, practical legal guidance on employment risk to support informed business decision-making
• Partner with Litigation teams to manage employment-related disputes, agency matters, and outside counsel strategy
• Monitor legal developments and implement scalable compliance solutions to drive a proactive, risk-based approach to employment law
• Advise on international labor matters, including works councils and jurisdiction-specific requirements (e.g., Germany)
• Support global expansion, mergers and acquisitions, and organizational transformation initiatives from an employment law perspective
• Design and deliver training for leadership and People Operations on employment law, compliance, and risk mitigation
• Build and refine processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and consistency in delivering legal support for global employment
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Legal, Compliance, Privacy, and People Operations to ensure alignment on workforce-related risk

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one state (licenses in Arizona, California, Texas, and/or Washington are a plus)
• 15+ years of employment law experience, including significant in-house experience supporting a global organization
• Deep expertise in U.S. and international employment law with experience managing matters across multiple jurisdictions (EMEA and/or APAC), including familiarity with works councils or similar labor structures (experience with Germany preferred)
• Proven leadership and executive partnership skills, including advising C-suite executives, influencing business decisions, and building and developing teams while remaining hands-on in complex legal matters
• Strong experience handling high-stakes employment issues such as sensitive employee relations challenges, workplace investigations, executive-level matters, and partnering with litigation teams and outside counsel on employment disputes
• Excellent judgment and communication skills with the ability to balance legal risk with practical, results-focused solutions in a fast-paced environment
• Experience using technology and AI tools to improve legal service delivery is preferred; willingness to adopt such tools is required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in technology, marketplace, or platform-based companies

Compensation & Benefits

The organization offers a comprehensive total rewards package that may include:

• Paid time off
• Retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k, pension schemes)
• Bonus and incentive eligibility
• Equity grants and participation in an employee stock purchase plan
• Competitive health benefits
• Family-friendly benefits including parental leave

Benefits vary based on role and location and will be detailed during the interview process.

Location

Remote within the United States (excluding Alaska, Mississippi, North Dakota, and the Virgin Islands). Occasional office visits may be required.

This employer is an equal opportunity organization and considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with local and federal requirements. Applicants are encouraged to apply even if their experience does not perfectly match every requirement, as transferable skills and diverse backgrounds are valued.