Senior Employment Counsel

Overview

This role is a senior, employment-focused position on the legal team, serving as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the People team across the full employment lifecycle. The role owns employment disputes and employment risk end to end and supports a U.S.-based workforce spanning most of the 50 states, making multistate employment compliance a core part of the job.

Responsibilities

Employment Counseling, Disputes and Advisory (primary focus)

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the People team across the full employment lifecycle: hiring, performance management, corrective actions, terminations, reductions in force, accommodations, leaves, compensation, contingent workers, and sensitive employee situations.
• Own the company’s employment disputes, including:
  • Managing pre-litigation claims, demand letters, and administrative charges before the EEOC and state agencies
  • Supporting settlement negotiations
  • Directing outside counsel on employment litigation
• Oversee and advise on internal employment investigations, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, and policy-violation matters.
• Provide proactive counsel on employment law compliance across a multistate workforce, with particular depth advising on non-exempt employee populations.
  • Stay ahead of federal, state, and local developments
  • Take steps to avoid issues before they arise
• Advise on employee and HR data privacy and information security, including how personnel data is collected, used, and protected under applicable federal and state law.
• Draft, review, and negotiate employment-related documents, including offer letters, employment agreements, separation and severance agreements, CIIAAs, and equity-related documents.
• Translate new legal and regulatory developments into clear, practical guidance for the People team and business stakeholders.
• Partner with the People team to develop and maintain employment policies, handbooks, and compliance procedures.
• Develop and deliver training for the People team, people leaders, and business stakeholders on employment law topics, best practices, policy, and risk mitigation.

Beyond Employment (where you’ll stretch)

• Take ownership of adjacent legal topics as business needs arise, learning quickly and avoiding unnecessary routing. Depending on interests and team needs, this may include privacy and information security, non-employment litigation and disputes, regulatory investigations and examinations, ERISA and benefits, commercial contracting, and marketing and advertising review.
• Support regulatory inquiries and examinations by government agencies (in coordination with outside counsel where appropriate).
• Advise on privacy and information security matters beyond the employment context, including customer, product, and vendor data, under applicable federal and state law.
• Support active litigation and disputes, including coordination with outside counsel, document collection and productions, and internal communications.
• Review and advise on marketing and advertising materials for legal and regulatory compliance.
• Draft and negotiate commercial agreements and provide general contract support across the business as needed.

AI Fluency & Adoption

The legal team expects AI fluency as part of day-to-day practice.

• Develop and use genuine fluency with AI tools daily to research, draft, analyze, and think through legal problems.
• Build workflows and, where applicable, agents that multiply effectiveness and reduce manual/repetitive work, and bring that same mindset to the broader legal team.
• Actively seek new AI capabilities, evaluate them critically, and apply them thoughtfully with attention to both quality and risk.
• Explain both the power and limitations of AI in legal contexts and help others on the team build their own fluency over time.

Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school; active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction required.
• 8 to 10+ years of legal experience with deep, dedicated employment law experience across both counseling and disputes, including demonstrated counseling depth on non-exempt employee populations.
• Demonstrated experience managing employment litigation and pre-litigation matters, including directing outside counsel and driving strategy and resolution.
• Demonstrated expertise in California employment law.
• Experience with equity compensation (a meaningful part of total rewards) and executive compensation.
• Law firm background is preferred, with demonstrated ability to translate analytical rigor into practical, business-ready guidance.
• Comfort advising and building relationships with non-legal stakeholders, including the People team, senior executives, and business leaders across functions.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities, and make sound judgment calls in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least one prior in-house legal role strongly preferred.
• Startup or high-growth technology company experience is a strong plus.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation

• Base salary range: $200,000 - $240,000.
• Salary offered within this range is based on U.S. location, relevant job-related skills, and experience.
• Additional compensation components such as bonuses, commissions, and equity may be offered depending on the position.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with dollar-for-dollar employer match up to 4% of compensation (immediately vested) and $0 plan fees
• Top-of-the-line health plans, plus dental and vision insurance
• Competitive time off and parental leave
• Addition Wealth: unlimited access to digital tools, financial professionals, and a knowledge center to help understand equity and support financial wellness
• Lyra: enhanced mental health support for employees and dependents
• Carrot: fertility healthcare and family forming benefits
• Candidly: student loan resource to help plan, borrow, and repay student debt
• Monthly work-from-home stipend; quarterly lifestyle stipend
• Team-building experiences, ranging from virtual social events to team offsites

Notes

• In compliance with applicable laws, salary history and criminal history are not inquired about prior to a conditional offer of employment.

Location

U.S.-based workforce spanning most of the 50 states; multistate employment compliance is required for this role.