Sr. Lead Counsel, Labor & Employment

Overview

The organization is seeking an experienced Senior Lead Counsel to join its Employment Law Team. This role provides strategic, practical counsel to People Team leaders and business stakeholders across workforce decisions throughout the employee lifecycle. Responsibilities include advising on complex employment matters, managing legal and reputational risk, and helping develop scalable policies and processes for a global workforce.

This position supports business objectives by advising on issues ranging from recruiting and organizational change to employee relations, compensation, benefits, and contingent workforces.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted senior advisor to executives, People Team leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders on complex employment matters, including workforce strategy, organizational change, global mobility, employee relations, accommodations, leaves, classification, and contingent workforces.
• Independently assess complex and ambiguous legal and business risks, synthesize competing considerations, and provide decisive, practical recommendations aligned with business objectives.
• Lead the development and implementation of employment-related agreements, policies, guidelines, and other legal documents and operating practices.
• Develop and lead complex, cross-functional employment-law initiatives, including compliance programs, policy rollouts, process improvements, training, and other People Team priorities.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to identify emerging risks, set priorities, secure resources, and drive alignment and accountability across interconnected workstreams.
• Manage significant employment disputes, litigation, agency investigations, and regulatory matters; develop practical resolution strategies balancing legal, business, employee-experience, and reputational considerations.
• Manage outside counsel relationships, budgets, and legal work to budget, maintaining appropriate quality, efficiency, and strategic oversight.
• Monitor developments in employment law and translate them into clear, actionable guidance, policies, training, and scalable business practices.
• Serve as an AI-forward legal partner by identifying responsible opportunities to use AI to improve legal research, risk spotting, workflow efficiency, knowledge management, and service delivery, with sound judgment regarding confidentiality, accuracy, bias, transparency, and human oversight.

Requirements

• JD and active bar admission.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience handling complex employment matters in a law firm or in-house environment.
• California or New York bar admission preferred.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. employment law and experience advising senior business and People leaders on high-impact, complex matters.
• Exceptional judgment and decision-making skills, including the ability to assess ambiguity, balance competing considerations, and make timely recommendations.
• Excellent communication and executive-influence skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly and build trusted partnerships.
• Proven ability to independently lead complex, cross-functional initiatives and drive alignment and accountability across stakeholders.
• Strong experience negotiating and managing employment litigation, agency investigations, regulatory matters, and outside counsel relationships.
• AI-forward mindset, including the ability to evaluate and responsibly apply AI tools to legal work and scale efficiency.
• Impeccable integrity, discretion, resilience, and commitment to an inclusive environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• In-house experience in a fast-paced organization.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary range: $178,255—$366,996 USD.
• The position is also eligible for equity.
• Final salary is based on factors including location, travel, relevant prior experience, and particular skills and expertise.

Location

• US based applicants only.
• Relocation: This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
• In-office requirement: Approximately 1–3 times per year for in-person collaboration; the role can be situated anywhere in the country.

Additional Information

The organization is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Qualified applicants are also considered regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

Applicants are expected to certify that information submitted throughout the hiring process is true, accurate, and complete to the best of their knowledge; false statements, omissions, or misrepresentation may disqualify an applicant or result in termination if discovered after hire.