Vice President, Litigation, Labor & Employment Counsel

Overview

An established multi-state cannabis operator is seeking an experienced attorney specializing in Litigation, Labor & Employment to join their in-house Legal Department. This role will serve as the primary legal resource for employment law and labor relations matters, working closely with HR and business leadership to bring much of the outside counsel work in-house. The attorney will also assist with general litigation and business legal matters. Ideal candidates will have deep expertise in employment and labor law, union relations, and preferably experience in cannabis or other highly regulated industries.

Location: Remote

Responsibilities

Labor & Employment Counseling

• Act as the primary in-house legal advisor on day-to-day employee relations and labor issues
• Provide strategic counsel to HR on employment policies, disciplinary actions, terminations, leaves of absence, and accommodation requests
• Lead union negotiations and serve as the main point of contact for labor relations
• Manage employee and union grievances from intake through resolution
• Draft, review, and update employee handbooks, policies, and related HR documentation
• Advise on compliance with federal, state, and local labor and employment laws across multiple jurisdictions

Outside Counsel Management & Cost Reduction

• Reduce reliance on outside labor and employment counsel by handling matters internally
• Manage and direct outside counsel on active or complex matters to ensure efficient engagement
• Identify matters suitable for transition in-house and implement processes to maintain cost savings

General Litigation, Legal & Business Support

• Support the broader legal team on cannabis regulatory compliance and general business counseling
• Assist General Counsel and legal colleagues during peak periods, leaves, or special projects
• Contribute to legal department operations and cross-functional initiatives as the business evolves
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Skills

• J.D. from an accredited law school; active bar admission in good standing in at least one operating state
• Minimum 5 years of labor and employment law experience, including in-house and/or law firm roles
• Proven experience in union negotiations, collective bargaining, and grievance handling
• Strong knowledge of federal and multi-state employment laws (NLRA, FLSA, FMLA, ADA, Title VII, and analogous state laws)
• Experience advising HR and business leadership on employment matters
• Excellent drafting skills for policies, handbooks, and employment-related agreements
• Ability to manage a high-volume, varied workload with competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Cannabis industry experience or experience in other highly regulated industries (healthcare, alcohol & beverage, financial services) is a plus
• Demonstrated success in reducing outside counsel spend is a plus
• Business counseling experience beyond labor and employment matters is a plus
• Must comply with all regulatory requirements for working in the cannabis industry
• Willingness to develop understanding of applicable state and local laws, personnel law, safety regulations, and organizational policies

Work Environment

• Primarily remote work with occasional travel to company facilities and operating markets as needed

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to sit and use hands to handle, grasp, feel, or touch
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms
• Regularly required to speak and listen

Equal Employment Opportunity

The employer is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

Additional Information

• Job duties and responsibilities may be reassigned or modified at any time
• This description outlines the general nature and level of work but is not exhaustive
• Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as assigned
• Employment is at-will and this document does not constitute a contract