Assistant General Counsel, Employment

Jobtailor; California (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking an experienced Employment Counsel to act as a strategic partner to HR and senior leaders across global units. You will provide practical, solution-oriented employment law counsel, manage risk, and align legal strategies with business objectives.

The role requires a JD, CA/NJ bar admission, 7–10 years of employment law experience, and strong ability to influence decision-making in a fast-paced, multi-state environment. In-house experience is strongly preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a college or university.
• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA law school.
• License to practice law and in good standing under the Bar enabling in-house practice in CA or NJ.
• 7–10 years of employment law experience in a major law firm or corporate legal department.
• Prior in-house experience strongly preferred.
• Significant experience counseling business leaders and HR on complex employment matters.
• Ability to serve as a trusted advisor, balance legal risk with business objectives, and influence decision-making in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated business acumen and ability to deliver practical, commercially oriented legal advice.
• Substantial experience counseling HR and business leaders on complex employment matters in a multi-state environment.
• Experience managing wage and hour matters, including wage and hour class/collective actions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic business partner and trusted advisor to HR and leaders across global units.
• Provide practical, solution-oriented employment law counsel supporting business objectives and managing risk.
• Advise on workforce strategy, organizational design, talent management, restructurings, hiring and terminations, leaves, investigations, and compliance.
• Provide guidance on restrictive covenants, including non-compete and nondisclosure obligations.
• Draft and review employment-related documents, agreements, corrective action and termination documentation, and HR policies.
• Oversee employment litigation, agency matters, and pre-litigation disputes, including strategy and budgets.
• Reduce litigation risk through preventive counseling, training, policy development, and practical guidance.
• Manage government agency investigations, audits, and enforcement matters.
• Monitor employment laws, update HR, and support best-practice policy changes.
• Report to the Chief Employment Counsel.

Skills

Employment law counsel

Legal risk management

Litigation strategy

Policy development

Contract drafting

Workforce strategy

Organizational design

Talent management

Compliance monitoring

Government investigations

Strategic decision-making

Project management

Excellent communication skills

Collaboration

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar admission CA or NJ

Job description

• Serve as a strategic business partner and trusted advisor to HR and business leaders across global business units and corporate functions
• Provide practical, solution-oriented employment law counsel supporting business objectives and managing legal risk
• Advise on workforce strategy, organizational design, talent management, transformations, workforce planning, restructurings, hiring and terminations, leaves, accommodations, investigations, wage and hour compliance, workplace safety, labor relations, and employment aspects of M&A and divestitures
• Provide guidance on restrictive covenants, including non-compete, non-solicitation, and nondisclosure obligations
• Build relationships with business and functional leaders and support strategic decision-making
• Provide legal leadership on enterprise initiatives and support organizational effectiveness
• Develop legal strategies and action plans aligned with business and operational goals
• Partner with HR, Finance, Compliance, and business leadership teams on transformations, organizational changes, talent strategies, and key objectives
• Advise on design, implementation, and compliance of sales incentive compensation and employee incentive programs
• Draft and review employment-related documents, agreements, corrective action and termination documentation, and HR policies
• Oversee employment litigation, agency matters, and pre-litigation disputes, including case assessment, litigation strategy, settlements, holds, discovery, outside counsel, and budgets
• Reduce litigation risk through preventive counseling, training, policy development, and practical guidance
• Manage government agency investigations, audits, and enforcement matters
• Manage legal expenses, projections, budgets, and expense forecasting
• Monitor employment laws and regulations, update HR, and support best-practice and policy changes
• Provide relevant training and education
• Report to the Chief Employment Counsel

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a college or university
• Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited ABA law school
• License to practice law and in good standing under the Bar of any state that enables admission to practice as in-house counsel in California or New Jersey
• Minimum of 7-10 years of employment law experience in a major law firm, major corporate legal department, or a combination of both
• Prior in-house experience strongly preferred
• Significant experience counseling business leaders and HR on complex employment matters
• Ability to serve as a trusted advisor, balance legal risk with business objectives, and influence decision-making in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated business acumen and ability to deliver practical, commercially oriented legal advice
• Substantial experience counseling HR and business leaders on complex employment matters in a multi-state environment
• Experience managing wage and hour matters, including wage and hour class and collective actions, strongly preferred
• Strong business acumen and ability to align legal advice with organizational objectives
• Ability to establish credibility with senior leaders and influence business decisions through practical, risk-balanced legal advice
• Ability to influence outcomes and navigate complex stakeholder environments
• Practical, solution-oriented approach to legal counseling and risk management
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proven capability to act and function independently and as part of a team
• Strong attention to detail and results orientation
• Strategic thinking, agility, and customer focus
• Strong interpersonal skills, organizational savvy, and ability to influence others
• Strong project management skills
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple ongoing matters with appropriate prioritization
• Sound decision-making ability and ability to balance legal risks with business strategy
• Excellent business and legal judgment
• Strong professional demeanor
• Energetic and motivated self-starter
• Effective collaboration and strong client and stakeholder relationship-building
• Experience partnering with global business leaders and working effectively in a complex, matrixed organization

Core Competencies

Demonstrates extensive experience in employment law, providing strategic legal counsel to HR and business leaders while managing legal risks and aligning legal strategies with business objectives. Proven ability to influence decision-making and navigate complex stakeholder environments in a fast-paced, multi-state context.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Employment Law Experience
• Juris Doctor Degree
• In-House Counsel License
• Wage and Hour Compliance
• Strategic Decision-Making

Hard Skills

• Employment Law Counseling
• Legal Risk Management
• Litigation Strategy
• Policy Development
• Contract Drafting
• Workforce Strategy
• Organizational Design
• Talent Management
• Compliance Monitoring
• Government Agency Investigations

Soft Skills

• Excellent Communication Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Strategic Thinking
• Project Management
• Collaboration

Certifications & Qualifications

• License to Practice Law

Industry Keywords

• Human Resources
• Corporate Law
• Labor Relations
• M&A
• Employee Incentive Programs