Associate Counsel

RYZE; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

RYZE is seeking an Associate Counsel to lead employment-law matters across the organization. You will work closely with our in‑house Legal Counsel and People Operations to ensure compliant practices and facilitate transactions and policy development.

The role requires 5–8 years in employment law, strong contract drafting skills, and the ability to translate legal risk into clear business language. This is a startup‑minded, fast‑moving team with broad exposure.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school and active bar admission in at least one state.
• 5–8 years of legal experience with a primary focus on employment law — law firm or in‑house (a combination of both is preferred).
• Transactional or commercial contracting experience is a plus.
• Working knowledge of FMLA, state leave laws, ADA accommodations, wage and hour requirements, and general employment compliance.
• Experience drafting employment policies, separation agreements, independent contractor/consultant agreements, etc.
• Comfortable advising on terminations and navigating employee relations issues with sound judgment.
• Able to draft and negotiate employment‑related agreements independently without heavy supervision.
• Can read a room and translate legal risk into plain business language.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employment law matters with People Operations and management.
• Handle day‑to‑day employment issues including hiring practices, offers, performance management, discipline, and terminations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate independent contractor and consultant agreements; advise on general worker issues.
• Develop, review, and maintain employment policies; keep policies current with changing laws.
• Advise on leave of absence matters including FMLA and ADA accommodations.
• Support workplace investigations, employee relations matters, and general policy questions.
• Advise on multi‑state compliance including wage/hour and worker classification.

Skills

Employment law

Contract drafting

Policy development

Risk assessment

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar admission (one state)

Job description

COMPANY

RYZE was founded in 2019 by Andrée Werner and Rashad Hossain, out of a parents' basement, with a mission to change daily health, starting with the morning routine: a nutrient-dense mushroom coffee delivering clean energy, mental clarity, and immune support. Built on a Direct-to-Consumer foundation with a performance marketing engine, RYZE achieved hockey-stick growth and a community of over 1 million active subscribers.

DTC remains the foundation, but RYZE has expanded into mass retail, quickly becoming the #2 items in Target's overall coffee category and is now executing a multi-channel expansion, with a cross-category launch coming in early 2027. RYZE is uniquely positioned to redefine how people think about daily wellness.

We’re a lean, fast-moving, mission-driven team who believe daily rituals create the foundation for living your greatest life, and we’re just getting started!

WHAT YOU'LL DO

We're looking for a sharp, self‑sufficient Associate Counsel to join our lean, in‑house legal team. This is an employment law role first and foremost — you'll be the go‑to resource for employment law matters across the organization, and supporting the lead Counsel on transactional matters and the broader legal function, as directed. it. In a startup environment where no two days look the same, you'll own everything from day‑to‑day HR questions and leave matters to policy development and employment separations.

You’ll work directly with our in‑house Legal Counsel, fielding questions from People Operations and management, keeping our employment practices compliant across multiple states and countries, issue spotting and working collaboratively with the People team to automate and streamline processes, while taking real ownership of the matters in your queue. You'll be expected to work efficiently, exercise sound judgment, smoothly pivot priorities when required, and bring a business‑minded approach to situations that don't always come with a clear playbook.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employment law matters, working closely with People Operations and management
• Handle day‑to‑day employment issues including hiring practices, offer letters, performance management, discipline, and terminations
• Draft, review, and negotiate independent contractor and consultant agreements; advise on general worker issues
• Develop, review, and maintain employment policies and keep policies current as laws change across states
• Advise on leave of absence matters including FMLA, state‑specific leave laws, and reasonable accommodation requests under the ADA
• Support management on workplace investigations, employee relations matters, and general employment policy questions
• Advise on multi‑state compliance including wage and hour, worker classification, and state‑specific requirements
• Work with outside counsel on employment claims, agency charges, and related matters
• Draft and negotiate separation agreements, employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, and advise on onboarding and offboarding processes

Transactional (As Needed)

Support Lead Counsel in drafting, reviewing, and redlining commercial agreements, including vendor contracts, NDAs, partnership agreements, influencer and brand deals, and manufacturing agreements. Triage and answer day‑to‑day legal questions from cross-functional teams.

Professional Qualifications:

• JD from an accredited law school and active bar admission in, at least, one state
• 5–8 years of legal experience with a primary focus on employment law — law firm or in‑house (a combination of both is preferred)
• Transactional or commercial contracting experience a plus
• Working knowledge of FMLA, state leave laws, ADA accommodations, wage and hour requirements, and general employment compliance
• Experience drafting employment policies, separation agreements, independent contractor/consultant agreements, etc.
• Comfortable advising on terminations and navigating employee relations issues with sound judgment
• Able to draft and negotiate employment‑related agreements independently without heavy supervision
• Can read a room and translate legal risk into plain business language
• Able to juggle a wide range of matters simultaneously without dropping the ball

Preferred Qualifications (Not required but nice to have):

• Experience in CPG, food and beverage, or e‑commerce
• Experience handling agency charges (EEOC or state agencies) or workplace investigations
• Familiarity with FTC guidelines, comparative advertising, or influencer marketing compliance

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive compensation aligned with experience and market benchmarks.
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Paid time off and company‑observed holidays.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• A collaborative, inclusive, and supportive work environment.
• Access to tools, resources, and training to support success in the role.