Principal Counsel

UCSF Health, AG; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSF Health in San Francisco is seeking a seasoned employment attorney to provide expertise on California labor and employment law for public, academic, and healthcare employers.

The role involves handling complex matters, advising on wage/hour, bargaining agreements, PERB, and litigation before state and federal courts, with collaboration across UCSF's Office of Legal Affairs. JD and 8+ years' experience required; CA Bar preferred.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Min. 8 years of directly related work experience.
• Member in good standing of a United States state bar.
• CA State Bar license or ability to obtain within required time.
• Experience in labor and employment law in higher education, healthcare, or government.
• Experience before PERB and in arbitration and grievance forums.
• Ability to advise on complex employment matters and negotiations.
• Excellent written and oral communication, and collaboration with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide substantial expertise in California labor and employment law for UCSF and UCSF Health.
• Advise on wage/hour issues, grievance handling, and collective bargaining interpretations.
• Represent University in complex litigation and regulatory proceedings at state/federal levels.
• Liaise with UCSF Office of Legal Affairs and outside counsel as needed.
• Mentor junior attorneys and contribute to succession planning.
• Advise on AI use and other evolving employment matters.

Skills

Collaboration

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Communication

Mentoring

Education

J.D., accredited law school

Bar admission in good standing (CA preferred)

Job description

Description & Requirements

Job Description

Provides substantial expertise within UCSF and UCSF Health with emphasis on labor and related employment legal matters. Expertise should include an in-depth understanding of California labor and/or employment law and its application to public, academic, and/or healthcare employers. Experience in practicing before the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) and in grievance and arbitration forums. Experience in collective bargaining agreement negotiations, interpretation, and implementation.

Experience advsing higher education, healthcare, government or corporations on different employment issues including, but not limited to, wage and hour issues, threat management, workplace and gun violence prevention, immigration, housing, conflicts of interest, student and faculty affairs, reasonable accommodations related to disabilities and religion, pre-litigation and litigation in state and federal courts and before the PERB, artibrations, agency investigations, regulatory proceedings and hearings, emergency operations, overlap with workers' compenation issues. Advisor for requests for information, including from the public or labor unions. Advises on artificial intelligence use.

Independently handles a full range of legal matters and projects, including complex litigation, employment-related transactions (e.g., employment agreements, offer letters, separation and settlement agreements), regulatory proceedings, and initiatives with substantial importance and impact. Interprets complex facts and law in highly ambiguous contexts. Provides functional advice, training, and/or guidance to less experienced attorneys. Collaborates with colleagues in UCSF's Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) and throughout UC Legal to achieve UCSF and systemwide objectives. Acts as a liaison with outside counsel, and/or represents the University in complex litigation. Advanced ability to represent institutional interests persuasively to internal and external parties. Demonstrated commitment to UCSF mission and values. Experience in multiple practice areas, or experience collaborating and working with others across multiple practice areas, is preferred. May also advise on student and faculty matters.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Must possess a J.D. from an accredited law school or equivalent.
• Min. 8 years of directly related work experience.
• Must be a member in good standing of a United States state bar. (Out-of-state hire would be afforded time to pass the Bar within a reasonable period.)
• CA State Bar License in good standing. (Out-of-state hires must pass the California Bar Exam within one year of hire and be admitted within 18 months of hire.)
• Relevant practice experience in a law firm, or in-house counsel for an academic institution, corporation or other entity.
• Expert ability in collaboration, facilitation, and strategic and creative thinking.
• Trusted partner with senior management and a diverse spectrum of clients.
• Expert understanding of highly complex legal issues and ability to foresee implications in specialty area, even when ambiguous or hidden.
• Outstanding interpersonal communication skills, including proven ability to actively listen, negotiate, persuade and educate.
• Skills to gain trust and build credibility with a broad group of colleagues and clients, to include senior leaders.
• Outstanding written communication skills and ability to create and deliver effective materials and/or presentations appropriate to a particular audience.
• Outstanding research skills; ability to readily identify critical legislative changes in area of specialty.
• Outstanding ability to establish strategic solutions at the macro level; to influence key stakeholders in alignment with mission.
• Expert ability in consulting, relationship building, and strategic thinking skills.
• Thorough knowledge of the organizational environment of higher education and large research universities to understand client priorities, issues, motivations and constraints.
• Relied on to represent institutional concerns persuasively to internal and external parties.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach all levels of staff; provide for succession planning in area of specialty.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion and tact when handling sensitive or potentially sensitive issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to the highest ethical standards.
• Expertise in employment law, including disability discrimination, Title IX, Title VI, and Title VII.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current CA State Bar License in good standing at time of application.
• Experience in multiple practice areas or experience collaborating and working with others across multiple practice areas.
• Relevant practice experience specifically advising academic medical centers, hospitals, health systems, and/or medical groups.

License / Certification

Law, Other