Senior Counsel - Employment Law

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) at LLNL, one of the nation’s premier research laboratories, is looking for a Senior Counsel whose primary areas of practice will include employment law.  We are looking for a bright, collegial attorney with a flexible mindset, sound judgment, and an enthusiasm for addressing unique legal issues in an intellectually stimulating environment. The successful candidate will be one who enjoys working in a collaborative office and building good working relationships with internal groups.  You will be joining a team that is responsible for a wide-ranging legal portfolio and you will have the opportunity to learn the business of operating and managing a US Department of Energy laboratory with a national security mission. This role will be in the Office of General Counsel, which is part of the Director’s Office.

This position offers a hybrid schedule, blending in-person and virtual presence. You will have the flexibility to work from home one to two days per week. 

You will

• Provide practical legal advice and guidance to management, Staff Relations, Employee Relations, and Human Resources in connection with each step of the employment lifecycle, including hiring, on-boarding, performance management, compensation, discipline, benefits, leaves of absence, accommodations and terminations.
• Conduct legal research and monitor and analyze developments in employment laws and regulations, assess risk, and recommend strategies to support proactive compliance and effective policy development based on legal requirements.
• Develop, deliver, and support training for managers and staff on employment law and related workplace topics, and prepare or update employee handbooks, policies, and procedures.
• Support and, as appropriate, lead internal investigations of employee complaints and allegations; represent the Laboratory in administrative proceedings, alternative dispute resolution, union arbitrations, and government audits or investigations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate employment related documents, including benefit plans and vendor agreements; manage outside counsel in employment litigation and other matters as needed.
• Collaborate effectively with OGC colleagues, Laboratory organizations, government representatives, and outside counsel; mentor and provide development support to less experienced attorneys.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
• Juris Doctorate (or equivalent degree) and membership in California Bar (or the ability to obtain a limited practice license as Registered In-House Counsel in California
• Demonstrated mastery of providing practical employment law advice and managing employment litigation in positions with progressively greater responsibility and involving matters of greater complexity and/or significance over time.
• Significant experience preparing and delivering written legal communications, presentations, and oral briefings on complex legal issues for more experienced attorneys and for more senior clients.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and California state employment laws.
• Strong analytical, writing, and presentation skills.
• Experience collaborating with and contributing to multi-disciplinary teams to solve problems and accomplish goals.
• Ability to explain complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences.

Qualifications We Desire

• Experience as an attorney, whether in a law firm or in-house, representing or advising: a U.S. government contractor or other large business organization, a university or other research-focused organization; or a federal, state or local government entity, including military service.
• Experience working as an attorney in a larger law firm (e.g. a firm with multistate presence) or comparable experience.
• Experience conducting internal workplace investigation, and handling labor and union related matters.
• Prior interaction with, and knowledge of, agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, National Labor Relations Board, and comparable California agencies.

Pay Range

$162,060 - $198,456 Annually

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage.  An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. 

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