Assistant General Counsel, Employment and Litigation

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in New York.

📋 Description

• Become a vital member of an in-house legal team at a rapidly expanding technology and mineral exploration company operating globally.

• Provide assistance and support to the Chief Legal Officer (CLO) and Deputy General Counsel (DGC) to enhance their effectiveness in advancing the company's strategic goals.

• Develop key aspects of the company's legal operations, focusing particularly on employment law, immigration, investigations, global workforce issues, employment-related compliance, and general litigation.

• Offer guidance on employment-related matters across various jurisdictions, including the U.S., Australia, Canada, the UK, Europe, Africa, and other operational regions.

• Draft, review, and negotiate employment agreements, consulting contracts, separation agreements, CIIAAs, offer letters, secondment arrangements, and other workforce-related documents.

• Create, maintain, and enhance employee handbooks, policies, procedures, training programs, and internal guidance for a fast-growing global organization.

• Advise on employment laws and practices impacting a mobile, international workforce, addressing issues such as hiring, terminations, discipline, accommodations, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, workplace safety, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, retaliation, remote work, and cross-border employment matters.

• Collaborate with HR, talent acquisition, finance, tax, equity administration, and external immigration counsel or mobility specialists on workforce mobility, immigration, visas, relocation, and international travel issues.

• Assist with employee equity matters, including grants, option exercises, terminations, mobility, tax coordination, and readiness for public company or IPO processes.

• Support public company preparedness and employment issues related to compensation governance, executive employment arrangements, employment disclosures, and CD&A support as necessary.

• Serve as the main point of contact in the legal department, managing disputes, threatened claims, litigation, arbitration, mediation, agency charges, and settlement negotiations (both employee-related and otherwise).

• Represent the company in interactions with government agencies regarding employee issues, including labor, employment, immigration, workplace safety, benefits, and other workforce-related agencies.

• Lead and provide guidance on internal investigations involving employees, including those concerning senior staff, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, conflicts of interest, misconduct, policy breaches, and other sensitive workplace matters.

• Advise on employee benefits issues in the U.S. and internationally, covering 401(k), pension, leave, health, retirement, and similar benefit programs.

• Provide guidance on labor relations and union-related matters as they arise, including works councils, collective consultation, union engagement, and labor law issues in non-U.S. jurisdictions.

• Explore opportunities to engage in various other areas as the company and its legal functions evolve, including intellectual property, data, AI, privacy, broader compliance, and corporate matters.

• Establish processes and policies to foster a high-functioning legal department and scalable global employment function.

• Deliver timely legal and business advice to internal clients including senior executives, finance, HR, talent acquisition, and tax teams.

• Collaborate across the company to uphold high ethical standards, prioritizing safety, anti-corruption, community support, environmental protection, anti-discrimination, and integrity.

• Recruit and oversee external counsel across various subject areas and jurisdictions.

• Address any tasks that arise as needed.

⛳️ Requirements

• 13-16 years of experience, including at least 4 years at a prestigious law firm as an associate specializing in employment and/or executive compensation and benefits.

• A strong desire and capability to provide leverage, support, and partnership to the CLO and DGC.

• Global employment experience, ideally including Australia, Canada, the UK, Europe, and/or Africa, working with highly mobile workforces.

• Significant experience in drafting, negotiating, and advising on employment agreements, separation agreements, employee handbooks and policies, CIIAAs, restrictive covenants, offer letters, and other employment-related documentation.

• Comprehensive knowledge of employment laws and practical HR counseling, covering hiring, terminations, discipline, wage and hour matters, leaves, accommodations, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, workplace safety, remote work, and cross-border employment issues.

• Experience with workforce mobility, immigration, visas, relocation, international travel, and cross-border assignments, including collaboration with immigration counsel, mobility specialists, or similar advisors.

• Familiarity with public company or IPO-readiness in employment matters, including employee equity; experience in executive compensation disclosure or CD&A support is a valuable asset.

• Experience in litigation and investigations, including employee-related disputes, agency proceedings, arbitrations, mediations, threatened claims, settlement discussions, and internal employee investigations.

• Experience interacting with government agencies concerning employee matters.

• Knowledge of employee benefits issues, including 401(k), pension, retirement, health, leave, or similar programs; experience with non-U.S. pension or benefits is advantageous.

• Understanding of labor unions, works councils, collective consultation, or other labor relations matters is a plus.

• Background in intellectual property, data, AI, privacy, or broader compliance matters is a strong advantage.

• Exceptional drafting and contract skills.

• Experience working in a global company and familiarity with various foreign legal systems and business environments.

• Interest in a collaborative environment that requires effective communication among teammates across multiple time zones and continents.

• A strong desire and ability to build relationships throughout the company and beyond.

• Excellent organizational and communication skills.

• Interest in a science-driven organization, where many colleagues are scientists and science is central to numerous meetings and documents.

• Strong aptitude for learning new tools and continuously solving new challenges.

• An optimistic outlook towards work, people, and addressing unique challenges.

• A demonstrated ability to lead by setting high ethical standards.

• Willingness and desire to travel occasionally (approximately once a quarter).

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a top law school and active admission to a state bar.

• Proficiency in French is a plus.

🏝️ Benefits

• 401(k) matching