Assistant General Counsel, Employment

Etsy•New York, NY

21d•Hybrid

About The Position

Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. We build, power, and evolve the tools and technologies that connect millions of entrepreneurs with millions of buyers around the world. As an Etsy Inc. employee, whether a team member of Etsy or Depop, you will tackle unique, meaningful, and large-scale problems alongside passionate coworkers, all the while making a rewarding impact and Keeping Commerce Human. What’s the role? As the Assistant General Counsel, Employment you will work closely with Business Leaders and HR while advising on a wide-range of employment matters, such as recruiting/hiring, performance management, training, wage and hour compliance, terminations, and the use of contractors and consultants across different US jurisdictions. This is a full-time position reporting to the VP, Deputy General Counsel, Labor & Employment. In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for an equity package, an annual performance bonus, and our competitive benefits that support you and your family as part of your total rewards package at Etsy. This role requires your presence in Etsy’s Brooklyn Office once or twice per week depending on your proximity to the office. Candidates living within commutable distance of Etsy’s Brooklyn Office Hub may be the first to be considered. Learn more details about our work modes and workplace safety policies here. What’s this team like at Etsy? Our Legal Team works across our offices worldwide, to provide timely and business-savvy legal advice. We support teams that design products, we draft contracts and policies, we advise engineers and leadership, advocate externally, and handle disputes to protect Etsy and our users. What does the day-to-day look like? Advising and delivering a variety of employment-related legal strategies and services across the organization regarding employment and employee relations such as offer letters, separation agreements, contractor agreements, and more. Oversee and advise on employee-related internal investigations and employment litigation including responses to demand letters and agency complaints and audits (EEOC, DOL, etc.) and related investigations. Advise on policy decisions, emerging risk areas, and risk mitigation strategies as well as providing or design training on employment-law topics. Actively participate in the regular review/update of Etsy’s global employee handbooks and related HR policies ensuring compliance with federal, state, local and international employment laws and regulations. Stay apprised of human resources standard methodologies, trends and developments in labor/employment law and apply them to Etsy through ongoing improvements to current processes, policies and templates. Collaborate and set expectations with outside counsel (while the assumption remains that you are a hands-on experienced “doer”, and will only need outside counsel advice on edge cases). Understand and support the DEI components of all of the above workstreams. Support Legal department and team related projects, as needed. Be a strong, communicative partner to your colleagues on the Legal team, the People team and leaders across our company. Of course, this is just a sample of the kinds of work this role will require! You should assume that your role will encompass other tasks, too, and that your job duties and responsibilities may change from time to time at Etsy's discretion, or otherwise applicable with local law.

Requirements

10+ years employment law experience at a law firm, and preferably also in-house dealing with a broad range of employment law issues.
JD and admitted to a state bar (NY or CA) and are qualified to work in-house in New York.
Have the ability to work independently, and to manage projects from conception to completion, often without additional support
Experience providing clear, impactful advice to business managers and HR business partners, helping them analyze options and work collaboratively to reach the right decision, while distilling complex employee-relations issues into clear explanations, organized steps, and compelling messages.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, effectively engaging technical experts, junior employees, and business leaders through clear, jargon-free language.
Excellent organizational and prioritization skills, supporting effective management of complex and competing priorities.
Some experience with employment litigation, including e-discovery.
Excellent business writing and presentation skills.
We expect you to be able to read a spreadsheet and build a slide deck.
You will also need to think quickly on your feet and to give succinct, pragmatic advice in meetings or in real time.
Have a passion for Etsy’s mission to keep human connection at the heart of commerce!

Responsibilities

Advising and delivering a variety of employment-related legal strategies and services across the organization regarding employment and employee relations such as offer letters, separation agreements, contractor agreements, and more.
Oversee and advise on employee-related internal investigations and employment litigation including responses to demand letters and agency complaints and audits (EEOC, DOL, etc.) and related investigations.
Advise on policy decisions, emerging risk areas, and risk mitigation strategies as well as providing or design training on employment-law topics.
Actively participate in the regular review/update of Etsy’s global employee handbooks and related HR policies ensuring compliance with federal, state, local and international employment laws and regulations.
Stay apprised of human resources standard methodologies, trends and developments in labor/employment law and apply them to Etsy through ongoing improvements to current processes, policies and templates.
Collaborate and set expectations with outside counsel (while the assumption remains that you are a hands-on experienced “doer”, and will only need outside counsel advice on edge cases).
Understand and support the DEI components of all of the above workstreams.
Support Legal department and team related projects, as needed.
Be a strong, communicative partner to your colleagues on the Legal team, the People team and leaders across our company.