Associate General Counsel (HR, Labor Relations & Employment Litigation)

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

3d

About The Position

As the Associate General Counsel (Human Resources (HR), Labor Relations & Employment Litigation), you will provide authoritative legal advice and counsel to executive leadership, Human Resources, and management on complex employment, labor, and workplace matters. This role serves as the Airports Authority’s lead legal advisor on employment law compliance, ethics compliance and policy interpretation, labor relations, and employment-related disputes, ensuring legally sound, equitable, and operationally practical outcomes. Serves in the Office of General Counsel at the Headquarters Office.

Requirements

• Nine (9) years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law in the United States, with substantial experience in employment law, labor relations, and litigation or administrative proceedings.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local employment and labor laws, including EEO, wage and hour, collective bargaining, grievance procedures, workplace investigations, and public sector employment regulations.
• Ability to draft and review contracts and procurement documents, and provide legal advice related to contract administration and enforcement.
• Proven ability to manage employment litigation, direct outside counsel, and represent an organization in mediations, arbitrations, and adversarial administrative proceedings.
• Ability to synthesize competing organizational, operational, and legal interests to deliver balanced, practical, and defensible legal solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple, complex legal matters concurrently.
• Ability to perform complex analyses of data and information and make recommendations.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with emphasis on negotiation and persuasive techniques.
• Skill in using computers and modern office and legal research software.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree.
• State driver’s license in good standing.
• Membership in the Virginia Bar or the ability to secure admission within six months of hire, promotion, or placement in the job.
• Membership in the Virginia Bar must be maintained.
• Work is reviewed for quality, timeliness, legal sufficiency, teamwork, and customer service.
• May be subject to job pressures from adversarial circumstances, litigation deadlines, and labor negotiations.
• May be required to travel to other cities or airport locations.
• May be subject to adverse weather conditions and operational environments when visiting airport facilities; personal protective equipment may be required.
• Required to complete periodic legal education to remain current with changing employment and labor laws.

Nice To Haves

• Membership in the Virginia Bar.
• Specialized professional legal experience in a public sector organization governed by a board of directors or similar governing body, such as airports, transportation authorities, state agencies, or local government entities.
• Experience advising HR leadership or labor relations teams in a unionized or highly regulated environment.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in at least one of the following areas of law: ethics, freedom of information, business affairs, aviation-related regulatory matters, public finance, construction, public safety or airport security.

Responsibilities

• Provides day-to-day legal advice to HR and executive leadership on hiring, discipline, performance management, terminations, reductions in force, workplace investigations, accommodations, leave administration, wage and hour, and workplace conduct matters.
• Reviews Authority-wide HR policies, employee handbooks, codes of conduct, and separation or settlement agreements to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment and labor laws.
• Serves as legal advisor in unionized environments, including collective bargaining negotiations, grievance administration, unfair labor practice matters, and proceedings before labor relations boards or similar tribunals.
• Provides legal guidance on internal investigations involving employee misconduct, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, ensuring fair, timely, and defensible processes.
• Interprets and applies the Airports Authority’s Codes of Ethics for the Board of Directors and employees; advises directors and employees about the application of the Codes of Ethics.
• Provides ethics training for directors and employees and ensures that annual financial disclosures and certifications are filed by directors and employees.
• Receives and investigates allegations of violations of the Codes of Ethics; serves as primary support staff to the Board of Directors’ Ethics Review Committee; and recommends revisions to the Codes of Ethics.
• Advises leadership on legal risk, compliance trends, and emerging employment and labor law developments and recommends proactive strategies to mitigate organizational risk and support operational priorities.
• Monitors and analyzes changes in employment, labor, ethics, and workplace regulations and proposed legislation; drafts the Airports Authority’s comments or guidance as needed to protect organizational interests.
• Drafts resolutions, briefing materials, and legal memoranda for the Board of Directors and executive leadership on sensitive or high-impact employment and labor matters.
• May prepare legal documents, pleadings, discovery requests, and answers in litigation and adversarial administrative proceedings in defense of the Airports Authority against other parties.
• Liaises with regulatory agencies, mediators, and governmental entities on employment and labor issues impacting the Airports Authority.
• Represents the Airports Authority in adversarial administrative and judicial proceedings.
• Negotiates or helps negotiate agreements and settlements when in the Airports Authority’s best interests.
• Directs, evaluates, and manages outside legal counsel in employment and labor matters to ensure quality, cost control, and alignment with the Airports Authority’s objectives.
• Responds to and advises on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and records issues related to employment and labor matters.
• Stay abreast of developments in employment law, labor relations, benefits compliance, and public sector HR legal trends.
• May develop and deliver training for HR professionals, managers, and leadership on employment law compliance, labor relations best practices, workplace investigations, and policy implementation.
• Performs related duties as assigned to support the mission and legal needs of the Airports Authority.

Benefits

• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; well-being resources; health savings and flexible spending accounts; pension and retirement plans; and ongoing training and development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree