Senior Counsel, Labor and Employment

REI•Seattle, WA

74d

About The Position

Overview Do you love spending time outside - paddling, cycling, hiking, or just being in nature? Are you excited about an opportunity to use your legal expertise to enable a life outside for everyone. REI Co-op, a purpose-driven specialty retailer and leader in outdoor recreation, is looking for a Sr. Counsel - Labor and Employment. At REI, we believe time outside is fundamental to a life well lived and exist to inspire and enable a life outside for everyone. To deliver on that promise, we are working with our 16,000 employees, 20M+ members and the broader outdoor community toward a reality where everyone has the opportunity to be themselves, to access opportunities and find their place in the outdoors. For us, that means: Delivering relevant products, experiences, and expertise to equip and inspire a new generation of outdoor stewards Cultivating an engaged workforce that reflects the demographics of the markets we serve Leading the industry's efforts to welcome people into the outdoors REI's Legal team is a key partner to achieving its vision. The Sr. Counsel - Labor and Employment will provide advice and leadership on labor and employment issues and serve as a trusted business partner to leaders across our organization, including counseling executive leadership like REI's Chief People Officer, and be a key member of the legal team, reporting to the Chief Legal Officer.

Requirements

At least 10 years of employment and labor law experience at a highly respected law firm or in-house corporate environment.
J.D. required.
Client counseling and experience in employment and labor disputes.
Registered and in good standing with at least one State Bar and eligible to practice law in the State of Washington.

Nice To Haves

Experience in retail, consumer, or experiential/hospitality business preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

Provide thought-leadership and sets direction on legal issues impacting REI's strategic goals and objectives with respect to its employees and the employment experience
Deliver day-to-day legal advice on sensitive and wide-ranging labor and employment matters including hiring and recruiting, employee relations, discipline, investigations, wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodation, terminations, workforce restructuring activities, labor activities, ERGs, and other related topics.
Manage employment-related claims and demands, including investigating, responding, and resolving demand letters and agency complaints and audits (e.g., EEOC, DFEH, DOL, OFCCP, DLSE, etc.).
Manage employment litigation with outside counsel.
Advise on REI's compliance with applicable federal, state, and local labor and employment laws (e.g., Title VII, ADA, ADEA, NLRA, etc.).
Advise on legal issues relating to compensation and benefits issues.
Advise on labor law issues, including organizing activities, negotiations, ULPs, etc.
Partner with Human Resources in the development and implementation of employment policies and practices
Develop and conduct labor and employment compliance training (live and online).