Senior Employment Counsel - Americas

Octus•New York, NY

9d•$170,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Octus is seeking a seasoned, collaborative employment attorney to serve as Senior Employment Counsel, Americas and join their legal team in their New York headquarters. This role reports to the General Counsel and will own employment law across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The attorney will advise on complex employment matters, partner closely with HR/People leaders, and serve as a trusted problem-solver for business teams across the region. The role also involves supporting broader commercial legal work and partnering with the GC on longer-term strategic initiatives. A unique aspect of this role is the opportunity to expand legal expertise by learning and supporting the Intellectual Property (IP) and commercial portfolios under the guidance of the General Counsel. This position is ideal for an experienced employment attorney with deep U.S. employment expertise and the intellectual curiosity to contribute to commercial and IP matters. It is a high-impact role for an attorney who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, possesses sound judgment under pressure, and desires to shape employment practices at a high-growth global company. The position is a hybrid role requiring 3 days in the New York City office.

Requirements

J.D. with New York Bar admission
8+ years’ experience at a law firm and/or in-house, with a deep focus on employment law including U.S. federal and multi-state matters required
Quick, incisive thinker and creative problem-solver who cuts through complexity, identifies risk quickly, and delivers clear, practical recommendations that enable the business to move forward
Proactive, collaborative team player who takes ownership and follows through — equally comfortable driving independently and rolling up their sleeves alongside colleagues across HR, Finance, Compliance, and the business
Exceptional communicator — clear and confident in writing and conversation, able to translate legal complexity into plain language for executives, managers, and employees at all levels
Skilled at managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment with grace — highly organized, calm under pressure, and adept at quickly triaging and reprioritizing as needs shift
High integrity, low ego — brings strong attention to detail and a positive, solutions-oriented attitude; earns trust quickly and sustains it through consistency and good judgment

Nice To Haves

Experience with Canadian or Latin American employment law a plus
Exposure to cross-border employment, international mobility, or M&A employment integration is highly preferred
Skill and experience in contract drafting and negotiation including client licensing agreements and other financial technology/fintech commercial matters preferred, but a genuine curiosity and eagerness to learn fintech commercial law and Intellectual Property under GC mentorship.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary employment law resource across the Americas (U.S., Canada, and Latin America), advising on a full spectrum of employment matters including hiring, performance management, terminations, RIFs, leaves, accommodations, and wage and hour compliance
Stay ahead of and proactively advise on evolving employment laws and regulations across U.S. federal, state, and local jurisdictions where our employees are based as well as Canadian and Latin American markets, translating complex changes into clear, actionable guidance and ensuring the company stays ahead of compliance obligations
Collaborate closely and proactively with the HR/People team as a trusted partner on employment policies, workplace investigations, employee relations matters, and manager training — serving as a go-to thought partner, not just a reviewer
Design and implement scalable employment and legal processes in partnership with HR, Finance, and business leaders; build resources (playbooks, templates, training) that empower the team to operate confidently
Manage employment disputes, agency charges (EEOC, NLRB, state equivalents), and pre-litigation matters across the Americas; coordinate with outside counsel when needed and apply sound judgment to resolve issues efficiently
Review, draft, and negotiate commercial agreements, including client licensing and subscription agreements, vendor contracts, and NDAs, with a collaborative approach that moves deals forward without unnecessary friction
Advise on client licensing and fintech commercial matters, including SaaS and data subscription agreements, API licensing, and technology partnership arrangements — ensuring commercial terms align with product, compliance, and risk requirements
Support intellectual property matters, including advising on IP ownership, protection strategies, licensing terms, and third-party IP issues arising in product development, vendor relationships, and customer contracts
Support corporate governance, privacy, and other legal matters; opportunities to expand scope based on interest and experience