Senior Labor and Employment Counsel

Purestar Group•Philadelphia, PA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Senior Labor and Employment Counsel serves as a trusted legal advisor to senior business leaders across a multi-state organization, with a focus on California based operations. Based in Central California, this position provides strategic legal counsel on a broad range of employment, labor, workplace compliance, and workforce management matters. Guided by the Chief Legal Officer, the role partners closely with operational leadership to proactively manage legal risk, support employee and labor relations strategies, conduct complex workplace investigations, oversee employment litigation, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. Particular emphasis is placed on California employment law, while maintaining responsibility for advising on legal requirements across multiple jurisdictions. This position balances legal expertise with practical business guidance and plays a critical role in fostering a compliant, productive, and employee-focused workplace.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar.
Minimum of 8 years of experience practicing California employment and labor law, including significant in-house or management-side counseling experience.
Demonstrated expertise advising employers on employment law and employee relations matters.
Strong experience conducting and advising on complex workplace investigations.
Experience directly handling employment litigation, with trial and arbitration experience, as well as managing administrative agency proceedings.
Knowledge of federal employment laws, including: Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, NLRA, OSHA, PWFA, USERRA.
Significant experience supporting labor relations issues, collective bargaining matters, and grievance administration.
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Suite.
Excellent communication skills (phone, written, email) for varied internal and external audiences.
Flexible time management with shifting priorities and multitasking.

Nice To Haves

Advanced knowledge of Excel is a plus (vlookup, pivot tables, data validation, conditional formatting)

Responsibilities

Provide legal guidance on employee relations matters, including performance management, disciplinary actions, terminations, accommodations, leaves of absence, workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour issues.
Advise leaders on legally compliant and consistent employee management practices across multiple states.
Counsel business leaders on workplace investigations involving allegations of misconduct, ethics concerns, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and policy violations.
Evaluate legal risks associated with employment decisions and provide practical recommendations for resolution.
Develop practical solutions that balance legal obligations with operational and employee experience considerations.
Serve as the organization's subject matter expert on California employment laws and emerging workplace regulations.
Provide guidance on California-specific wage and hour requirements, meal and rest periods, exempt and non-exempt classifications, pay transparency, accommodations, leaves of absence, personnel records, and privacy regulations.
Advise on compliance with FEHA, CFRA, PDL, wage and hour laws, and other California employment requirements.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and proactively advise stakeholders regarding business impacts and compliance strategies.
Provide legal support and strategic guidance for labor relations activities involving represented employees.
Advise operational and functional leadership regarding collective bargaining agreement interpretation, contract administration, grievances, and arbitration matters.
Support collective bargaining negotiations and labor strategy development.
Counsel leaders regarding union organizing activity, labor-management relations, and National Labor Relations Act compliance.
Assist in responding to unfair labor practice charges, NLRB proceedings, and labor-related disputes.
Assist in preparing responses to union organizing activities, unfair labor practice charges, and labor board proceedings.
Oversee California based employment-related litigation, agency charges, audits, and administrative proceedings.
Partner with Human Resources in responding to EEOC, DOL, NLRB, state labor agency, and other regulatory inquiries.
Conduct legal risk assessments and recommend risk mitigation strategies.
Support internal investigations involving employment, labor, ethics, compliance, and workplace conduct matters.
Direct document preservation, witness preparation, settlement evaluations, and case management activities.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment and labor laws across all California locations.
Identify emerging legal risks and advise on implementing proactive compliance solutions.
Act as a trusted advisor to Human Resources and Operations.
Provide legal guidance during mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, workforce restructures, and strategic business initiatives.
Partner with leadership to develop workforce strategies that align business objectives with legal and regulatory requirements.
Influence organizational decision-making through practical, business-oriented legal counsel.