Senior Attorney

Senior AttorneySmart Start is seeking an experienced, business-minded, and self-motivated Senior Attorney to be based in its Grapevine, Texas location. Reporting to the General Counsel, this attorney will serve as a trusted legal advisor to business leaders and cross-functional teams, providing legal advice across a wide variety of matters with primary responsibility for all employment law matters, compensations and benefits, litigation, claims management, and compliance.This is a hands-on role for someone who is energized by doing the work, solving complex legal problems, and driving practical business outcomes. The successful candidate will combine strong legal analysis with sound business judgment, discretion, practical problem-solving, clear communication, and the ability to independently manage complex and sensitive matters. This is a newly created position within the Legal Department.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesServe as the organization’s legal expert on the full range of employee relation matters for the organization and its affiliated entities in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe, including hiring, performance management, disciplinary actions, termination, compensation, benefits, leaves of absence, accommodations, workplace harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wage and hour issues.Review and support the development of compensation and benefit plan documents, policies, communications, and related compliance processes, including applicable ERISA and tax-related considerations.Provide proactive, preventative legal counsel to HR and business leaders to identify and mitigate potential legal risks.Advise the organization on emerging and evolving international, federal, state, and local employment laws and regulatory guidance, and develop compliant practices and policies.Review and revise offer letters, agreements, privacy notices, employee communications, and incentive plans.Provide counseling on post-termination contractual obligations (non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality obligations).Own litigation, arbitration, administrative claims, threats of claims, subpoenas, customer disputes, and government inquiries around the world, including early assessment, preservation, case strategy and management, discovery, preparing witnesses for testimony, drafting or reviewing pleadings, motions, answers, and other court documents, settlement, and insurance coordination.Represent the organization and its affiliated entities in court proceedings, mediations, and arbitrations.Lead internal investigations in connection with potential, threatened, and actual employment claims, alleged misconduct, policy violations, or compliance concerns, including developing investigation plans, conducting document and other factual collection and analysis, preparing for and conducting witness interviews, documenting findings, and recommending remediation.Handle litigation work in-house and coordinate with outside counsel when matters require external support, including budgets, staffing, performance, and spend management.Advise on legal and regulatory issues involving the organization’s and its affiliated entities operations in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe, coordinating with local counsel as appropriate.Support cross-border employment, privacy, commercial, operational, corporate, and compliance matters, including coordination of international policies and risk management.Design and implement policies and procedures, training, controls, and reporting mechanisms to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable international, federal, state, and local laws.Strengthen enterprise risk management by identifying emerging legal and reputational risks, leading risk assessments, establishing practical mitigation and escalation plans, and providing concise recommendations to the General Counsel and senior leaders.Improve legal processes to enhance efficiency, scalability, and service delivery.Leverage technology and AI tools responsibly to improve productivity.Contribute to cross-functional initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.Support development and implementation of enterprise information governance and records management initiatives.Partner with business, IT, Compliance, and Records Management stakeholders to enhance information governance, retention, and disposition practices.Advise on retention schedules, disposition practices, and data governance matters.Assist in developing policies, procedures, and training related to records, information governance, and litigation readiness.Act as a trusted advisor to the organization.Provide legal guidance during mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, workforce restructures, and strategic business initiatives.Partner with leadership to develop strategies that align business objectives with legal and regulatory requirements.Influence organizational decision-making through practical, business-oriented legal counsel.Partner with the General Counsel on various corporate, commercial, operations, and regulatory initiatives.Participate in budget management efforts.QualificationsJuris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar; eligibility to practice as required for the role.At least six (6) years of relevant legal experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal department.Solid working knowledge of international, federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.Experience independently managing litigation, internal investigations, and outside counsel; ability to handle sensitive matters with sound judgment and discretion.Ability to prioritize multiple projects with shifting deadlines, exercise initiative, and work effectively with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.Commercial and financial acumen with the ability to understand operating priorities, evaluate tradeoffs, quantify or contextualize risk, and translate and communicate complex legal concepts into concise, actionable business guidance.Experience building scalable legal processes and using templates, playbooks, metrics, workflow technology, automation, and responsible AI to improve service, consistency, and speed.Experience in data privacy, security incident response, AI governance, and international operations strongly preferred.Must be a U.S. citizen or have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986.Must be willing to travel when required for the job.Must be able to work flexible schedule to include non-business days and hours as needed to meet client needs. Flexibility to occasionally accommodate other time zones as part of our global organization.Physical Demands & Work EnvironmentRegularly required to communicate verbally and hear.Frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.Occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.Requires close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as assigned by an authorized supervisor. The Company may modify duties, responsibilities, and requirements as needed, including providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and employment remains at will.