Senior Associate General Counsel

Senior Associate General CounselNRDC is seeking a Senior Associate General Counsel with expertise in employment law and labor relations. Office of the General Counsel ("OGC") provides in-house legal support to all NRDC programs and departments. This position will oversee the vertical within the OGC team comprising employment, labor, and benefits. They will manage and oversee other OGC attorneys and will provide legal counsel to key partners across NRDC, such as the People & DEI Team ("PODEI"). NRDC is in the process of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with the NRDC Union; once completed, this position will be responsible for implementation and oversight of the CBA.ResponsibilitiesTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:Provide guidance to PODEI and others on consistent application of employment policies, including performance management, accommodations, employee classification, engagement structures, outside engagements, and employee relations matters.Oversee compliance with employment requirements applicable to NRDC's multistate U.S. workforce, including city, state and federal wage?and?hour standards, leave laws, pay?transparency obligations, discipline, termination, and hiring and onboarding rules.Advise on Africa?border considerations related to international staff (e.g. Africa, China, India, UK), coordinating with local counsel as needed to align with jurisdiction?specific expectations.Develop strong relationships with key PODEI managers and stakeholders, and work collaboratively to address evolving and emergent matters.Draft, revise, and maintain employment?related policies, handbooks, and compliance frameworks to ensure alignment with legal requirements and organizational needs.Review PODEI-related vendor agreements, including data?processing and confidentiality provisions, to ensure responsible handling of workforce data by third parties.Develop and deliver training for managers, PODEI personnel, and staff on employment?law obligations, workplace conduct expectations, and changes in relevant legal requirements.Coordinate with PODEI to deliver other OGC trainings to relevant NRDC staff.Advise on legal requirements relating to employee benefits programs, including health and welfare plans, retirement plans, disability benefits, and related administrative practices.Provide legal support for compensation?related matters in coordination with HR and senior leadership.Evaluate employment and employee related data practices for legal risk, establish priorities for process improvements, and advise on appropriate solutions for compliance issues and employment disputes.Monitor legislation, regulations, judicial developments, and government enforcement activities relating to benefits, compensation and employment law; advise on necessary updates to programs, plan documents, or processes.Advise on employee relations matters and manage any litigation, investigations, disputes, settlement negotiations, or claims, including managing outside counsel.Staff relevant NRDC committees, such as the NRDC Board HR subcommittee and the Benefits Committee.Support the implementation of NRDC's first collective bargaining agreement and future bargaining and related activities.Manage, delegate, and provide guidance and mentorship to direct reports on a day-to-day basis, and other colleagues on specific projects or matters.The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position's responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.QualificationsMinimum Education & Experience:Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school required.Current license in good standing to practice law.8+ years of experience with federal, state, and/or international legal issues in the exempt organization field in the areas of employment, labor and benefits matters; at least 4 years of in-house experience and/or subject matter leadership strongly preferred.Experience successfully managing junior attorneys and paralegalsExperience working within a union environmentSkills, Abilities, CompetenciesExperience with federal and state legal issues in the exempt organization field in the areas of employment, labor and benefits matters; in-house experience strongly preferred.Communicate complex legal concepts clearly and succinctly, including to lay audiences, in both formal training and informal advising.High-level of emotional intelligence and ability to collaborate across diverse teams and stakeholders.Excellent drafting, research, and written and oral communication skills.Strong critical thinking and analytical ability, sound judgment, strategic orientation, and interpersonal maturity.Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple assignments and meet deadlines independently and with strong attention to detail.Integrity, professional discretion and ability to handle sensitive/confidential matters.Flexibility and ability to work well independently on multiple projects with a wide variety of people, at all levels of the organization.Competence with and commitment to diversity and inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with diverse colleagues, leaders and partners.Experience in anti-discrimination matters,?hiring preferences, immigration, and pay equity audits a plus.Ability to travel to NRDC offices as needed, approximately 15-20%Commitment to NRDC's mission, values, and DEI principles.NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $180,000 to $200,000.NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month.As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws.To apply, visit and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs.If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at View phone number on click.appcast.io.For more about NRDC, visit