Sr. Counsel - Employment [Hybrid] - EDF Renewables North America

EDF Renewables North America is a market-leading independent power producer and service provider with over 35 years of experience. We deliver grid-scale power: wind (onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic, and storage projects; distribution-scale power: solar and storage; asset optimization: technical, operational, and commercial expertise to maximize the performance of generating projects, and onsite solutions, through the Company’s PowerFlex affiliate, offering a full suite of onsite energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers: solar, storage, EV charging, energy management systems, and microgrids.

Serve as the trusted advisor to the Chief Human Resources Officer and General Counsel on employment related legal matters. Provides in-house legal counsel on employment-related matters, which may include, but not be limited to, wage and hour law, pay equity, worker classification, workers’ compensation, unemployment, and other state and federal agency claims, employee benefits and incentive plans and programs, employment agreements, handbooks, and policy-related issues, leaves of absence, “protected-class” best practices and diversity initiatives, reasonable accommodations, employment-related pre-litigation and litigation matters including administrative charges, background checks, hiring matters, overseeing internal investigations, termination matters, severance agreements, reorgs and layoffs (including managing outside counsel strategy and spend related to the foregoing), and provide guidance to the Human Resources and other department as needs arise.

Work Mode:      Hybrid

Work Location: San Diego, CA.  [Carmel Mountain Ranch/Rancho Bernardo]

Salary Range:  $148k to $247k

• Identifies and assesses legal risks and opportunities within the employment area and advises accordingly.
• Independently handles legal matters and projects. Provide practical and solution-focused legal advice and support on business matters in a fast-paced environment.
• Work closely with the HR functions to support issues that may arise. Investigate highly sensitive employee relations issues and regulatory investigations related to employment matters. Oversee and advise HR leaders on investigations, investigation reports, and remedial and preventative actions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support and maintain compliance with all relevant laws as it relates to company handbooks, compensation, and global policies and procedures. Monitors legal issues and implications concerned with discrimination, reasonable accommodations, sexual harassment, health and safety, hiring and firing, performance management, as well as all other aspects of employee rights and responsibilities across the US and Canada.
• Provide employment-related support on transactional matters including acquisition-related advice and review of compensation and benefits plans.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable employment laws, regulations, and policies. Participates in and influences the decision-making process with appropriate clients and stakeholders. Assist HR in reviewing and implementing compliance training programs such as sexual harassment and wage and hour.
• Recognizes when to elevate certain matters to the attention of the General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer.
• Supervises, manages, and evaluates outside counsel on employment-related matters including litigation.
• Educates and trains clients and stakeholders on employment-related legal matters, policies and procedures.
• Establishes and maintains relationships, credibility, and trust with clients, stakeholders, legal team members, and other colleagues.
• Other duties as assigned

Supervision of Others: (Include # of direct reports and consultants for which you have authority. Do not include # of indirect reports supervised by other EDF Supervisors or Managers)

N/A

Required Education and Experience 

• Requires a JD from an accredited law school.
• Must be a member of the California State Bar.
• At least seven (7) years of employment law experience.

A plus if you  have...

• Experience advising a company with employees in multiple states.
• Experience with renewable energy through either a law firm, government agency, or in-house legal department.

 Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities 

• Ability to manage various assignments, work quickly and effectively under pressure and prioritize activities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Excellent oral/presentation and written communication skills.

Physical Requirements: (describe any physical demands of the job such as lifting, climbing, standing, stooping, etc.)

N/A

Working Conditions:

90% of time is spent in the office environment, utilizing computers (frequent use of various Microsoft software/programs), phones, and general office equipment. 10% of time is spent outside of the office visiting EDFR NA offices and sites in addition to attending various conferences and meetings.