What’s cool about this job
Do you love spending time outside – paddling, cycling, hiking, or just being in nature? Are you excited about an opportunity to use your legal expertise to enable a life outside for everyone. REI Co-op, a growing, purpose-driven specialty retailer and leader in outdoor recreation, is looking for a Sr. Counsel – Labor and Employment.
At REI, we believe time outside is fundamental to a life well lived and exist to inspire and enable a life outside for everyone. To deliver on that promise, we are working with our 15,000 employees, 20M members and the broader outdoor community toward a reality where everyone has the opportunity to be themselves, to access opportunities and find their place in the outdoors. For us, that means:
- Investing in work that removes the barriers people and communities face to getting outside
- Delivering relevant products, experiences, and expertise to equip and inspire a new generation of outdoor stewards
- Cultivating a workforce that reflects the demographics of the markets we serve
- Leading the industry’s efforts to welcome people and communities historically underrepresented into outdoor media and culture
REI’s Legal team is a key partner to achieving its vision. The Sr. Counsel – Labor and Employment will provide advice and leadership on labor and employment issues and serve as a trusted business partner to leaders across our organization, including counseling executive leadership like REI’s Chief People Officer, and be a key member of the legal team, reporting to the General Counsel.
Responsibilities
- Provide thought-leadership and sets direction on legal issues impacting REI’s strategic goals and objectives with respect to its employees and the employment experience
- Deliver day to day legal advice on sensitive and wide-ranging labor and employment matters including hiring and recruiting, employee relations, discipline, investigations, wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodation, terminations, workforce restructuring activities, labor activities, and other related topics.
- Investigate and respond to demand letters and agency complaints and audits (e.g., EEOC, DFEH, DOL, OFCCP, DLSE, etc.).
- Manage employment litigation with outside counsel.
- Ensure REI’s compliance with applicable federal, state, and local labor and employment laws (Title VII, ADA, ADEA, NLRA, etc.).
- Advise on labor law issues, including advising on organizing activities, negotiations, etc.
- Partner with Human Resources in the development and implementation of employment policies and practices.
- Develop and conduct labor and employment compliance trainings (live and online).
Bring your passion and expertise
Qualifications
- At least 10 years of employment and labor law experience at a highly respected law firm or in-house corporate environment.
- Client counseling and experience in employment and labor disputes.
- J.D. required.
- Registered and in good standing with at least one State Bar and eligible to practice law in the State of Washington.
Essential Leadership Attributes
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically while acting pragmatically to handle multiple projects at the same time effectively and efficiently
- High level of character and personal integrity
- Ability to build open, trusting, and honest relationships, effectively influencing a wide range of people
- Willingness to lead projects independently, with initiative and ownership
- Ability to communicate complex information in a clear manner, and drive direction for the organization
- Team player with a positive attitude, self-confidence, enthusiasm and resilience
- Brings a creative, problem-solving perspective to challenging issues
- Intellectual curiosity and desire to learn and develop new skills
- Contributes to the success of company by leading or assisting with other projects as needed
- Interest in leveraging technology for efficiency in legal operations.
- Experience in retail, consumer, or experiential/hospitality business preferred, but not required.
#LI-CW1
As required by applicable Pay Transparency laws, REI provides a range of compensation for roles that may be hired in locations under these requirements. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include a wide array of factors, including: your specific skills and experience, geographic location or other relevant factors.
The pay for this role is: $137500 – $233900 per year .