Senior Counsel, Labor and Employment

In addition to the responsibilities listed below, this position is also responsible for providing legal advice to KP leadership on highly complex and nuanced employment law issues, including strategic advice to Human Resources (HR) and KP leadership on a wide variety of employment legal issues and compliance projects; collaborating with other stakeholders on highly complex, cross-functional legal matters; evaluating and communicating legal risks associated with complaints, grievances, charges, employer practices, and other legal matters; maintaining and deepening expert knowledge of employment laws under federal, state, and other jurisdiction laws, rules, and regulations; serving as a leading expert to provide advice and counsel for regulatory activities in scope for employment laws, including regulatory reporting, interpreting new laws and regulations, assessing operational impacts of laws and regulations, and leading evaluation and revision of applicable KP policies; partnering with HR to develop and deliver high-impact training for HR professionals, leaders, and managers on employment-related issues; and overseeing counsel that partners with Human Resources (HR) to advise on and formulate comprehensive HR policies related to employee benefits in alignment with KPs legal initiatives and current Labor and Employments. 

• Participates in the creation, review, and negotiation of legal documents by: preparing, drafting, creating, and reviewing highly complex and nuanced written legal advice, contracts, and/or other documents related to subject matter expertise; overseeing work product of others; and providing highly technical, expert and actionable guidance to clients and other legal professionals (e.g., legal counsel, paralegals, and legal assistants).
• Performs and analyzes legal research by: performing or managing highly complex research and analyses of case law and statutory/regulatory authority including but not limited to federal and state laws, rules, regulations, accreditation standards, and/or other applicable guidance; analyzing highly complex industry patterns and trends impacting legal questions or issues; and effectively synthesizing and communicating legal research findings and legal analysis to cross-functional senior business stakeholders to inform program-wide strategy and critical business decisions.
• Assesses legal risk and/or provides legal guidance by: applying expert knowledge of legal principles, business risks, regulatory landscape, and compliance considerations to provide legal advice and recommendations on matters highly critical to the organization; leading legal strategies for senior business stakeholders and implementing innovative solutions that mitigate legal risks, drive program-wide business strategy, and further advance Kaiser Permanentes mission; managing and overseeing outside counsel on highly technical and complex legal matters; effectively collaborating with other attorneys to leverage and share expertise and resources in a highly matrixed environment; and overseeing junior-level attorneys and other legal professionals or guiding more junior attorneys in their area of expertise, and as appropriate.
• Contributes to legal planning and strategy by: formulating and managing legal strategy for the implementation of significant and innovative solutions to unique issues; driving the resolution of highly complex legal issues through collaboration among legal colleagues and stakeholders; advising senior stakeholders on health plan and/or care delivery business and/or clinical strategies; engaging with regulatory services and government relations on Kaiser Permanentes advocacy strategies to address legislative, regulatory and litigation risk; and managing, leading, or guiding responses to regulatory actions as appropriate for practice areas (e.g., audits and enforcement actions).

Qualifications:

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in employment, labor, or employee benefits law
• Minimum ten (10) years of experience as a practicing lawyer.
  
   

• Juris Doctorate (JD) or equivalent (e.g., Legum Baccalaureus [LLBs], Legum Magister [LLMs], and Postgraduate Certificate in Laws [PCLLs])

• State Bar License (from any State where KP does business)
   

• N/A

• Five (5) years of experience in employee benefits administration, including benefit plan governance and compliance.
• Five (5) years of experience advising or representing clients on wage and hour matters.
• Two (2) years of experience practicing traditional labor law (e.g. handling labor arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, collective bargaining and strikes).
• One (1) year of experience working on highly complex remediation and/or compliance projects.