Labor & Employment Attorney

Job Summary

Kairos Power is seeking its first in-house labor and employment attorney to advise on a wide range of employment, labor, and compliance matters. In this role, you will provide practical legal advice on hiring and recruiting, investigations, discipline and termination, leaves of absence, disability accommodation, wage and hour, anti-discrimination, compensation and benefits, labor activities, and other issues affecting the company’s employees and workplace. As a member of a small legal team, you will have significant ownership over assigned areas and play a key role in shaping legal strategy and processes as the company continues to grow.

Work location in Alameda, CA (hybrid).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary attorney supporting Kairos Power’s People Operations team.
• Advise on employment-law aspects of recruiting and hiring practices, including job postings, candidate selection, background checks, and pre-employment requirements, as applicable.
• Provide legal advice on discipline, termination, leave of absence, wage and hour compliance, anti-discrimination requirements, and compensation and benefits matters. 
• Advise on employee classification matters, including exempt/nonexempt status and independent contractor classification.
• Advise on employee accommodations and the interactive process, including disability, pregnancy, and religious accommodation matters.
• Partner with People Operations and other internal stakeholders on employment-law considerations arising from organizational and workforce changes, including reductions in force, restructurings, reorganizations, and applicable notice and compliance requirements.
• Draft and review employment document and templates, including offer letters, employment agreements, policies and procedures, and separation agreements.
• Collaborate with the Learning & Development team to develop and implement training programs for employees, managers and People Operations on employment-related topics. 
• Monitor developments in employment and labor laws and regulations, proactively identify areas of risk, and propose practical company-wide strategies for mitigating risks.
• Oversee or conduct internal investigations and provide guidance on employee performance or conduct concerns.
• Manage employment-related claims and demands, including agency complaints and investigations.
• Manage outside employment counsel.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Current member in good standing with at least one state bar.
• 5+ years of relevant labor and employment law experience, including counseling employers on federal and state employment-law matters.
• Experience advising HR/People teams and business leaders on employee-relations and workplace legal issues.
• Experience conducting or advising on workplace investigations.
• Experience with administrative procedures and responding to federal, state, and local agency charges.
• California employment-law experience desirable.
• Experience in both law firms and in-house is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong knowledge and foundation in federal and state employment laws.
• Strong advocacy skills and experience in litigation, arbitration, mediation, and settlement negotiations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with non-lawyers, manage multiple projects and priorities, adapt to quickly changing conditions, and navigate ambiguity.
• Commitment to professional integrity, ethics, and confidentiality in handling sensitive information.
• Ability to identify and assess employment-related legal risks and develop practical risk-mitigation strategies.
• Strong legal research, drafting, and analytical skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with People Operations and business stakeholders while maintaining appropriate legal judgment and independence.

Physical Conditions

• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another
• Communicating with others to exchange information

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions

Travel 

• Some travel may be required, up to 10% 

Additional Requirements

• Requires occasional working weekends
• Requires occasional extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines

The salary range for this position is $175,100 to $218,700 for employees working onsite at our Alameda, CA headquarters. The range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate of candidates hired in California. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, the market data for your work location, and a comparison to other employees already in the role.

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