Position Overview

Summary: The Davey Tree Expert Company (“Davey Tree” or “the Company”) is one of the largest employee-owned companies in the country. Davey Tree and its subsidiary companies provide a wide range of arboricultural, horticultural, environmental, utility support, and consulting services to customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Company is excited to expand its Legal Department with the addition of an Associate Counsel, Labor and Employment to continue to meet the demands of the fast-growing business.

The Associate Counsel will be a hybrid position based in Livermore, California, as well as your home office. This position will report to our Senior Labor and Employment Counsel.

The Associate Counsel will be responsible for advising Davey’s Human Resource Department and other business partners in the U.S. and Canada on a wide range of labor and employment law issues. The Associate Counsel will also provide labor and employment legal advice related to the Company’s strategic initiatives.

The Associate Counsel is an exempt, full-time employee position. The salary range for this position is $115,000 - $150,000 annual compensation. The compensation package offered will be based on multiple individualized factors, including a candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Job Functions*):

• Establishes and maintains relationships, credibility, and trust with business partners, operations management, Human Resources Department, Legal team members, and other colleagues.*
• Provides strategic legal counsel on labor and employment-related matters, including, but not limited to the following, human resources issues (i.e., recruiting, hiring, restructuring, disciplinary decisions, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, etc.); wage and hour law disputes; restrictive covenants; workers’ compensation issues; unemployment and other state agency claims; labor relations; employee benefits; employee relations; employment agreements and policy related issues; employee accommodation matters; employment-related litigation; government audits and investigations; labor and employment law compliance; grievance administration; arbitrations; and mediations.*
• Uses expertise and independent judgment to conduct internal investigations regarding issues related to employee harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation claims.*
• Supports the Company’s employment-related regulatory filings including California Say-on-Pay, EEOC, Veterans, and similar reports.*
• Provides day-to-day legal support and counseling to the Company’s business partners, operations management, Human Resources, and other colleagues.*
• Identifies areas of concern regarding labor and employment law compliance and proactive risk management opportunities for the Company and advises accordingly.*
• Provides training on relevant labor and employment law issues and legal updates to the Company’s business partners, operations management, colleagues, and other stakeholders.*
• Provides policy updates and identifies training needs in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies.*

Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Job Functions*) continued:

• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of labor and employment regulatory developments, ensuring the Company remains in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies.*
• Drafts labor and employment related agreements and correspondence, including, but not limited to, severance agreements, settlement agreements, cease-and-desist letters, demand letter responses, and other documents while maintaining accuracy and professionalism in all communications.*
• Independently manages labor and employment issues and litigation ranging from basic to complex.*
• Recognizes when to elevate certain matters to the attention of the Senior Labor and Employment Counsel, General Counsel, or other Legal team members.*
• Supervises, manages, and evaluates support staff on labor and employment-related matters, including litigation.*
• Supervises and manages outside counsel, utilizing outside counsel in a fiscally responsible manner.*
• Assists in pre-litigation activities, including developing defense strategies, internal fact gathering, and ultimately managing litigation from start to finish.*
• Advises Company management regarding labor relations, including providing support during labor negotiations, grievance processing, mediation, and arbitration.*
• Advocates for the Company’s interests in all assigned matters.*
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Follow all company policies, procedures, and work rules.

Education and Experience

• Required: Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
• Required: Licensed (and in good standing) in California
• Required: At least three (3) years of substantive labor and employment experience with a corporate legal department or law firm.
• Required: Knowledge of California (state and local) employment laws and regulations.
• Required: Excellent legal research and writing skills. Required: Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Required: Prior demonstrated experience managing support staff. Preferred: Experience as a chief negotiator during union negotiations. Preferred: Bilingual in Spanish.

Additional Information

What We Offer: *

• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Opportunities for advancement
• All job specific equipment and safety gear provided
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match
• Employee-owned company & discounted stock purchase options
• Group Health Plan
• Employee referral bonus program
• Locations throughout US in major cities and desirable areas
• Career Development Program supported by Industry Expert Safety Specialists & Skills Trainers
• Scholarship Program for Children of Employees
• Charitable matching gift program

• all listed benefits available to eligible employees