Assistant General Counsel, Labor & Employment

Company:  

At Brightline, we believe in creating meaningful connections through exceptional experiences. We’re creating a brighter way to get there by making travel more convenient, more sustainable, and more hospitable every day. If you’re optimistic, forward-thinking, and interested in shaping the future of travel with us, we’d love to hear from you.

Your Purpose

Reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer, the Assistant General Counsel, Labor & Employment is crucial in ensuring compliance with all labor and employment laws. You will serve as a subject matter expert, providing strategic legal advice and guidance on labor and employment law matters. Key responsibilities include negotiating and interpreting collective bargaining agreements, reviewing and updating company policies, managing grievances, litigation, and risk, and collaborating with and providing support for the People and Culture team. Your expertise and contributions will play a key role in nurturing a compliant and positive workplace environment.

Your Role

Legal Expertise and Compliance

• Serve as a subject matter expert in all areas of employment and labor law and provide guidance to ensure compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to employment and all applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Ensure the organization's policies and practices comply with all relevant laws and regulations by reviewing and updating the employee handbooks, policies, procedures, SOPs, and various guidelines related to employment and compensation matters.
• Stay abreast of developments in employment law at the federal, state, and local levels, and effectively communicate updates to internal stakeholders and People and Culture; Develop and lead training programs in employee and labor relations best practice in partnership with the People & Culture team.
• Collaborate with People and Culture on compliance risk assessments.
  
  
  

Strategic Guidance & Counseling

• Negotiate, review, and draft employment-related agreements, including collective bargaining agreements, executive employment agreements, non-compete agreements, confidentiality agreements, and severance agreements.
• Advise on employee and labor relations matters, including disciplinary actions, grievances, and investigations into complaints of harassment, discrimination, or other misconduct, and provide training to management and employees on workplace policies, procedures, and legal obligations.
• Provide strategic legal advice and counseling on general employment law matters, including workplace policies and procedures, performance management, compensation and benefits, human resources issues, internal investigations, worker classification, accommodations, terminations, leaves of absence, recruiting and hiring.
• Proactively identify and assess legal risks and advise management and People and Culture teams accordingly on legal risks and compliance requirements related to employment and labor matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour laws, and employee benefits, and find opportunities within the labor and employment area for risk prevention purposes; advise and escalate accordingly, proposing creative solutions.
  
  
  

Litigation and Risk Management

• Manage any potential or active litigation, arbitration and mediations matters regarding employment and labor related matters.
• Manage outside counsel/law firms handling certain employment matters and litigation, as needed and in a cost-effective manner.
• Perform other related duties assigned.
  
  
  

Your Qualifications

• Minimum 7-10 years of labor and employment legal experience, with a strong preference for rail, airline, and/or other transportation industry experience.
• Bar admission (Florida preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree and J.D. required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplined management team.
• Excellent analytical capabilities as well as written and oral presentation and communication skills.
• Business-focused – a practical lawyer who aims to understand the business and possesses an understanding of how legal terms translate to business impact to support overall company initiatives and goals.
• Impeccable integrity and a strong personal work ethic.
• Ability to prioritize and coordinate multiple assignments and tasks across multiple projects in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to travel as needed for business.
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of FRA regulatory requirements a big plus.
  
  
  

Combine your experience, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit by joining our growing team in Florida. Brightline is pleased to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package and the opportunity to make a difference while making history as the country's only privately funded rapid rail service.

Brightline Management, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Brightline Management, LLC will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.