Senior Counsel, Employment Law

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Job Description

For more than 80 years, Kaplan has been a trailblazer in education and professional advancement. We are a global company at the intersection of education and technology, focused on collaboration, innovation, and creativity to deliver a best-in-class educational experience and make Kaplan a great place to work.

The future of education is here and we are eager to work alongside those who want to make a positive impact and inspire change in the world around them.

Job Description

The Senior Counsel, Legal, will represent Kaplan North America in the following areas: 1.) Labor and employment law including internal counseling on applicable laws and regulations and defense/representation of government or employee actions against Kaplan North America; and 2.) Contracts/transactions related primarily to employment issues including drafting, negotiating, responding to employment, independent contractor, and HR related vendor contracts/transactions on behalf of Kaplan North America. 

Experience in the above listed areas as well as significant experience advising corporations on labor and employment legal issues and representing mid to large size companies in labor and employment regulatory actions or litigation at a mid to large company, governmental entity, and/or a national or regional law firm is required. Experience in education products, licensing, privacy law, independent contractor law, employment law, and drafting/negotiating employment and technology agreements is desired. This role will report to the Kaplan North America General Counsel or Associate General Counsel and will support Kaplan North America’s Human Resources department advising on employment and labor issues as well as Operations teams. This is a great role for someone who enjoys a wide range of legal work in an entrepreneurial culture on a close-knit legal team. The fully remote role will require a significant level of independent judgment and legal decision making. 

This role is 100% remote and will require occasional travel less than 25% of the time.

Primary Responsibilities / Requirements

The ideal candidate will:

• be a valued partner to internal stakeholders translating dynamic business ideas into clear, precise agreements.
• have at least five years of experience advising mid to large size commercial clients on issues related to employment and labor law/regulations including representing such clients in actions brought by governmental entities or individuals in these areas as well as experience in transactions negotiations and drafting related to employment and human resources issues.
• draft and review responses and submissions to Requests for Proposals, MOUs, and sales and procurement contracts related to employment and labor law.
• experience working with large corporate human resources departments advising on legal issues related to employment and labor.
• have some familiarity with state and federal regulation of post-secondary and professional education programs (preferred but not required).
• be comfortable as a corporate generalist who excels at issue spotting across a wide range of legal disciplines and willing to learn new areas of law.
• demonstrate business sensibility and bias to action - be a proactive partner who keeps the process moving and delivers high-quality work.
• possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• be prepared to take on additional responsibilities as a specialist in employment and labor law on a small legal team.
• comfortable working in a remote, work-from-home, environment with minimal administrative support.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Member of a state Bar with the ability to act as in-house counsel.
• Strong legal foundation of at least 5 years practicing law ideally including at least two years of experience in a well-regarded national law firm and/or in-house legal department of a mid to large size corporation or company.
• Experience drafting and managing inbound and outbound commercial contracts including enterprise and customer contracts, vendor and professional services agreements, and sales agreements.
• Experience advising commercial clients on employment and labor laws and regulations and the application of those laws/regulations to the client’s operations.
• Excellent drafting, negotiating, and analytical skills.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with the desire to work in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.

The Senior Counsel is a member of Kaplan North America’s Legal function and reports to the General Counsel or Associate General Counsel.

Beyond base salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

- Remote work provides a flexible work/life balance
- Comprehensive Retirement Package automatically enrolled in The Company Contribution Plan (8-10% annual company contribution based on tenure)
- Our Gift of Knowledge Program provides tuition assistance and substantial discounts for our employees and close family members
- Comprehensive health benefits new hire eligibility starts on day 1 of employment
- Generous Paid Time Off includes paid holidays, vacation, personal, sick paid time-off, plus one (1) volunteer day and one (1) diversity and inclusion day to participate and give back to our local communities We are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment where every employee can thrive. You can learn more about our full benefits package and total rewards philosophy here.

At Kaplan, we believe in attracting, rewarding, and retaining exceptional talent. Our compensation philosophy is designed to be competitive within the market, reflecting the value we place on the skills, experience, and contributions of our employees, while taking into account labor market trends and total rewards.

For full-time positions, Kaplan has three Salary Grades. This position is Salary Grade C: $126,599 to $264,502. The specific compensation offered will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, education, skills, and market data. We are an equal opportunity employer and comply with all applicable federal and state wage laws.

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Diversity & Inclusion Statement:

Kaplan is committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace that values diversity, promotes equity, and integrates inclusivity into all aspects of our operations. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, nationality, or sex. We believe that diversity strengthens our organization, fuels innovation, and improves our ability to serve our students, customers, and communities. Learn more about our culture here.

Kaplan considers qualified applicants for employment even if applicants have an arrest or conviction in their background check records. Kaplan complies with related background check regulations, including but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.  There are various positions where certain convictions may disqualify applicants, such as those positions requiring interaction with minors, financial records, or other sensitive and/or confidential information.

Kaplan is a drug-free workplace and complies with applicable laws.