Associate General Counsel, Employment Law - Temporary

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI-powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high-performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities. At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter. This is a high-accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry.

About the role

This is a temporary position with an expected duration of approximately 12–18 months. This expectation does not alter the at-will nature of employment, meaning either the Company or the employee may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice.

Lumen is seeking an experienced employment attorney to join our Legal team in a temporary capacity. In this role, you will provide practical, business-focused legal counsel to Human Resources and business leaders on a broad range of employment matters, helping the organization navigate risk while supporting workforce and business objectives. Working closely with stakeholders across the company, you will advise on complex employment law issues, manage sensitive employee matters, and help ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. This role requires strong legal judgment, a collaborative approach, and the ability to balance legal risk with business priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day employment law advice and counsel to Human Resources and business leaders.
• Assess legal risk and recommend practical solutions that align with business objectives and risk tolerance.
• Advise management on complex employment matters, including compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Partner with stakeholders across the organization to support employee relations, workforce management, and policy-related issues.
• Respond to employment-related claims, demands, wage disputes, and administrative charges.
• Collaborate with outside counsel on specialized or international employment law matters, as needed.
• Build trusted relationships with business leaders and serve as a strategic legal advisor on employment-related issues.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active license in good standing to practice law in the state where the attorney is based.
• 8+ years of in-house employment law counseling experience supporting a large, multi-state organization.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, with experience advising on employee relations matters, workforce restructuring, leave management, labor relations, and compliance investigations.
• Experience responding to agency charges, wage claims, and employment-related disputes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to advise, influence, and build credibility with senior stakeholders.
• Sound legal and business judgment, with the ability to independently manage complex matters and balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with emerging employment-related legal developments, including AI-related workplace considerations.

Pay

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors.

• $152,066 - $202,755 in these states: AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NM, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WI, WV, WY
• $159,670 - $212,893 in these states: CO, HI, MI, MN, NC, NH, NV, OR, RI
• $167,273 - $223,031 in these states: AK, CA, CT, DC, DE, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, TX, VA, WA

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, and Voluntary Lifestyle benefits, as well as other perks that enhance physical, mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing. Additional details about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives, and/or sales compensation) will be provided during the selection process.