Director, Employment and Benefits Counsel

About the role

The role of Director, Counsel within Schwab’s Employment and Benefits law group involves providing practical and solution-oriented legal advice to HR and business leaders on a wide range of routine and complex employment matters, including employee relations, recruiting, hiring, performance management, accommodations, leave of absences, discipline, terminations, and organizational restructurings/RIFs. Additionally, this role advises on workplace policies, employee handbooks, employment agreements, FLSA classifications, state-specific wage and hour compliance, transparency requirements, pay equity initiatives, and compensation practices. It also includes oversight, strategy, and guidance on sensitive internal investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, fraud, or other violations of company policy.

Responsibilities

• Providing practical and solution-oriented legal advice to HR and business leaders on a wide range of routine and complex employment matters, including employee relations, recruiting, hiring, performance management, accommodations, leave of absences, discipline, terminations, and organizational restructurings/RIFs;
• Advising on workplace policies, employee handbooks, employment agreements, FLSA classifications, state-specific wage and hour compliance, transparency requirements, pay equity initiatives, and compensation practices;
• Providing legal oversight, strategy, and guidance on sensitive internal investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, fraud, or other violations of company policy;
• Identifying emerging employment law risks and recommending proactive risk mitigation strategies;
• Preparing or supporting responses to agency inquiries, audits, subpoenas, and investigations;
• Designing and delivering legal training for HR professionals, managers and business leaders on employment law developments and workplace best practices;
• Supporting M&A due diligence and integration;
• Developing scalable processes, templates, playbooks and knowledge management resources;
• Monitoring regulatory and legislative developments and proactively advising internal stakeholders on emerging employment risks and trends;
• Assisting with ERISA, employee health and welfare benefits, executive compensation, immigration, and other adjacent employment matters as business needs evolve.

Requirements

• A JD from an accredited U.S. law school and active membership in good standing with the state bar of at least one U.S. state;
• 7 or more years of employment law experience, including significant counseling experience with complex employment matters;
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state labor and employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, FLSA and NLRA;
• Prior in-house and large law firm experience (strongly preferred);
• Experience with, exposure to, or a demonstrated interest in developing expertise in ERISA and employee health and welfare benefits, as well as adjacent practice areas such as executive compensation, AI governance, workplace technology and immigration (strongly preferred);
• Experience supporting financial services or another highly regulated industry (preferred);
• Ability to work independently, exercise good judgment, and take ownership of issues and matters to their successful conclusion;
• Strong interpersonal skills and professional maturity to advise, influence, and build trust with senior executives and stakeholders;
• Ability to find creative, compliant pathways to achieve business objectives;
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable, and business-friendly advice.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited U.S. law school and active membership in good standing with the state bar of at least one U.S. state;
• 7 or more years of employment law experience, including significant counseling experience with complex employment matters;
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and state labor and employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, FLSA and NLRA;
• Prior in-house and large law firm experience (strongly preferred);
• Experience with, exposure to, or a demonstrated interest in developing expertise in ERISA and employee health and welfare benefits, as well as adjacent practice areas such as executive compensation, AI governance, workplace technology and immigration (strongly preferred);
• Experience supporting financial services or another highly regulated industry (preferred).

Skills

• Ability to work independently, exercise good judgment, and take ownership of issues and matters to their successful conclusion;
• Strong interpersonal skills and professional maturity to advise, influence, and build trust with senior executives and stakeholders;
• Ability to find creative, compliant pathways to achieve business objectives;
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable, and business-friendly advice.

Benefits

• 401(k) with company match and Employee stock purchase plan;
• Paid time off for vacation, volunteering, and 28-day sabbatical after every 5 years of service for eligible positions;
• Paid parental leave and family building benefits;
• Tuition reimbursement;
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.

Pay

Commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Hybrid work schedule with four days of in-office work per week.