Employment counsel for Labour Relations

Are you a labour law authority specialized in labour relations? This role is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled legal professional with deep expertise in employment law to guide and support employee matters across multiple countries. You will work extensively within the framework of Works Councils and collective labor agreements in EMEA, helping to craft the future of a dynamic, globally distributed organization. This position allows you to take on a pivotal role in building and supporting our growing international workforce. The successful candidate leads effectively in cross-functional teams in a fast paced environment and will help drive compliance, champion collaboration, and strengthen internal and external labour relations across our EMEA operations.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Act as a trusted advisor to HR, leaders, and stakeholders on legal employment matters. Provide clear practical guidance on collective employment matters in Europe, including Works Council and trade union consultation, collective bargaining agreements and related compliance.
• Provide expertise on fostering and maintaining constructive relationships with Works Councils in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and France, as well as with trade unions and regulatory bodies. Address complex legal issues while balancing business needs and legal risks in line with Elastic’s approach to risk.
• Develop and implement effective strategies to reduce employment-related risks and ensure compliance with laws and regulations, while adhering to recommended approaches for working with employee representative bodies.
• Collaborate with colleagues across teams to ensure alignment and build awareness and understanding of employment laws in various EMEA countries, Works Council requirements, and approaches for handling employee relations.
• Identify and prepare for emerging labour relations challenges, developing proactive strategies or tools to improve employee relations and address potential issues in an evolving business landscape.
• Guide the organization in navigating compliance with labor laws and regulations, supervising legislative changes, and explaining their potential impact.

What You Bring:

• A valid license to practice law.
• At least 5 years of legal experience specializing in employment law. In-house legal experience, particularly in collaboration with HR teams, is a valuable advantage.
• Expertise in providing guidance on European labor and employment law, with hands-on experience working with Works Councils in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, Germany, and France, and a strong understanding of related legal frameworks and requirements.
• Instinct to be proactive, business focused, ability to exercise independent judgment, and effective approaches working closely with cross-functional teams.
• A commitment to taking ownership of responsibilities and thriving in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• The capability to respond swiftly and adapt quickly to deliver impactful outcomes.
• Able to act with speed and decisiveness to achieve the best results;
• Excellent judgment, character, and professional integrity.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Fluency in English; additional fluency in French, German or Dutch is highly desirable.