Managing Counsel, Labor & Employment

The Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, California in 2028, returning to the United States for the first time in over 30 years. 2028 will be the first time LA hosts the Paralympic Games, creating an opportunity to expand awareness, understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities.

LA28, the organizers for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, is on a mission to create an unparalleled Games experience for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people. Our vision is to collectively create what’s next through sport, community and the power of our differences.

The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics will represent LA and leverage the strength of our community’s diversity and creativity as we collectively work to design a Games that we all want to be a part of. We do this by focusing on people and by inviting everyone into the story of the LA28 Games.

The LA28 organizing committee is an independent, non-profit organization that is privately funded and governed by a board of directors. 

Our Vision is to collectively create what’s next by harnessing sport, community and the power of our differences. Our Mission is to create an unparalleled Paralympic and Olympic Games for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people.

Values and Behaviors:

• Optimism – Embody a positive, enthusiastic, and solution-oriented attitude in everything we do; challenge the status quo, inspire and support one another to achieve our best; have our eyes on the future and believe we can make a meaningful impact
• Integrity – We communicate openly and honestly, listen, and respectfully value multiple perspectives; we do what we say and are accountable for everything we do; we do the right thing, always. Even when it isn’t easy
• Excellence – We hold ourselves to the highest standard and expectations; we live our values and truths and persevere through challenges; we are continuous learners and adapt and pivot with speed to meet changing needs
• Inclusion – We seek to represent, include, empower and level the playing field; our work reflects the communities we serve and the world in which we live; we leverage our platforms to bring awareness to issues relevant to who we are
• Co-Creation – We are authors of a shared story. Everyone contributes their unique voice to our shared mission; we share pride in our accomplishments and ownership of our shortcomings
• Boldness – We embrace creativity, courage and outside-the-box thinking; we are unafraid to take risks, explore unconventional solutions, and learn from the process; we are innovators, disruptors, and challengers of the status quo

Managing Counsel, Labor & Employment:

The Managing Counsel, Labor & Employment will be an integral part of the legal team, working closely with the broader legal department to advise LA28 on labor and employment legal matters.  This position will leverage negotiation, relationship-building, critical-thinking, and communication skills to (1) advise LA28 on labor and employment concerns; (2) manage employment litigation; (3) conduct investigations; and (4) draft and negotiate employment-related agreements. This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to increase your professional network and gain valuable negotiating and business skills as we gear up for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games!   

This position will report to the Associate General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Support LA28 on identified labor and employment legal matters.
• Steady stream of self-directed analytical work, including preparing, reviewing and negotiating all varieties of legal documents including but not limited to agreements and legal memoranda, or other correspondence and strategic projects.
• Work closely with other legal personnel and individual business departments to anticipate, identify and manage legal exposure and risk management.   
• Provide ongoing summary and guidance regarding new laws or regulations in applicable jurisdictions.  
• Partner with People Management team regarding topics including wage and hour law, workplace compliance programming, independent contracting, onboarding/offboarding, employee policies, performance management, training, and employee leave.
• Provide legal guidance on issues related to workplace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, such as preventing discrimination, harassment, and promoting fair hiring practices.
• Stay current on and ensure compliance with laws and regulations related to equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, and anti-discrimination policies across federal, state, and local jurisdictions.
• Provide support for investigations, dispute resolution and litigation.
• Identify and assess legal risks and opportunities within the labor and employment area and advise accordingly.
• Review and understand all relevant corporate/stakeholder documents (including Host City Contract, Olympic Charter, Code of Ethics, Games Agreement, etc.).
• Work with outside counsel on matters requiring representation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable international, federal, state and local laws and regulations.
• Keep current on industry-wide legal trends and developments. 

Position Requirements:

Education:

• Undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA accredited law school required. 

Training/Certifications:

• License to practice law in CA, be in good standing with the California State Bar and have the ability to practice law in California. 

Expectations:

• At least 5 years’ experience in labor and employment legal matters required, including federal and California law.  
• Deep understanding of employment law and labor legal concerns, including applying California law, regulations, and policy.  
• Concrete understanding of contract, commercial and corporate law, and business transactional principles.
• Strong interpersonal skills including ability to communicate effectively with a variety of contacts, including outside attorneys, senior management and business associates.
• Excellent judgment, knowing when to escalate issues.
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Excellent analytical skills; capable of identifying and prioritizing issues and providing alternative solutions.
• Excellent project and time management skills and ability to manage and prioritize changing workloads to meet deadlines.
• Consistently able to make sense of complex and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve issues.
• Consistently able to adapt approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
• Positive, team-oriented, and collaborative attitude.
• High level of personal integrity and professional ethics; ability to maintain confidentiality. 
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB).
• Local candidates preferred. 

While experience in these areas is nice to have, we also look for candidates with intellectual curiosity and a demonstrated ability to learn quickly to round out areas where a candidate may not have depth of experience.  This job description is a general summary of responsibilities and requirements and is not intended to be all-inclusive of the responsibilities and requirements of this position. 

Submission Requirements:

An application must be accompanied by the following: 

• A cover letter which indicates the position of interest and addresses the following:
  • Highlights of your experience which specifically prepare you for this position, including demonstrated leadership and/or negotiation skills; and
  • How you would contribute to LA28’s vision.
• A resume to include three professional references with name, address, and phone number (to be contacted only in final round). 

The annual base salary range for this position is $160,000.00 - $175,000.00. The pay scale provided is the range that LA28 reasonably expects to pay as starting base compensation for this role. All LA28 compensation remains subject to final determination based on individual candidate qualifications, experience, or other reasonable criteria consistent with LA28’s operational business needs and applicable law.

LA28 does not provide relocation assistance.

LA28 is committed to operating fair and unbiased recruitment procedures allowing all applicants an equal opportunity for employment, free from discrimination on the basis of religion, race, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, color, ethnic or national origin, or any other classification as may be protected by applicable law. We strive to build a team that is diverse, inclusive and encourages qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and identities to apply. We will consider all qualified candidates with criminal histories in a manner consistent with local law. We assess applications based on relevant skills, education, and experience a candidate can add to our team.