Deputy Director - Legal, Employment

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

The Legal Division at the Gates Foundation supports the foundation and its affiliates. The foundation continues to grow in its global footprint and in the complexity of its work. We collaborate closely with our colleagues to ensure the highest levels of integrity are upheld by the foundation, its affiliates, and its employees. Our focus includes preserving the foundation’s reputation by ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, while at the same time striving to be innovative and flexible. Consistent with the foundation’s risk philosophy, we consciously balance necessary risks with desired goals. We expect Legal team members to intentionally and consistently embody our values of optimism, collaboration, rigor, innovation, and inclusion. Acting upon the belief that awareness and understanding enhance impact, we provide perspective, training, and education to staff on the laws and requirements applicable to private foundations.Your Role

As a Deputy Director (DD), you will report to the Director, Legal (People), and at times, may act as the proxy for the Director. While your day-to-day work will include advising on a wide range of primarily U.S. employment law issues affecting all stages of the employment life cycle, most of your time will be dedicated to ensuring the foundation and our affiliate organizations are achieving labor and employment compliance in the following programs: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Benefits; and Immigration. This role is located in the foundation’s Seattle, Washington office.

What You Will Do

This is an exciting role for an exceptional labor and employment attorney. The responsibilities of this position include:

• Support and advise internal partners, on all areas of primarily U.S. employment law and related foundation and affiliate policies, including FMLA, ADA, Title VII, ADEA, FLSA and other wage and hour laws and regulations, EEOC regulations, and similar federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination. Participate in and influence the decision-making process with appropriate partners and stakeholders.

• Be a trusted legal partner and work collaboratively with relevant internal groups, primarily in North America, to navigate wide-ranging employment related matters, including hiring and recruiting, performance management, investigations, leaves of absence and workplace accommodations, terminations, contingent workforce, and workforce restructuring activities, and general support of the U.S. human resources team. You may also support employment litigation, in the U.S. and other regions where the foundation and affiliates operate.

• Advance the skills and knowledge of our HR partners. Working with our HR partners, identify policies and processes that can be standardized or streamlined to facilitate compliance with applicable laws. Develop and help to implement HR policies and procedures, and lead change management efforts with respect to legal aspects of HR policies and processes. Conduct training for HR professionals and other internal partners.

• Serve as an employment legal team relationship manager for certain foundation operation teams, working closely with the leadership of those teams to become a trusted partner, provide guidance, and help coordinate legal team resources as appropriate.

• Identify and anticipate employment law risk in the programs and projects within your remit and propose solutions to mitigate future risk.

• Some travel may be required.

Minimum Qualifications

The successful candidate for the Deputy Director—Legal, Employment role must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• A Juris Doctorate degree from accredited law school and active state bar license in good standing, of at least one U.S. state bar.

• 15-20 years of substantive labor and employment experience with an in-house legal department, government agency and/or in private practice.

• Significant and demonstrated partnership with People organizations, with a focus on Benefits; Immigration; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.

• Proven track record of providing thoughtful, pragmatic legal and strategic guidance to leadership teams and achieving influence.

• Independently motivated with a continuous improvement mindset with a consistent track record of successful collaboration with cross-discipline and multi-functional teams.

• Familiarity with the laws and regulations applicable to private foundations or charities is highly desirable.

• Intellectual curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness, and resilience. A sense of humor and perspective is always appreciated!

• Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

The salary range for this role is $261,700 - $405,700 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $285,300 - $442,100 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the minimum of the range and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate’s job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.

Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.