Employee Relations Legal Analyst

Posting TitleEmployee Relations Legal Analyst

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LocationCO - Golden

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Position TypeRegular

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Hours Per Week40

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Working at NREL

Join the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NREL stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NREL, you’ll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

 The Employee Relations Legal Analyst in the Office of General Counsel (“OGC”) is a newly created position to support the growth of NREL. The primary focus of this role will be on employment law activities aimed at ensuring compliance and mitigating risk across the laboratory operations. This position encompasses a range of responsibilities, including but not limited to, editing, reviewing, and interpreting policies, laws, and regulations; conducting legal research; and providing support for administrative actions and litigation. The role is divided into two primary functions: HR Business Partner with a focus on employee relations, and Legal Analyst supporting the employment law function. Additionally, the position involves collaboration with internal stakeholders to address legal and regulatory matters. Successful candidates will possess strong interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills, with a high level of attention to detail.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support OGC Employment Law Function, to include:

• Respond to charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD), and other administrative agencies.
• Review and edit documents for accuracy and legal defensibility.
• Research (Westlaw and/or non-Westlaw).
• Identify and analyze legal and policy issues, creating essential documents, delivering cogent recommendations, and ensuring adherence to legal standards.
• Support litigation with outside counsel.
• Support internal and external investigations and resulting actions.
• Maintain accurate and organized records.
• Stay current on trends and changes in employment law.
• Facilitate legal compliance audits to ensure adherence to legal standards.
• Engage in multi-disciplinary teams to tackle issues and formulate strategies that are aligned with and advance the mission of NREL.
• Collaborate with the OGC team to deliver comprehensive legal support, facilitating the representation of Alliance in alignment with NREL’s objectives.
• Collaborate with internal clients and external as needed.

• Serve as OGC Primary Point of Contact to include:

• Collaborate with Payroll to address employee repayment obligations.
• Work with Acquisition Services to manage subcontracts for procuring goods and services related to employment law.
• Ensure compliance with federal reporting obligations for government contractors in relation to employment law.
• Manage legal and compliance issues for employees working or collaborating across states and international locations.
• Interpret and apply relevant policies, guidelines, laws, regulations, and ordinances effectively.
• Lead complex legal or HR matters with minimal oversight.
• Independently analyze complex and ambiguous matters.
• May serve as the OGC Liaison to leadership, providing reports and updates on complex legal and HR employee relations matters.

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Basic QualificationsRelevant Bachelor's Degree and 2 or more years of experience or equivalent relevant education/experience. Or, relevant Master's Degree or equivalent relevant education/experience. General knowledge and application of technical standards, principles, theories and techniques. Frequent application of industry concepts and principles. General knowledge of laws, regulations, principles, procedures and practices related to specific field. Skilled in problem solving, written and verbal communication. Ability to use various computer software programs.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) Degree level with focus in employment law or similar field.
• Exemplary interpersonal skills.
• Ability to establish relationships and gain trust with both managers and employees.
• Ability to remain tactful, calm, and persuasive in tense and/or confrontational situations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a view toward creative and innovative solutions to facilitate client-oriented outcomes.
• A commitment to professionalism, a positive demeanor, and an interest in continuous learning and self-improvement.
• A strong interest in the laboratory’s mission.
• Capacity to collaborate effectively with a team comprised of attorneys, paralegals and HR professionals in a fast-evolving environment.
• Experience facilitating complex legal and employee relations matters independently.
• Experience working with highly visible stakeholder in a federal or government contract environment requiring a high level of scrutiny.
• Proven ability to collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional teams, including attorneys, paralegals, and HR professionals, in a dynamic, high-stakes environment, with minimal supervision.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex legal and HR issues into clear, actionable insights for senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software, with the ability to leverage technology to streamline processes and enhance team productivity.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational acumen, consistently ensuring accuracy and thoroughness in all deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously, independently prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines under pressure.

Preferred Qualifications

• In depth knowledge of employment laws and regulations.
• Proficiency in legal research using Westlaw or LexisNexis.
• Experience working with federal government contractors or in compliance with federal contractor guidelines.
• Knowledge of international labor laws, particularly regarding employees temporarily working or collaborating abroad.
• Familiarity with specialized AI tools applied in HR and/or employment law functions.

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)Job Profile: Legal Professional II / Annual Salary Range: $97,800 - $176,000

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits SummaryBenefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; short*- and long-term disability insurance; pension benefits*; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance; personal time off (PTO) and sick leave; paid holidays; and tuition reimbursement*. NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Limited-term positions are not eligible for long-term disability or tuition reimbursement.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging RequirementNREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation.Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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