Associate General Counsel – Employment & Compliance

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Job Purpose

The Employment & Compliance Attorney is responsible for managing employment-related legal matters and driving compliance across a national, decentralized home services platform. This role partners closely with HR, operations, and leadership to ensure adherence to federal, state, and local employment laws while building scalable compliance programs that reduce risk and support growth. The ideal candidate combines strong employment law expertise with a practical, solutions-oriented mindset and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Employment Law Counseling

• Provide day-to-day legal advice to HR and business leaders on:
  • Hiring, discipline, and termination decisions
  • Wage & hour compliance (FLSA, state laws)
  • Leave and accommodation issues (FMLA, ADA, PWFA, state equivalents)
  • Employee classification (exempt/non-exempt, independent contractor)
• Advise on reductions in force, restructurings, and organizational changes
• Review and draft employment-related agreements (offer letters, restrictive covenants, separation agreements)

2. Employment Claims & Investigations

• Manage pre-litigation employment claims, including:
  • EEOC and state agency charges
  • Demand letters and internal complaints
• Oversee and conduct internal investigations (harassment, discrimination, retaliation, ethics concerns)
• Manage litigation employment claims
• Develop consistent investigation protocols and documentation standards

3. Compliance Program Development

• Assist with the building and maintenance of a scalable, multi-state employment compliance program
• Monitor and interpret evolving federal, state, and local employment laws
• Translate legal requirements into clear, operational policies and procedures
• Support audits and proactive compliance reviews (wage & hour, I-9, background checks, etc.)

4. Policy Development & Training

• Assist with the drafting, updating, and implementation of employment policies and employee handbook(s)
• Ensure policies are compliant across all jurisdictions, with state-specific addenda as needed
• Develop and deliver training for managers and HR on:
  • Anti-harassment and discrimination
  • Wage & hour compliance
  • Proper documentation and discipline practices
• Promote consistency across branch locations

5. HR & Operations Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to HR leadership and field operations
• Support development of performance management and disciplinary frameworks
• Collaborate on employee engagement initiatives that reduce legal risk
• Provide practical, business-oriented solutions that align legal compliance with operational needs

6. Regulatory & Corporate Compliance

• Support broader compliance initiatives, including:
  • Consumer protection overlap (as it relates to employees’ conduct)
  • Workforce-related regulatory requirements
• Assist with compliance reporting and documentation
• Coordinate with internal audit or compliance functions as applicable

7. Risk Management & Reporting

• Identify trends in employment claims and recommend preventative actions
• Track key metrics (claims, investigations, resolution timelines)
• Report regularly to the General Counsel and HR leadership on risk areas and mitigation strategies
• It is an essential function of this role to regularly and reliably report to work each working day.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• 5–10+ years of employment law experience (law firm and/or in-house)
• Strong working knowledge of:
  • Federal employment laws (FLSA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, etc.)
  • Multi-state employment compliance
• Experience conducting workplace investigations

Preferred

• In-house experience at a multi-state or decentralized organization
• Experience in home services, construction, or similarly labor-intensive industries
• Familiarity with:
  • High-volume workforce environments (hourly, field-based employees)
  • Background check and drug testing laws

Working Conditions

This position is based in the Groundworks corporate office in Virginia Beach, Virginia and is performed primarily in a professional office environment during standard business hours. The role requires regular use of computers and data systems to conduct analysis, prepare reports, and communicate with internal stakeholders.

Physical Requirements

The role requires prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer workstation. The employee must frequently use hands and fingers to operate a computer, keyboard, and other standard office equipment. The position also requires the ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats with colleagues and leadership.

What We Provide

• Competitive Pay

• Employee Company Ownership Opportunities

• Industry Leading Training Programs

• Leadership Development and Career Growth Tracks

• Comprehensive and Affordable Benefits Package

• Top Workplace with Award Winning Culture