Associate General Counsel (Employment and Labor)

About The Kennedy Center

"I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit." - President John F. Kennedy

The Kennedy Center is the nation's cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra.

At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law.

Mission Statement: As the nation's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across America and around the world, reaching and connecting with artists, inspiring and educating communities. We welcome all to create, experience, learn about, and engage with the arts.

Why Join Us

• We offer a total rewards package to all full-time employees to include:
• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA
• We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2024 staff video!

Pay Details

The Kennedy Center strives to design equitable compensation programs. The projected salary range for this position is $121,000 - $170,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. This is the targeted range of possible compensation for this role at the time of posting. This range may be modified in the future. Base pay within the range is ultimately determined by a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience as it relates to the position qualifications and responsibilities.

Job Description

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) is located in the Office of the President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (the "Kennedy Center"). OGC handles legal, policy, and regulatory matters for the Kennedy Center and consults on programming, operations, strategic governance, and organizational matters. This position is located at the Kennedy Center in the District of Columbia.

The Associate General Counsel will serve as the primary subject-matter expert in the areas of labor and employment law and is responsible for assisting and supporting the General Counsel, appropriate Kennedy Center staff, and Kennedy Center departments and affiliates, including the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera with the handling and management all employment matters related to the Kennedy Center and other legal matters, including aspects of labor law, as assigned by the General Counsel.

Key Responsibilities

LEGAL

• Providing subject-matter expertise on employment matters including issues related to all types of discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, employment contracts, independent contractor analysis, disabilities and related accommodations, leaves of absence, (including Family Medical Leave Act, and other federal/local laws), internal investigations, human resource issues, employee benefits and ERISA benefit plans, workplace safety, workers' compensation, work-related immigration matters, matters intersecting with the EEO and the MSPB or similar bodies, etc..
• Providing guidance on labor matters including advising the Kennedy Center on the terms of various collective bargaining agreements and developing strategies on labor matters and matters intersecting with the NLRB or similar body.
• Independently handling various aspects of employment-related litigation such as motions, hearings, arbitrations, mediations and depositions, developing litigation strategy, preparing trial material and handling or assisting on pre-trial, trial, and post-trial proceedings. Researching, synthesizing, and drafting legal filings related to labor and employment matters.
• Proactively remaining up-to-date and highly competent in all areas of law relating to federal agency management as it relates to labor and employment law and other areas law pertinent to the duties outlined herein and as assigned by the General Counsel.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various agreements and contracts.
• Other employment matters as assigned by the General Counsel.

POLICY

• Providing expert guidance for Kennedy Center staff and affiliates on substantive and complex legal and policy issues related to the Kennedy Center's activities based on in-depth research and consultation/coordination with appropriate staff and outside contacts with minimal supervision.
• Independently assessing risk areas such as legal risk, institutional risk, compliance risk, and reputational risk and effectively strategizing with critical stakeholders in order to mitigate and minimize exposure.
• Serving on internal administrative committees and ad-hoc groups as needed and proactively developing educational tools such as primers and presentations to help socialize and educate client offices on various aspects of labor and employment law or other areas that include legal inflection points.
• Serving as a critical point of contact and thought partner for the Office of Human Resources to advise and legally opine on matters as needed.

GENERAL

• Other matters as assigned by the General Counsel.
• Independently drafting, reviewing and negotiating all types of agreements, including donor agreements, independent contractor agreements, venue agreements, construction agreements, IT agreements, hotel agreements, bequests, commercial leases, partnership agreements, and other commercial agreements.
• Proactively providing creative and innovative recommendations on administrative and organizational processes associated with the operational efficiency and effectiveness of OGC.
• Ensuring Kennedy Center compliance with a range of federal administrative law reporting requirements appropriate following-up as necessary.

Key Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years as a practicing attorney dealing with legal issues in related areas with a specific concentration and emphasis in employment law and client counseling.
• Labor law experience highly preferred.
• Member in good standing of the bar of the District of Columbia or other state.
• Must possess a JD from a law school accredited by the ABA.
• Work effectively and efficiently in a sensitive and fast-paced environment.
• Excellent legal research and analytical skills; Excellent communication skills (written and oral).
• Proactively engage and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders and Kennedy Center staff/officials, some who are attorneys and many that are not.
• Advance legal components of various matters involving the Kennedy Center by independently recognizing subtle legal inflection points in order to develop propositional solutions-oriented recommendations with minimal supervision by the General Counsel.
• Expeditiously recognize complex and nuanced legal issues, weigh and evaluate complicated information, and utilize both facts and law in developing legal arguments and alternative positions.
• Independently multi-task and balance competing priorities in a highly organized manner.
• Ability to synthesize several collective bargaining agreements of varying complexity and quickly and effectively provide counsel on the nuances and distinctions of each one as well as understand the overarching collective bargaining landscape with institutional stability, preservation and advancement in mind.
• Proactively collaborate with colleagues at various staff levels as well as outside counsel and consultants.
• Private law firm and non-profit legal experience highly desired.
• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area. Relocation assistance is not provided.
• Candidate must be willing to work onsite.