Senior Employment Counsel

• Provide strategic legal counsel on employment-related matters, including hiring, performance management, terminations, internal investigations, wage and hour issues, DEI initiatives, and employee relations.
• Advise on litigation risk and manage employment-related claims, litigation, and pre-litigation matters in coordination with external counsel.
• Partner with People Operations and Total Rewards teams to design, implement, and maintain compliant and competitive compensation, benefits, and equity programs.
• Support compliance efforts related to employment laws and regulations in the U.S.
• Draft, review, and update employment-related documents, including offer letters, separation agreements, employee handbooks, policies, and contractor agreements.
• Lead or support internal investigations related to workplace conduct and ethics.
• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to senior leadership on employment risks, policy decisions, and global employment strategy.

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar (California preferred).
• Minimum 5 years of experience practicing employment law, ideally in a mix of law firm and in-house roles.
• Significant experience managing or advising on employment litigation, including managing external counsel.
• Demonstrated expertise in U.S. employment law, with working knowledge of California-specific regulations.
• Proven experience advising on benefits and total rewards programs (e.g., equity compensation, health benefits, leave policies).
• Preferred familiarity with European employment laws and practices (UK, EU, or specific countries preferred).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a practical, solutions-oriented approach to legal counsel.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, remote-first environment and balance multiple priorities effectively.

• Experience in tech, SaaS, or a high-growth company environment.
• Exposure to M&A or restructuring-related employment matters.
• Fluency in a European language (e.g., French, German) is a plus but not required.

• Hybrid from our San Francisco office

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Time Off and Parental Leave
• Quarterly Harness TGIF-Off / 4 days
• Monthly, quarterly, and annual social and team-building events
• Recharge & Reset Program
• Monthly internet reimbursement
• Commuter benefits

The anticipated base salary range for this position is between $190,000 and $215,00 annually. Salary is determined by a combination of factors including location, level, relevant experience, and skills. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations.  The compensation package for this position may also include equity, and benefits. More details about our company benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.harness.io/company/careers. 

A valid authorization to work in the U.S. is required

• Harness Grabs a $150m Line of Credit
• Welcome Split!
• SF Business Times - 2024 - 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area
• Forbes - 2024 America's Best Startup Employers
• SF Business Times - 2024 Fastest Growing Private Companies Awards
• Fast Co - 2024 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

Note on Fraudulent Recruiting/Offers

We have become aware that there may be fraudulent recruiting attempts being made by people posing as representatives of Harness. These scams may involve fake job postings, unsolicited emails, or messages claiming to be from our recruiters or hiring managers. 

Please note, we do not ask for sensitive or financial information via chat, text, or social media, and any email communications will come from the domain @harness.io. Additionally, Harness will never ask for any payment, fee to be paid, or purchases to be made by a job applicant. All applicants are encouraged to apply directly to our open jobs via our website. Interviews are generally conducted via Zoom video conference unless the candidate requests other accommodations.

If you believe that you have been the target of an interview/offer scam by someone posing as a representative of Harness, please do not provide any personal or financial information and contact us immediately at [email protected]. You can also find additional information about this type of scam and report any fraudulent employment offers via the Federal Trade Commission’s website (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams), or you can contact your local law enforcement agency.