As a senior member of the District’s legal team, your work will have districtwide impact. You will help leaders make difficult decisions with clarity and confidence, protect the District’s legal interests, support productive labor relationships, and promote practices that are consistent, equitable, legally sound, and aligned with the needs of students, employees, and the broader community. Most importantly, your work will be in service to over 41,000 students every day, so that they can thrive and succeed.
BASIC FUNCTION
As part of a legal team serving a dynamic urban school district, provide senior-level, strategic legal counsel and representation on complex legal matters, with a concentration in labor and employment matters affecting Portland Public Schools. Serve as a principal legal advisor to Human Resources, Employee and Labor Relations, executive leaders, and other assigned clients. Independently manage high-risk matters, litigation, administrative proceedings, collective bargaining support and contract interpretation, and legal-compliance initiatives. Translate evolving law and organizational risk into practical, equity-centered guidance that supports sound decisions, consistent practices, effective operations, and the District’s educational mission.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
The classification specification does not describe all duties performed by all incumbents within the class. This summary provides examples of typical tasks performed in this classification.
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Serve as senior counsel on complex labor and employment matters, including employee relations, discipline and discharge, workplace investigations, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, disability accommodation, protected leave, wage and hour, benefits, employee privacy, public records, and other statutory, regulatory, contractual, and policy requirements. “E”
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Provide timely, practical, and strategic legal advice to Human Resources, Employee and Labor Relations, executive leaders, and other assigned clients; evaluate legal and operational risk, identify options and tradeoffs, and recommend defensible courses of action aligned with District priorities and values. “E”
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Interpret collective bargaining agreements and labor law; advise on grievances, unfair labor practice complaints, information requests, contract administration, protected activity, labor-management issues. Support collective bargaining preparation and negotiations by identifying legal issues, analyzing proposals, developing language and risk assessments, preparing bargaining strategy, and advising District leadership; represent and advise on implementation of negotiated agreements. Represent or support the District in arbitrations, mediations, fact-finding, and other proceedings. . “E”
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Manage significant litigation, administrative charges, and contested matters from early assessment through resolution, including preservation and discovery, pleadings, motions, witness preparation, hearings, trials, appeals, settlement strategy, and implementation of outcomes. “E”
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Conduct, direct, and/or provide legal guidance for sensitive workplace investigations and related decision making; ensure processes are thorough, impartial, trauma-informed as appropriate, legally compliant, and responsive to the rights and dignity of all involved. “E”
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Draft and review employment agreements, separation agreements, settlement agreements, collective bargaining language, policies, administrative directives, procedures, Board materials, correspondence, legal opinions, and other legal or quasi-legal documents. “E”
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Monitor changes in federal and state law, regulations, agency guidance, court decisions, and labor and employment trends; assess districtwide implications and translate developments into clear guidance, training, policy changes, compliance strategies, and implementation plans. “E”
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Lead cross-functional legal and compliance initiatives involving Human Resources, school and department leaders, Finance, Risk Management, Operations, Communications, and other partners.
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Partner with leaders to design and continuously improve policies, processes, tools, and governance that reduce legal risk, promote consistency, and strengthen organizational effectiveness. “E”
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Advise on Title IX employment-related obligations and the intersection of Title IX with labor and employment law, workplace investigations, and personnel actions. “E”
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Evaluate and adopt legal technology tools and other processes to improve the efficiency and quality of legal services. “E”
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Select, direct, and evaluate outside counsel and expert resources for assigned matters within delegated authority; establish matter strategy, monitor performance and costs, and pursue effective and fiscally responsible resolution. “E”
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Prepare and present privileged briefings, legal opinions, risk assessments, and recommendations to the General Counsel, Superintendent, senior leadership, and Board of Education as assigned; provide legal advice in executive sessions and public meetings when requested. “E”
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Assess the employee, student, operational, and community impacts of legal strategies and decisions; collaborate with leaders on communication, implementation, and risk-mitigation approaches in politically sensitive or high-profile matters. “E”
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Develop and deliver training, tools, and guidance for administrators, supervisors, Human Resources staff, and other employees on labor and employment law, collective bargaining agreements, workplace expectations, investigations, and compliance responsibilities. “E”
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Provide legal leadership within assigned matters by coaching less-experienced attorneys and staff, sharing expertise, reviewing work as assigned, and promoting consistent, high-quality legal service and sound professional judgment. “E”
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Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to racial equity and social justice; apply the District’s Racial Educational Equity Policy and other Board policies; identify and address inequitable impacts in legal advice, policies, investigations, labor and employment practices, and organizational decisions. “E”
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Maintain the confidentiality and integrity of attorney-client communications, attorney work product, personnel information, and other highly sensitive records; model the highest standards of ethics, professional responsibility, and public stewardship. “E”
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Represent the District in professional, governmental, labor-management, and community settings as assigned and build productive relationships that support effective resolution of legal and organizational issues. “E”
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Provide legal guidance and support in other substantive areas as part of District's in-house legal team. “E”
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Perform related duties as assigned.
Note: At the end of some of the duty statements there is an italicized “E”, which identifies essential duties required of the classification. This is strictly for use in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
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Federal and Oregon labor and employment laws, regulations, agency processes, and court decisions applicable to public employers and K–12 school districts.
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Labor relations, collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance and arbitration processes, unfair labor practices, and public-sector labor strategy.
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Employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, disability accommodation, protected leave, Title IX, wage and hour, benefits, employee privacy, workplace investigations, discipline, pay equity, and due process.
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Litigation, administrative process, mediation, arbitration, negotiation, discovery, and alternative dispute-resolution practices.
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Constitutional, administrative, public-records, public-meetings, and education law, especially as they intersect with labor and employment matters.
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Legal risk assessment, policy development, organizational governance, change implementation, and internal consulting practices.
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Operations, workforce practices, political context, and community expectations affecting large, diverse urban public school systems.
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Federal and state requirements governing employment eligibility verification and immigration-related employment obligations.
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Racial equity and social justice principles and the ways employment systems, policies, and legal decisions may create or perpetuate disparate impacts.
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Professional responsibility, attorney-client privilege, work-product protection, records preservation, and confidentiality requirements.
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Principles of project leadership, adult learning, coaching, and effective written and oral communication.
Ability to:
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Provide clear, candid, and actionable advice to executives, Board members, administrators, Human Resources professionals, and other clients with differing perspectives and levels of legal knowledge.
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Balance legal risk with operational needs, labor-relations strategy, equity considerations, fiscal stewardship, educational priorities, and community impact.
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Lead cross-functional work through credibility, influence, facilitation, and disciplined follow-through without relying on formal positional authority.
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Navigate politically sensitive, emotionally charged, and high-profile matters with sound judgment, patience, composure, discretion, and attention to stakeholder trust.
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Build effective working relationships with labor partners, outside counsel, government agencies, community partners, and internal clients while protecting the District’s legal interests.
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Organize and prioritize multiple urgent matters, meet legal deadlines, maintain accurate records, and communicate status and risk proactively.
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Coach colleagues, share expertise, and support consistent legal analysis and service standards across the legal team.
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Advocate for, model, and apply the District’s racial equity and social justice commitments in legal and organizational practice.
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Use legal research platforms, document-management and e-discovery tools, and common office and collaboration technologies.
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Work collaboratively with Legal, Human Resources, and other team members.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS
The Senior Legal Counsel – Labor and Employment is an advanced professional classification responsible for independently handling the District’s most complex labor and employment legal matters within an assigned portfolio. Work is distinguished by the level of legal judgment, risk, sensitivity, cross-functional influence, and districtwide impact, rather than by routine workload volume. The position leads matters and initiatives, advises senior decision-makers, and may direct the work of internal and external legal resources within assigned cases or projects.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Education: Juris Doctor degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association is required.
Licensure: Active membership in good standing with the Oregon State Bar, or eligibility for admission within a timeframe established by the District is required. Admission to practice before relevant federal courts is preferred.
Required Experience: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible legal experience, including substantial labor and employment law experience involving complex advice, litigation administrative proceedings, investigations, collective bargaining, and/or labor relations. Experience advising a public employer, public agency, or large complex organization is required.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience with Oregon public-sector labor and employment law; counsel experience in or with a large urban K–12 school district or comparable public jurisdiction; experience representing management in collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, unfair labor practice proceedings, and/or employment litigation; experience advising an elected board; and demonstrated experience leading complex cross-functional legal or compliance initiatives.
Any other combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities may be considered, except where licensure is required by law.
Special Requirements:
Maintain active Oregon State Bar membership and satisfy all continuing legal education and professional-responsibility requirements.
Some positions in this classification may require the use of a personal automobile and possession of a valid Class C Oregon driver’s license.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Persons with certain disabilities may be capable of performing the essential duties of this class with or without reasonable accommodation, depending on the nature of the disability.
Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with occasional visits to District sites. Work hours include on- and off-campus evening and weekend activities, meetings and district, school and student functions.
Hazards: Potential conflict situations. The position frequently handles competing deadlines, confidential information, adversarial proceedings, conflict situations, and matters involving significant organizational and individual consequences.
Physical Demands: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; kneeling, bending at the waist, reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally to retrieve and store files and supplies; lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying office equipment, supplies and materials weighing up to 25 pounds; repetitive hand movement and fine coordination to use a computer keyboard; hearing and speaking to exchange information in person or on the telephone; seeing to read, prepare and assure the accuracy of documents.
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Non-Represented
Salary Grade: SL100; $174,070 - $186,621
Work Year(s): 260
Portland Public Schools (PPS) is seeking talented people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to lead change and inspire PPS students. At PPS, every employee, despite having different roles, is an educator. We hope to attract talented educators who model the core PPS Educator Essentials. With the District’s focus on eliminating systemic racism and its adverse impact on student learning, we seek to hire individuals who bring to our district a deep commitment to racial equity and social justice.
The District is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all its educational and employment activities. The District prohibits discrimination based on perceived or actual race; national or ethnic origin; color; sex; religion; age; sexual orientation; gender expression or identity; pregnancy; marital status; veteran’s status; familial status; economic status or source of income; mental or physical disability or perceived disability; or military service.
504 Coordinator: Katie Loewen, [email protected], 503-916-3337 x63337
ADA Coordinator: Jey Buno, [email protected], 503-916-3360
Director of Civil Rights: Dr. Bobby Cruz, [email protected], 503-839-3660
Accessibility Statement
