Legal Counsel

Vast is looking for a Legal Counsel, reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, to provide an array of legal support, including employment law and compliance, litigation management, commercial contracts, and other matters related to the design and build of artificial-gravity, human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. 

Responsibilities: 

• Employment Law: Provide clear, practical, and solution-focused day-to-day legal advice and counseling on a wide range of complex issues to the People and Culture team, including performance management, investigations, accommodations, and other employment-related matters across the United States.
• Policies & Procedures: Proactively improve and strengthen internal policies and procedures to support compliance and best practices, including internal process reviews, new policy roll-outs and implementation, and regular policy updates and training programs. Provide counsel with regard to compliance issues impacting our employees. 
• Litigation: Manage litigation matters and disputes, as assigned. Support the internal legal team and work with outside counsel and guide the litigation process through resolution. 
• Contracts: Work directly with internals teams on high volume contracts support, including drafting and negotiating employment and contractor-related documents, correspondence, agreements, and processes. 
• Special Projects: Support our Chief Legal Officer and three Associate General Counsels on special projects, as requested, and work independently with our internal legal support staff while supervising their work product.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in a legal role at a private company, law firm, or government agency
• Subject matter expertise in federal and state employment law, including California 
• 2+ years of litigation experience 
• JD with admission to practice law in a state bar in good standing and able to practice in-house in California 
• Strong problem-solving experience and skills
• Strong verbal and writing skills 
• Good judgment and the ability to balance risk and productivity in a business environment
• Experience handling matters in 2-3 of the following areas: investigations and related processes, recruitment, employee classification, compensation reporting, diversity and belonging initiatives 
• Ability to work independently or collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• A strong ability to inspire trust, forge relationships quickly, and earn the confidence and cooperation of business stakeholders. 
• Experience drafting and enforcing policies compliant with FAR Part 22 requirements. 
• Diligent and proactive, you have demonstrated excellent legal and business judgment, technical acumen, communication skills and strategic thinking, along with the ability to work independently and cross-functionally with excellent time management and prioritization skills
• Comfortable with and responsive to rapid developments and changes in direction; willing to learn new tech, products, and substantive legal areas to support multiple roles within the legal department 
• Familiarity with the aerospace industry and its unique legal challenges
• Ability to identify and mitigate legal risks while enabling business objectives
• Employment litigation experience 
• Willingness to learn new areas of law and triage issues 

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 15% of the time
• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted
• Specific certifications, as appropriate