Sr. Counsel, Environmental Health & Safety in , United States
This position is no longer accepting applications (closed Oct 27, 2026).
Description
Environmental And Occupational Health And Safety Legal Counsel
Tesla is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and experienced attorney to support, collaborate with, and guide business partners on environmental and occupational health and safety (EHS) legal compliance and enforcement matters applicable to automobile manufacturing, service & delivery, lithium refining and battery development, renewable energy products, and sustainable recycling programs for end-of-life product disposal.
The candidate must be ready to put on steel-toed boots and a hardhat and traverse our facilities to learn the business and help support operations on EHS legal matters. The position will be based in Austin, Texas or the Bay Area of California and travel will be required to other company locations as needed.
Responsibilities
Reporting to Tesla's Associate General Counsel for Environment, Health & Safety, and Security, provide EHS legal support for Tesla's operations, including counseling on all aspects of air, waste, chemical, and water-related regulatory compliance, permitting, and enforcement issues
Collaborate with the EHS team on Company-wide EHS initiatives and work closely with EHS business partners and leaders to anticipate, assess, and manage legal impacts on major business decisions
Counsel and train internal business partners on EHS laws, regulations, compliance and safety-related internal investigations while staying current on emerging trends in all facets of environmental & health and safety laws and regulations
Work collaboratively with other internal attorneys, legal professionals, and business partners across the company
Manage outside counsel in connection with EHS regulatory agency matters, including investigating and responding to requests for information, notices of complaint, and citations from OSHA, environmental, and EHSS-related agencies
Directly participate in informal conferences and similar proceedings with a wide array of Environmental and Health & Safety regulatory agencies
Oversee legal support for EHS due diligence in real estate and mergers and acquisitions transactions; oversee existing site remediation projects
Requirements
At least 10 years of work experience primarily related to environmental and workplace safety and health issues in the manufacturing, chemical, or energy industry. In-house counsel experience
The ideal candidate will have substantial work experience on sophisticated EHS legal matters in a combination of a law firm, in-house, or state or federal agency responsible for environmental, safety, and health regulatory oversight, particularly in the CAA, RCRA, TSCA, CWA, and other regulatory programs as well as OSHA enforcement and compliance, Experience as in-house counsel, ideally in the manufacturing or energy industries
Demonstrated ability to work independently while being able to contribute successfully to cross-functional teams, and to work efficiently, prioritize workflow, meet demanding deadlines, and manage multi-faceted projects in a fast-paced environment, where demands and priorities change rapidly
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal and technical concepts to a variety of internal business partners with varying degrees of familiarity with the field of EHS
Ability to quickly absorb material and distill pertinent information to provide timely and effective counsel
Comfortable rolling up sleeves and being hands-on, with a mature, "can-do" attitude and the ability to instill confidence in oneself among business partners
Juris Doctor Degree and admission in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar jurisdiction
Compensation & Benefits
Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:
Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
Short-term and long-term insurance (90 day waiting period)
Employee Assistance Program
Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
Tesla Babies program
Commuter benefits
Employee discounts and perks program
Expected Compensation $188,000 - $450,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits
Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.