Green Card Deputy General Counsel Jobs
Deputy General Counsel roles at U.S. corporations and law-driven enterprises are strong candidates for EB-2 green card sponsorship, given the advanced-degree requirement inherent to the position. Employers typically file PERM labor certification with DOL before petitioning USCIS, making early sponsorship conversations essential for foreign legal professionals.
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Who We Are:
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts’ environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.
Who We Are as an Employer:
At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretariat (EOEEA) provides oversight of the Commonwealth’s energy and environmental agencies, namely, the Division of Energy Resources (DOER), Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Department of Fish and Game (DFG), and Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR). EOEEA also has divisions within the Secretariat, including the Office of Law Enforcement (OLE or Massachusetts Environmental Police), Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office, Coastal Zone Management (CZM) office, and Division of Conservation Services (DCS). All agencies and divisions promote the environmental or energy related goals and initiatives of the Administration and the Secretary of EOEEA.
The primary duties of this position are to serve as Deputy General Counsel for Labor Relations overseeing the Labor Relations staff. While this position reports to the General Counsel, it requires a close working relationship with the Chief Operating Officer and Secretariat Human Resources Director. In addition to these primary duties, this position includes duties relating to EOEEA’s employment law obligations including as they relate to employees who are not bargaining unit members. Additional duties relating to broader legal and compliance issues will be assigned in consultation between the successful applicant and the General Counsel.
Candidates must possess a law degree at time of hire.
Job Summary:
- Manage the Labor Relations Unit overseeing all labor relations matters for EOEEA and its agencies and divisions. This includes handling of collective bargaining disputes and grievances, and partnering with Human Resources on investigations of employee complaints excluding those matters under the jurisdiction of the Human Resources Division (HRD) Center for Excellence.
- Develop Secretariat-wide policies and procedures as related to labor matters and serve as primary liaison for EOEEA in all dealings with relevant bargaining units.
- Interpret, advise, and counsel management and supervisory staff of legal obligations under collective bargaining agreements, Civil Service Law and Human Resources Division (HRD/OER) policy and procedures, and other applicable employment or labor laws and regulations, including but not limited to Massachusetts General Laws c. 151B, Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, Americans with Disabilities Act, and other similar laws.
- Represent the appointing authority in all administrative proceedings related to labor and employment matters, including before HRD’s Office of Employment Relations (OER), labor arbitrators, the Civil Service Commission, MCAD, EEOC, the Industrial Accident Board, Division of Unemployment Assistance, US Department of Labor, EEOC, NLRB, and other similar proceedings occurring prior to civil litigation.
- Serve as a hearing officer for pre-disciplinary hearings held by the Secretariat.
- Serve as general advisor and subject matter expert on labor relations issues, including, but not limited to collective bargaining negotiations.
- Conduct just cause disciplinary hearings and processing grievances; reviewing personnel investigations to make disciplinary recommendations when assigned; partner with HR Deputy Directors when providing guidance to managers carrying out disciplinary action; and maintaining related files and records.
- Actively participate in collective bargaining of applicable bargaining units by developing comprehensive proposals for consideration by the Commonwealth’s Office of Employee Relations and participating in negotiations as a team member.
- Partner with Secretariat Human Resources Director or HR Deputy Directors on implementation of secretariat human resources strategies impacting or involving employees covered under collective bargaining agreement.
Required at time of hire:
- Candidates must possess a law degree at time of hire.
- Supervisory and/or management experience.
- Experience in the implementation, administration and/or interpretation of employment-related programs.
- Experience with the collective bargaining process.
- Knowledge of employee and labor relations practices and federal and state regulations pertaining to labor issues.
- Must have exceptional communication, both verbal and written, attention to detail and the ability to resolve issues efficiently and effectively.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to work effectively in both a team/group environment, and independently with minimal supervision.
- Ability to effectively resolve complex problems.
- Strong sense of accountability and sound personal judgment.
- Skill at influencing through strong relationships and expertise.
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and other.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.
Candidates must possess a law degree at time of hire.
Substitutions:
I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.
II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.
IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Official Title: Program Manager VII
Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-100 Cambridge Street
Job: Legal Services
Agency: Exec Office Of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day
Job Posting: Nov 6, 2026, 10:28:23 AM
Number of Openings: 1
Salary: 100,839.09 - 155,529.95 Yearly
If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Melixza Esenyie / EEADiversity@mass.gov - 6178723270
Bargaining Unit: M99-Managers (EXE)
Confidential: No
Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule: Yes
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship in Deputy General Counsel
Align your credentials with EB-2 requirements
An advanced degree in law, such as a J.D. or LLM, anchors your EB-2 eligibility. If your foreign law degree isn't a direct U.S. equivalent, get a credential evaluation early so PERM documentation accurately reflects your qualifications.
Target companies with dedicated in-house legal teams
Corporations large enough to maintain a legal department are far more likely to have PERM experience and established immigration counsel. Focus your search on publicly traded companies, financial institutions, and multinationals with compliance-heavy operations.
Find green-card-sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate's curated database of U.S. employers with verified employment-based green card sponsorship history, filtered by legal roles. It surfaces companies already familiar with PERM filings, saving you from cold-outreach to employers who've never sponsored before.
Understand the PERM recruitment test before interviews
PERM requires your employer to run a documented recruitment effort proving no qualified U.S. worker was available. Knowing this process helps you frame your specialized legal background accurately during offer negotiations, particularly for roles blending regulatory, transactional, and litigation oversight.
Clarify bar admission status during the offer stage
Many Deputy General Counsel roles specify active bar membership in a U.S. jurisdiction. If you hold foreign legal credentials, confirm whether the employer requires U.S. bar admission before PERM filing, since the job description locks in the minimum requirements DOL will evaluate.
Preserve your priority date if you change employers
Once your original I-140 is approved, you can carry that priority date to a new employer's petition. If your I-485 has been pending 180 days or more, AC21 portability also allows a move to a same or similar occupation without restarting the green card process.
Green Card Deputy General Counsel: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Deputy General Counsel roles typically qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship?
Most Deputy General Counsel positions qualify under EB-2 because the role inherently requires an advanced degree, typically a J.D. or equivalent. EB-3 is available for professionals with a qualifying bachelor's degree, but EB-2 is the more common path for senior in-house legal roles given the degree expectations built into the job description.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B sponsorship for this role?
Green card sponsorship through PERM is a permanent immigration benefit, not a temporary status. Unlike H-1B visa, there's no annual lottery. Instead, your employer files a PERM labor certification with DOL, proves no qualified U.S. worker was available, then files an I-140 petition with USCIS. Per-country limits mean nationals from high-demand countries may face a priority-date backlog before the final step.
How can I find employers willing to sponsor a Deputy General Counsel for a green card?
Migrate Mate lists U.S. employers with verified employment-based green card sponsorship history, searchable by role and location. This lets you focus on companies that have already navigated PERM filings for legal positions, rather than spending time educating employers who have no prior sponsorship experience.
What does the PERM labor certification process involve for a Deputy General Counsel position?
Your employer works with immigration counsel to obtain a prevailing wage determination from DOL, then conducts a mandatory recruitment campaign including job postings and documentation that no qualified U.S. worker applied. The job description used in PERM filings locks in minimum requirements, so it must accurately reflect the actual duties and degree qualifications for the role.
Can I switch employers while my employment-based green card is in process?
Yes, in two distinct situations. If your original I-140 petition was approved, a new employer can file a fresh I-140 and you can retain your original priority date. Separately, if your I-485 adjustment of status has been pending for 180 days or more, AC21 portability allows you to move to a same or similar occupation without losing your place in the queue.