General Counsel

Overview

This role leads the organization’s legal function and heads the legal team, providing legal services across a broad range of matters for a national nonprofit organization and affiliated organizations, including a 501(c)(4) and connected PAC.

The General Counsel serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Responsibilities include advising executive leadership and the Board, directing legal strategy and legal operations, and ensuring legal compliance across key organizational areas. The position reports to the President & CEO and oversees a legal department of four plus two to four summer law clerks.

Responsibilities

Executive and Board Relations (including the organization and its action fund)

• Advise the Boards of Directors, the President & CEO, and senior management on corporate governance, legal and regulatory compliance, risk management, and other issues affecting operations.
• Participate as a member of key leadership teams, contributing to management and strategic planning and providing legal advice as needed.
• Advise the Executive Office Manager and Board Liaison as needed in governance-related areas.
• Serve as Assistant Secretary to maintain corporate minutes and records.
• Staff the Board Litigation Committee to support review and oversight of organizational litigation and serve as a liaison between the Board and staff.
• Advise and participate in board meetings.

Transactional and Compliance

• Draft and review contracts and other legal agreements, including master agreements, subgrants, corporate arrangements, memoranda of understanding, and leases; advise staff on related compliance matters.
• Develop, maintain, and oversee a contract tracking and approval process; monitor and report on metrics; recommend improvements to procurement policies and procedures as needed.
• Partner with program staff on the development and execution of RFPs and RFQs; identify, manage, and escalate legal issues arising for projects contracting, permitting, procurement, insurance, compliance, claims, and dispute resolution.

Corporate Governance and Tax Compliance

• With the CEO, review and revise bylaws and other corporate documents; support sound corporate governance practices; help maintain good standing with federal and state regulators.
• Advise staff on compliance with IRS guidelines related to lobbying activities by nonprofit organizations.
• Advise staff on state regulations applicable to charitable solicitation and assist with charitable watchdog reports as needed.
• Advise staff on 501(c)(4) organizational compliance and program.

Risk Management

• Develop and implement a proactive risk management framework; identify and escalate emerging legal, operational, and compliance risks to leadership; recommend practical mitigation strategies.
• Lead efforts to reduce liability risk by developing and reviewing internal policies and procedures.
• Address personnel issues in ways that minimize risk and reduce the likelihood of litigation.
• If in aggregate beneficial, recommend transferring risk contractually to protect the organization from undue legal exposure.
• Oversee the organization’s insurance program, including applications, renewals, coverage questions, risk escalation, and integration of insurance requirements into contracts.

People and Culture

• Advise and manage employment matters in close partnership with the People and Culture leader, including high-priority personnel issues.
• Support People and Culture in ensuring compliance with applicable employment laws.
• Establish systems and processes with People and Culture to support best practices in performance management.
• Develop and communicate policies and procedures related to standards of legal and ethical conduct.
• Advise on internship programs for other departments throughout the organization.
• Manage the annual conflict of interest acknowledgement for staff and board directors and the disclosure process.
• Lead recruitment, interviewing, and supervision for the legal department’s summer internship program (including legal clerkships) and externships; maintain and strengthen a rigorous program that develops emerging attorneys while benefiting the organization.

Counsel

• Advise staff in headquarters and field offices on organizational legal issues, litigation matters, and other matters across a range of legal practice areas.
• As prioritized and requested by management, provide legal advice on trademark and copyright matters; secure and defend national trademarks, copyrights, and branding assets, coordinating with pro bono counsel as necessary.
• Identify and prepare all-staff training on legal issues relevant to the organization.
• Oversee outside counsel strategy and engagement, including matter scoping, budget management, performance oversight, and coordination to ensure timely, practical, and cost-effective legal support.

Minimum Qualifications

• J.D. and at least 10 years of successful legal practice experience.
• Bar admission and good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Prior experience as a senior attorney, preferably including General Counsel experience, with a broad legal portfolio and staff management responsibilities.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work effectively with multiple internal departments, external parties, and members of the Board.
• Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a variety of transactional agreements.
• Knowledge of labor and employment law.
• Knowledge of intellectual property and charitable solicitation laws.
• Experience overseeing key elements of organizational risk assessment and management.
• Experience with cost-effective management of outside legal resources.
• Working knowledge of or ability to get up to speed on federal tax and election laws as applies to 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and Section 527 organizations in general and public-interest law firms in particular.
• Experience overseeing a corporate insurance program, or knowledge of insurance law.
• Ability to travel to board meetings and other convenings as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of non-profit corporate law, specifically in the conservation sector.
• Experience with construction projects and related procurement.
• Experience working on matters of corporate governance.
• Experience analyzing and addressing legal ethics matters.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local lobbying laws.
• Non-profit experience required, although it can be through pro bono service.
• Familiarity with or willingness to learn a suite of tools, including Slack, Zoom, Box, Monday.com, Intacct, and the Microsoft Suite or similar tools.
• Knowledge of or interest in environmental law and policy matters.

Candidates who are unsure if they meet all minimum qualifications or who have transferable skills and experience beyond the conservation sector are encouraged to apply.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $181,000 - $250,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Total Rewards package for full-time, regular employees includes:
  • Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, long-term and short-term disability, and life insurance.
  • Financial Security: After one year of service, employer contributions of 3% of salary; no vesting schedule for employer contributions; employees are 100% vested upon participation.
  • Time Off: Four weeks of paid leave, eleven paid holidays, three floating holidays, and sick leave.

Location

Hybrid or Remote with a willingness to work ET hours when necessary.

Additional Information

• Applicant must be legally allowed to work as an employee in the United States.
• Equal Opportunity Employer.
• Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request (one week’s advance notice preferred).