Sr. Director Legal, Governance and Compliance at Plan International

Overview

This role serves as the organization’s sole in-house counsel, primary governance advisor, and compliance lead for U.S. operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and sitting on the Executive Leadership Team, the Senior Director of Legal, Governance & Compliance provides strategic risk assessment and hands-on legal leadership. The position helps protect the organization’s high-risk operating environment, leads enterprise risk monitoring, and oversees corporate board governance, while bridging U.S. operations, the Board of Directors, and global federation headquarters.

Responsibilities

Legal & Regulatory Oversight

• Serve as the sole in-house counsel, providing strategic guidance to the CEO and senior leadership on ongoing operational and legal matters
• Provide expert counsel on 501(c)(3) tax law, federal and state charitable regulations, charitable solicitations, lobbying restrictions, and donor compliance
• Manage external legal counsel engagements, serving as the single point of contact and ensuring cost-effective use of specialized outside resources

Compliance, U.S. Government Awards & Risk Management

• Lead legal and compliance activities for U.S. government foreign assistance awards, subawards, subcontracts, and federal assistance requirements (Code of Federal Regulations)
• Lead enterprise risk management initiatives, establishing clear standards, monitoring operational risk, and integrating risk discussions into regular leadership agendas
• Maintain and oversee the internal incident reporting log for fraud, safeguarding, and legal allegations, ensuring proper documentation, investigation, and escalation
• Oversee legal compliance for corporate partnerships, marketing, data privacy, and information governance

Contracts & Operations

• Draft, revise, and negotiate contracts across teams
• Serve as the formal approver for contracts over $30,000 via the contract management system
• Translate complex legal context into actionable risk assessments to enable fundraising and strategic goals

Board Governance & Executive Leadership

• Perform the duties of Assistant Corporate Secretary, advising the Board Chair, CEO, and committee chairs on governance best practices
• Professionalize board operations by managing committee workplans, board member recruitment processes, standing policies, and updates to Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
• Prepare agendas, attend all board and committee meetings, frame precise resolutions, and oversee accurate minute-taking and official record retention
• Direct the Executive Assistant in executing board-related meeting logistics and administrative support

Federation Relations & Team Leadership

• Partner with Global Headquarters legal and partnership teams to navigate member agreements, global data sharing, and complex international partner dynamics
• Directly supervise the Compliance Manager, fostering a collaborative, hands-on, mission-aligned team culture

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of legal experience, with at least 3 years in-house or at a law firm serving non-profit organizations
• Deep technical knowledge of 501(c)(3) regulations, state/federal charitable solicitation laws, and non-profit tax compliance
• Direct experience with U.S. government foreign assistance awards, federal grants, cooperative agreements, subawards, and federal procurement rules
• Proven track record advising executive leadership and a Board of Directors, managing committee processes, drafting corporate resolutions, and supporting board recruitment
• Experience navigating complex federated, membership, or matrixed organizational structures (or transferable experience in complex, multi-entity environments)
• Demonstrated ability to balance high-level strategic advisory work with hands-on execution of day-to-day legal tasks
• Outstanding communication, cross-functional collaboration, and problem-solving skills; able to balance legal compliance with strategic organizational growth
• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited law school with active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $200,000
• Total compensation package includes health benefits, paid time off (PTO), sick leave, and retirement plan contributions
• Salary offers are determined based on factors including candidate qualifications and experience, as well as internal equity

Location

Employees must reside in one of the following states: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will be considered without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, or current employment status.