Lead Legal Counsel, Tax-Exempt Organizations
Open Society Foundations, New York, New York, us, 10261
Lead Legal Counsel, Tax-Exempt Organizations
Senior Level:
Director |
Employment Type:
Full‑time |
Job Function:
Legal |
Industry:
Non‑profit Organizations |
Location:
New York or Washington D.C. |
Reporting to:
Director, Strategic Philanthropy |
Contract Type:
Regular
Role Purpose The Lead Legal Counsel provides advice on OSF’s most fundamental legal and regulatory issues, including charitability, fundability, lobbying, political activity, and mission‑related investments, in relation to grant making, impact investing and advocacy. The Lead Legal Counsel is the primary expert within OGC on legal requirements for the U.S. private foundations central to the OSF network and acts as an advisory partner for business units engaged in grantmaking or advocacy.
Key Responsibilities
Work with the Director for Strategic Philanthropy on setting and implementing strategy for legal support to strategic philanthropy across Open Society’s global network, including leading, developing and managing attorneys and other legal professionals.
Advise on charitable, social welfare and exempt organizations’ law, including compliance with tax laws and regulations applicable to U.S. private foundations such as private benefit, expenditure responsibility, lobbying restrictions and political activity prohibitions.
Advise on international (and potentially domestic) grant making, advocacy and other strategic interventions, including escalated transactions and multi‑tool campaigns that require input from multiple specialist attorneys and internal and external stakeholders.
Advise on the development and implementation of organisational policies, including global grant making and advocacy process design and implementation.
Represent OGC in interdepartmental efforts, such as network‑wide policy and planning committees.
Advise on transactions including grants, service agreements, consultancies, commercial contracts, licences and software agreements.
Contribute to developing and maintaining OGC know‑how, templates, technology solutions and other key enablers.
Engage and instruct external counsel when needed and coordinate advice as appropriate to ensure it is fit for the organization.
Legal work is often cross‑cutting; all attorneys in the OGC must be generalists to some extent, and should expect workload sharing within and between divisions to respond to fluctuating demands.
Qualifications
Law degree or equivalent from an accredited university.
Admission to practice law in the United States.
Minimum of 8 years post‑qualification experience at a law firm and/or in‑house, with an emphasis on tax‑exempt charitable organizations and substantial experience with U.S. private foundation law.
Extensive experience drafting and negotiating, in matters requiring keen attention to detail with excellent follow‑through.
Experience leading, developing and managing lawyers and other legal professionals to achieve specific results within a medium‑term timeframe, including managing complex projects.
Experience advising senior leadership of a large complex and international organization.
Experience engaging and instructing external counsel and coordinating advice as appropriate.
Demonstrated ability to communicate legal and strategic advice with stakeholders who are not lawyers, including in a virtual environment.
Practical, business‑oriented approach to problem‑solving, tempered by an appreciation for legal complexity and risk.
Strong judgment and analytical skills, with a record of integrity, professional discretion and ability to work under pressure, prioritize and handle sensitive/confidential matters.
Strong relationship‑building skills in complex organizational environments.
Travel required; frequency depends on role requirements.
Compensation Salary range: $244,000 – $276,363 (USD). Final offer is influenced by a variety of factors, including but not limited to skill set and level of experience.
What We Offer
Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow and make an impact; generous annual professional development allowance, onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.
Excellent benefits and perks to promote well‑being and a healthy work‑life balance, including generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
Employer‑paid health insurance and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required).
Non‑contributory retirement savings plan and life insurance.
Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and more.
Commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.
Equal Opportunity Statement Open Society Foundations is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Each candidate is evaluated solely on their unique qualifications without regard to race, age, sex, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or any other legally protected characteristic.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities.
Competitive rates of pay apply.
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Director |
Employment Type:
Full‑time |
Job Function:
Legal |
Industry:
Non‑profit Organizations |
Location:
New York or Washington D.C. |
Reporting to:
Director, Strategic Philanthropy |
Contract Type:
Regular
Role Purpose The Lead Legal Counsel provides advice on OSF’s most fundamental legal and regulatory issues, including charitability, fundability, lobbying, political activity, and mission‑related investments, in relation to grant making, impact investing and advocacy. The Lead Legal Counsel is the primary expert within OGC on legal requirements for the U.S. private foundations central to the OSF network and acts as an advisory partner for business units engaged in grantmaking or advocacy.
Key Responsibilities
Work with the Director for Strategic Philanthropy on setting and implementing strategy for legal support to strategic philanthropy across Open Society’s global network, including leading, developing and managing attorneys and other legal professionals.
Advise on charitable, social welfare and exempt organizations’ law, including compliance with tax laws and regulations applicable to U.S. private foundations such as private benefit, expenditure responsibility, lobbying restrictions and political activity prohibitions.
Advise on international (and potentially domestic) grant making, advocacy and other strategic interventions, including escalated transactions and multi‑tool campaigns that require input from multiple specialist attorneys and internal and external stakeholders.
Advise on the development and implementation of organisational policies, including global grant making and advocacy process design and implementation.
Represent OGC in interdepartmental efforts, such as network‑wide policy and planning committees.
Advise on transactions including grants, service agreements, consultancies, commercial contracts, licences and software agreements.
Contribute to developing and maintaining OGC know‑how, templates, technology solutions and other key enablers.
Engage and instruct external counsel when needed and coordinate advice as appropriate to ensure it is fit for the organization.
Legal work is often cross‑cutting; all attorneys in the OGC must be generalists to some extent, and should expect workload sharing within and between divisions to respond to fluctuating demands.
Qualifications
Law degree or equivalent from an accredited university.
Admission to practice law in the United States.
Minimum of 8 years post‑qualification experience at a law firm and/or in‑house, with an emphasis on tax‑exempt charitable organizations and substantial experience with U.S. private foundation law.
Extensive experience drafting and negotiating, in matters requiring keen attention to detail with excellent follow‑through.
Experience leading, developing and managing lawyers and other legal professionals to achieve specific results within a medium‑term timeframe, including managing complex projects.
Experience advising senior leadership of a large complex and international organization.
Experience engaging and instructing external counsel and coordinating advice as appropriate.
Demonstrated ability to communicate legal and strategic advice with stakeholders who are not lawyers, including in a virtual environment.
Practical, business‑oriented approach to problem‑solving, tempered by an appreciation for legal complexity and risk.
Strong judgment and analytical skills, with a record of integrity, professional discretion and ability to work under pressure, prioritize and handle sensitive/confidential matters.
Strong relationship‑building skills in complex organizational environments.
Travel required; frequency depends on role requirements.
Compensation Salary range: $244,000 – $276,363 (USD). Final offer is influenced by a variety of factors, including but not limited to skill set and level of experience.
What We Offer
Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow and make an impact; generous annual professional development allowance, onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.
Excellent benefits and perks to promote well‑being and a healthy work‑life balance, including generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
Employer‑paid health insurance and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required).
Non‑contributory retirement savings plan and life insurance.
Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and more.
Commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.
Equal Opportunity Statement Open Society Foundations is committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Each candidate is evaluated solely on their unique qualifications without regard to race, age, sex, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or any other legally protected characteristic.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities.
Competitive rates of pay apply.
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