Director, Legal Counsel

Summary:

The Director, Legal Counsel plays a key role in the Legal Department,  where you can make a real impact drafting and reviewing contracts and advising on legal matters related to animal welfare programs, labor and employment, and other corporate matters in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Overview

Lifesaving impact, rewarding careers: Working at the ASPCA means you’ll be part of an established team of experts on the frontlines to save, transform and protect the lives of millions of animals.  

Who We Are

The Legal Department works across all ASPCA departments to provide legal support and policy guidance, ensuring that all of the ASPCA’s work is consistent with our organizational goals, positions, and policies and adheres to all federal, state, and local laws.  The Legal Department prioritizes respect for our internal clients, business partners, colleagues and others; excellence in the work that we perform and the advice that we provide; and being present in the life-saving work of the ASPCA by showing up for our colleagues, clients, and constituents.

What You’ll Do

The ASPCA is currently hiring for two Director, Legal Counsel positions, each of which will report to a Senior Director, Corporate Counsel and has no direct reports. One Director, Legal Counsel will support the ASPCA’s programs, including its community-centered medical teams, shelter teams, and veterinary and behavioral experts; and the ASPCA’s operations, including its IT, facilities, and strategy teams. The other Director, Legal Counsel will support the ASPCA’s policy teams, including its government relations, national field and disaster response, farm animal program, grants, and legal advocacy and cruelty response teams; the finance and real estate teams; the fundraising teams, including membership and advancement; and the communications teams, including internal and external communications.

Where and When You’ll Work

• This remote-based position (which requires travel, as described below) is open to all eligible candidates based within the United States.

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% annually, as needed.

What You’ll Get

Compensation

The target hiring range is based on where the employee works, which for remote roles is the employee’s primary location of residence, and its respective cost of labor.  You can view which zone applies to you based on your location (aspca.app.box.com/v/aspcazonetable). For questions regarding locations not on the list, please send an email to Careers@aspca.org for more information. 

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary ranges for this role are set forth below and may be modified in the future.   

• Zone 1: $128,000 - $135,000 annually

• Zone 2: $141,000 - $148,000 annually

• Zone 3: $141,000 - $148,000 annually

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.  

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.

• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, ten company paid holidays and paid personal time off that allows flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.

• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions—we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.

• Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:

Advise and Counsel

• Draft, review, and negotiate various corporate contracts and other legal documents, including confidentiality agreements, consulting contracts, and other documents used by ASPCA program teams.

• Work in close partnership and collaboration with teams across the organization on multidisciplinary and cross-departmental projects and initiatives

• Ensure efficient, scalable and compliant expansion into new areas of work

• Sensibly manage operational risk to foster innovation, security, and resilience

• Counsel internal clients on risk management and strategic program development

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and internal policies

• In close coordination with the ASPCA’s People Team, manage and advise on legal aspects of labor and employment issues that arise within and between client teams

• Conduct comprehensive research and analysis on diverse substantive and procedural issues, including a wide variety of issues relevant to ASPCA initiatives and programs

Collaborate with Internal and External Partners

• Liaise with other Legal Department attorneys to ensure the highest caliber of legal advice is being provided consistently to internal clients throughout the organization

• Collaborate with outside counsel, particularly on litigation matters and complex labor and employment and intellectual property matters

• Educate staff on legal issues and risks facing specific areas of their work through interdepartmental trainings

Qualifications

• Licensed and admitted to practice law in at least one United States jurisdiction required

• Knowledge of animal law is not required, but a commitment to animal welfare is critical

• Excellent judgment and discretion, especially regarding confidential and sensitive matters

• Strong research and analysis skills

• Presents information clearly in oral and written form to a variety of audiences

• Plans, organizes, and prioritizes work

• Accepts accountability for and effectively executes responsibilities

• Ability to ask questions to identify needs that may not be stated

• Strong ability to collaborate effectively

• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.

Education and Work Experience

• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited U.S. law school required

• At least 4 years of experience practicing law (e.g. experience in a law firm, in-house experience, etc.); legal in-house corporate experience (for-profit or nonprofit) a plus

• Experience drafting and negotiating agreements and contracts (e.g. settlement agreements, leases, SAAS agreements) required

• Knowledge of nonprofit corporate law a plus

• 3 or more years of direct experience in real estate, finance, education and/or transportation matters a plus

Qualifications:

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