Legal Counsel

Job Title: Legal Counsel

Location: United States

Are you a mission-driven legal expert ready to guide a global organization through complex regulatory landscapes?
Do you thrive at the intersection of law, governance, risk management, and international development? Pathfinder International is seeking a dynamic Legal Counsel to serve as the organization’s chief legal advisor—providing strategic guidance to our executive team, Board of Directors, country offices, and global operations. This is a unique opportunity to champion legal excellence and help drive impact across 16 countries advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights.

About Us: At Pathfinder International, we are driven by the conviction that all people, regardless of where they live, have the right to decide whether and when to have children, to exist free from fear and stigma, and to lead the lives they choose. Since 1957, we have partnered with local governments, communities, and health systems in developing countries to remove barriers to critical sexual and reproductive health services. Together, we expand access to contraception, promote healthy pregnancies, save women’s lives, and stop the spread of new HIV infections, wherever the need is most urgent. Our work ensures millions of women, men, and young people are able to choose their own paths forward.

Your Impact: As a Legal Counsel, you will provide organization-wide legal guidance and oversight of Pathfinder’s legal affairs. You will provide legal counsel to the CEO, CFOO, the Board of Directors, the Africa and SA-MENA regions and country organizations and Pathfinder corporate functions on a wide variety of legal and related compliance matters as well as providing oversight of Pathfinder’s outside counsel relationships. Reporting directly to the Chief Finance and Operating Officer, you will act as a strategic partner and advisor to senior management. You will provide guidance on organizational and business structures, including the selection of the appropriate forms of legal presence in the countries where Pathfinder operates, the structuring and negotiation of transactions and partnerships that advance Pathfinder’s business and mission consistent with its status as a tax-exempt public charity

Key Responsibilities:

Legal Counsel and Risk Management:

• Partner with Compliance, Internal Audit, Human Resources and other stakeholders in the development and execution of risk identification and management processes and organizational policies.

Comprehensive Legal Services:

• Provide legal advice to executive and senior leadership teams.
• Select and oversee outside counsel – US & Overseas.
• Provide day-to-day legal support for Pathfinder’s operations as needed: including review, drafting and negotiations of contracts, advising on donor regulations, monitoring and managing litigation; and advising on conduct of internal investigations.
• Assist in the country registration and deregistration process.

 Board of Directors and Governance:

• Perform function as required by law and Pathfinder by-laws and policies.
• Work with the Board of Directors, the Corporate Secretary and CEO to identify and adopt best practices in nonprofit corporate governance.
• Supports the work of the Board’s committees. Serves as a strategic advisor to the Board and Pathfinder International.

Policies and Procedures:

• Implement best practices for the development, content and maintenance of high-quality policies and procedures across the organization.
• Provide guidance to other departments in their policy development activities.

Departmental Management: 

• Manage policies owned by legal
• Manage legal intranet page
• Manage annual departmental budget
• Manage outside legal counsel relations and billing

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and graduate level law degree are required.
• Must be licensed to practice law as a member in good standing of the bar of a US state or of the District of Columbia
• 10 or more years of progressively responsible legal experience in a global corporation including substantial experience advising tax exempt organizations in-house or in a law firm, and at least five years leading the legal function at a senior management or comparable level.
• Professional level of written and spoken English

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5 years’ experience either in-house or in a firm advising US tax exempt international nonprofits, including experience with grants and contracts funded by USG, Non-USG donors and private foundations and strategies and structures through which non-profit organizations engage in for-profit revenue generating activities.
• Successful track record of working as part of a management team in a large organization undergoing significant change and/or leadership transition preferred.
• Language skills in French, Portuguese and/or Arabic are desired.

Why You’ll Love Working with Us:

• Join an innovative, forward-thinking organization that values your growth and ideas.
• Work within a supportive, collaborative environment.
• Make a meaningful impact on our legal processes.
• Enjoy a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Benefit from the opportunity for global engagement.

Ready to Apply? If you are passionate about legal counsel relations and are eager to make a difference, we would love to hear from you! Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this role via this website no later than May 21^st, 2025. You are also requested to include the contact details for at least 3 referees in your resume.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Pathfinder International provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Safeguarding and Protection

Pathfinder is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the people we serve and our staff. We have zero tolerance for any type of behavior that inflicts harm on children, young people, adults, our staff, and partners including sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation. We do everything possible to ensure that we recruit only those who are suitable to work with for us and expect that everyone we hire will abide by our safeguarding and related policies and will report any suspected or known violations. This job is subject to a range of vetting checks as legally permitted in the country where they are being hired. By applying, the job applicant acknowledges they understand our intent to verify suitability to work with us