Legal Director, Strategic Philanthropy

Role Title

Legal Director, Strategic Philanthropy

Grade Level

F 14

Reporting To

Program/Tool/ Department/Unit Name

Office of General Counsel

Team Name

Strategic Philanthropy

Role Purpose

The Legal Director, Strategic Philanthropy, is a full-time position based in the United States (New York City or Washington DC) that reports to the General Counsel and leads the Strategic Philanthropy division within the Office of the General Counsel. Strategic Philanthropy advises on a range of legal and regulatory issues, including U.S. exempt law, the Lobbying Disclosure Act and state lobbying and ballot wok, and  in relation to grant making, advocacy, investments and strategic litigation focusing on more complex, riskier transactions, and acts as an advisory partner for corresponding business units.  The Legal Director is the primary expert within OGC on US private foundation legal requirements and practices.

Key Responsibilities

As Legal Director for Strategic Philanthropy, you will:

• Lead on the development and implementation of strategy for legal support to strategic philanthropy across Open Society’s global network, including leading, developing and managing attorneys and other legal professionals

• Create a structure to generate clear goals to enable the team to fulfil its remit, and for each member to accomplish their objectives and help them assess their effectiveness for further development

• Contribute to development of legal department strategy, annual planning, budget and resource management 

• Advise on a full spectrum of cross-cutting legal issues, including a particular focus on compliance with U.S. tax exempt organizations law  

• Oversee and/or coordinate strategy for and response to potential government inquiries related to compliance with US tax exempt organization law

• Advise on the development and implementation of organizational policies and large-scale projects that require co-ordinated inputs from multiple specialist attorneys and stakeholders; represent OGC in interdepartmental efforts

• Engage and instruct external counsel when needed and coordinate advice as appropriate to ensure it is fit for the organization

Open Society’s legal needs mean that legal work is often cross-cutting so 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

People Responsibilities (Total Team/DRs)

Yes (3 direct reports)

Key internal relationships

OGC leadership; heads of Grants Management, strategic litigation, SEDF

Key external relationships

External Counsel; counterparts at other U.S. private foundations and peer organizations; Soros Fund Management.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Law degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school

• Must be admitted to practice in New York State or must be willing to be admitted

Experience

Essential:

• A minimum post-qualification experience of 10  years at a law firm and/or in-house, with an emphasis on U.S. private foundation law

• Extensive experience and record of accomplishments with drafting and negotiating, in matters requiring keen attention to detail with excellent follow-through

• Experience with providing legal advice on the following areas to complex organizations:  US tax exempt law (including in the context of separate entities with multiple tax statuses operating to advance a common mission), state lobbying and ballot work, and impact investing

• Experience with providing general nonprofit corporate advice, including creation, governance, and administration of legal entities in the US and abroad

• Experience of leading, developing and managing lawyers and other legal professionals to achieve specific results within a medium-term timeframe, including experience in managing complex projects

• Experience engaging and instructing external counsel when needed and coordinating advice as appropriate to ensure it is fit for the organization

Desirable:

• Defamation, intellectual property, public interest litigation experience

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrated ability to communicate (verbal and written) legal and strategic advice effectively with stakeholders who are not lawyers including in a virtual environment

• A practical, business-oriented approach to problem-solving, tempered by an appreciation for legal complexity and risk

• Demonstrated ability to apply creative thinking, strong judgment and analytical skills, combined with a record of integrity, professional discretion and the ability to work under pressure, prioritize and handle sensitive/confidential matters

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, with experience managing inter and intra organizational relationships in complex organizational environments

Personal Competencies

• Commitment to continuous learning and growth in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism and social justice

• Commitment to listening and working with humility; ways of working that are respectful to all people; and that support space and voice for all diverse perspectives in our workplace

• Ability to work under pressure, manage workload, prioritize, manage simultaneous tasks, meet deadlines and maintain a sense of humor within a changing fast-paced environment  

Languages:

An excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of other languages would be an asset

The salary range for this role in the U.S. is $174,100 - $330, 800. The final offer is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set and level of experience.

Competitive rates of pay apply.

Open Society Foundations is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues and communities that our mission serves. Candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities and communities are encouraged to apply.   

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.