The Associate General Counsel (AGC) manages the Corporate Services Legal Team to ensure delivery of high quality, customer-focused legal services to assigned Business Units (BUs) and provides legal services and advice on complex matters and specialized legal topics to assigned programs and/or BUs. The AGC serves as a member of the Legal Leadership Team to assist the General Counsel in managing the Legal Department.
The AGC ensures that the assigned legal team (i) appropriately manages important risks while enabling nimble action; and (ii) assists the Conservancy in achieving its organizational goals.
As a member of the Legal Leadership Team:
- Ensures that Legal staff are fully engaged, motivated and have the requisite training, tools, and demonstrated skills to meet the needs of the organization.
- Identifies, develops, and implements standards and best-practices to effectively marshal the Conservancy’s legal talent to achieve organization-wide results on a global basis.
- Implements consistent, organization-wide practices that minimize legal risks having organizational impact.
- Establishes and maintains optimal standards of performance for the department while controlling costs.
The AGC clearly articulates complex legal concepts and options to high-level managers and the Board of Directors. Facilitates strategic dialogues with clients and senior-level stakeholders, probing to identify key issues and requirements, negotiating and developing solutions, and synthesizing a plan of action tailored to audience. Serves as a key advisor to the General Counsel regarding risks related to assigned areas of responsibility and areas of expertise.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Manages a team of attorneys and other legal professionals for Corporate Services, directly servicing groups such as External Affairs, Marketing, Development, Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology. The legal services provided by the team which this position oversees includes:
- Corporate governance;
- Government registration;
- Tax compliance and tax status;
- Protection of TNC’s intellectual property interests;
- Charitable solicitations;
- Lobbying Activities;
- Human Resources;
- Government grants and contracts;
- Information Technology services;
- Privacy; and
- Securities transaction in the U.S. such as private placements, preparation of disclosure documents and equity investments.
- Develops and administers sound budgets for assigned legal functions.
- Assists in developing, sharing, and infusing cutting-edge strategies, practices and thinking across organizational groupings and functions.
- Designs and directs complex and diversified projects, coordinating the work of other professionals, managing budget, and ensuring program accountability.
- Influences decision-makers at all levels of the Conservancy through strong communication skills.
- Facilitates relations with key stakeholders including executive and senior management, internal teams, and external partners to achieve strategic program goals.
- Exercises leadership in strategic and tactical manners, works with fellow leaders to establish and evaluate policies and/or long-term programs.
- Provides advice, guidance, and oversees training programs related to functional area.
- Provides legal services and/or advises on complex projects and legal issues.
- Performs special projects as requested by General Counsel.
- Travel occasionally; work long or flexible hours as needed.
- 7 years’ relevant legal experience with at least 3 years focusing on tax-exempt practice.
- Experience negotiating complex, high profile or sensitive transactions and agreements.
- Experience developing, implementing and managing diverse projects and implementing strategic program goals.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural experience appreciated.
- Experience managing and/or supervising legal staff.
- In-house experience and/or law firm experience advising sophisticated clients and senior management.
- Experience providing legal support to a global organization.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.