The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) General Counsel serves as counsel to the organization and is responsible for managing WWP’s legal affairs and overseeing the provision of legal services to WWP. The General Counsel provides timely and insightful advice and counsel to WWP’s executive team, board, and teammates on a wide variety of legal, regulatory, compliance, and governance matters. The General Counsel leads the legal and compliance teams to support the mission and culture while minimizing risk to the organization. Additionally, the General Counsel serves as WWP’s Corporate Secretary and board liaison by maintaining the organization’s corporate records and supporting the directors and committees.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Provide strategic, professional, solutions-oriented, and proactive legal guidance and service to WWP on programmatic, corporate, and general legal matters. Matters may include the following areas:
- Compliance with nonprofit tax and fundraising laws and regulations
- Grants and impact investments
- Contracts
- Guidance to program teammates on legal issues relating to the provision of service to veterans
- Corporate governance matters
- Audit and insurance matters
- Real estate and leases
- Development and monitoring of policies
- Intellectual property matters
- Employment/benefit matters
- Ethics
- Enterprise risk management
- Long-term Support Trust
- Bequests
- Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of pertinent federal and state laws, regulations, rulings, interpretations and court decisions as they affect WWP.
- Provide legal counseling and assistance to WWP senior management and Board of Directors.
- Participate in the creation, development and achievement of organizational strategy and policy as a member of the executive Develop preventive legal strategies and organizational policy and compliance programs to help minimize litigation, third party disputes, and other potential program development and implementation challenges.
- Represent WWP where necessary and/or retain counsel for such representation; determine when to retain outside counsel and whom to retain, and then responsible for maintaining relationship with such counsel.
- Lead and manage the Legal and Compliance teams, including hiring, training, evaluating and developing professional, paraprofessional, and administrative teammates.
- Provide direction to and oversight of the Compliance and Legal teams to ensure consistent compliance with regulatory, contractual, and internal policies and standards.
- Represent WWP before administrative agencies and with industry partners as it concerns policies, laws, rules, and regulations and the efficient and effective management of a nonprofit.
- Work cooperatively and strategically with teammates to analyze and advise on legal, business and tax implications, and coordinate a variety of transactional matters.
- Draft, modify, negotiate and/or review WWP legal documents and organizational policies, including conducting legal research and providing legal opinions.
- Responsible for monitoring and evolving WWP’s compliance program and maintaining organizational compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
- Educate the organization on compliance best-practices and serve as a resource for identifying and mitigating risk across the organization.
- Perform Corporate Secretary responsibilities and serve as custodian of WWP’s corporate records; provide proper notice of board meetings and timely distribution of materials related to such meetings.
- Serve as advisor to Committee Chairs to ensure good governance practices and compliance with WWP’s charters and bylaws.
- Responsible for keeping accurate and updated governance records, including board and committee membership and term limits, board and committee meeting minutes and resolutions, and financial reports.
- Review and execute corporate documents on behalf of the organization and for the administration of legal and regulatory requirements.
- Facilitate timely and accurate communications between the executive team and the board of directors.
- Regularly attend executive meetings and Board of Director and committee meetings.
- Other duties as assigned.
Educational Background:
Juris doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school. Bachelor’s degree
Skills/Experience:
- Must be optimistic, pragmatic, solution-oriented, and possess a genuine interest in and commitment to protecting the organization and its people.
- Highly motivated, passionate and creative team player with demonstrated commitment to organizational culture, goals, and objectives.
- Must have overall broad legal knowledge (litigation, corporate law, exempt organizations law, employment, etc.).
- Ability to develop legal strategy, articulate guiding principles, and drive appropriate outcomes.
- Able to troubleshoot, identify viable options, balance risks, and problem-solve using excellent reasoning abilities and demonstrating sound judgment.
- Positive attitude and ability to work in a collaborative environment while effectively communicating legal concepts to teammates throughout the organization.
- Ability to handle highly sensitive matters with confidentiality, diplomacy, and professionalism.
- Excellent organizational, written & verbal communication, and time management skills with ability to prioritize and effectively handle multiple priorities with tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office programs, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint.
- Must have working knowledge of Westlaw/LexisNexis and advanced business knowledge.
- Demonstrated ease and confidence in public speaking and representing WWP.
- Committed to the highest standards of personal and professional ethics and conduct.
- Mission-driven, guided by core values, and a pleasure to work with.
Education & Experience Requirements
- Minimum 10 years of relevant experience.
- Minimum five (5) years of demonstrated staff management experience.
Preferences
- Prior relevant experience in a corporate legal department or law firm.
- Three (3) years of experience managing the legal work of a nonprofit – either as an on-staff attorney or client through private practice.
- Prior experience interacting with a board of directors and managing responsibilities related to corporate governance.
Certifications & Licensure
- Must have active bar license in good standing and, if such license is not in Florida, the ability to obtain Florida Authorized House Counsel certification.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Nov 3 2019
Active Until:
Dec 3 2019
Hiring Organization:
Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.
industry:
Nonprofit