This Assistant General Counsel role reports to the Deputy General Counsel who leads the Legal Team’s support of the foundation’s US Program (https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadershi...) and Global Policy and Advocacy (https://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/General-Information/Leadershi...) divisions. As the organization evolves in size and complexity of work, additional Legal support is needed. The individual we are seeking has legal expertise working with a broad range of sectors including education, technology, and health care on privacy and security issues, and a background or willingness to become a subject matter expert in the collection, use, and maintenance of data.
The role has two primary components: providing legal advice and transactional support for the foundation’s US Program and Global Policy and Advocacy divisions; as well as general legal support for foundation operations and program teams.
The role will advise US Program teams on new and emerging legal developments impacting privacy and use of personally-identifiable data. This work will include counseling clients on identifying risks and developing compliance strategies for federal, state, and international laws including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This guidance may also include a focus on the application of Human Subject Regulations, particularly as it relates to privacy issues associated with the education sector.
The role will also support operations and program teams to address legal issues related to the programmatic and business objectives of internal client groups, including data sharing and privacy issues in grants, contracts as well as program related investments. Responsibilities may include: reviewing and negotiating grants, contracts, and other agreements; reviewing and drafting terms of use, privacy notices, and informed consent forms; and developing and delivering trainings on various legal matters. This work will also include drafting and review of intellectual property issues in foundation investments, including Global Access agreements (making access to technology available at an affordable price to those most in need) and policies associated with websites.
- Collaborate with members of the Legal and Finance teams, subject matter experts and other foundation personnel to provide support as well as implement best practices.
- Provide practical business-oriented legal advice and counsel.
- Understand the objectives of internal client groups, develop creative solutions, and resolve issues using the legal framework and the foundation's values.
- Manage outside counsel as needed.
- Remain current on new and emerging US laws and regulations regarding privacy and use of personally-identifiable data.
- Provide support on other legal matters or foundation policies and issues as needed and serve as an active member of the legal team.
- Some travel may be required.
- Subject matter expertise in U.S. privacy and consumer protection laws (particularly FERPA and COPPA), strongly preferred.
- Experience advising on matters involving GDPR, HIPAA, and other state, federal, and international privacy and consumer protection laws preferred.
- Experience advising on ethical, regulatory, and safety requirements relating to human subjects research in the education sector preferred.
- History of effectively serving a demanding client base in a complex and fast-paced work environment.
- Detail-oriented and self-motivated.
- Flexibility to multi-task and agility to advise internal clients at all levels in the organization.
- Ability to communicate difficult legal concepts clearly and non-legalistically to business clients orally and in writing.
- Ability to prioritize work in context of the foundation’s risk tolerance framework.
- Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm and diplomacy both individually and collaboratively as part of a team effort.
- Passion for innovation, learning and continuous improvement
- Comfortable with change and ambiguity
- Sense of humor, humility, perspective, equity and generosity
- Highest standards of ethics and integrity
- 3-5 years’ experience in a law firm and/or international in-house legal department