Director, Legal Counsel

Summary:

The ASPCA's Legal Department helps the ASPCA work toward its mission to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the Unites States, while assessing and managing risk. The Director, Legal Counsel will work closely with the Senior Director, Corporate Counsel, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, the Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, and the other members of the Legal Department to direct, manage and advise on legal matters related to contracts, labor and employment, litigation, and strategic project management for specific internal ASPCA clients, working with colleagues across departments and disciplines.

Legal Department Core Values: The Legal Department prioritizes respect for our internal clients, business partners, colleagues and others; excellence in the work that we perform and the advice that we provide; and being present in the life-saving work of the ASPCA by showing up for our colleagues, clients, and constituents.

This remote-based position (which requires travel, as described below) is open to all eligible candidates based within the United States.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Advise and Counsel - 70%

• Work in close partnership and collaboration with counterparts across the organization on multidisciplinary and cross-departmental projects and initiatives
• Sensibly manage operational risk to foster innovation, security and resilience
• Ensure efficient, scalable and compliant expansion into new physical locations and new areas of work
• Draft, review, and negotiate various corporate contracts and other legal documents (e.g.information technology (IT)-related contracts, confidentiality agreements, licenses, consulting contracts, memoranda of understanding, etc.)
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and internal policies
• Manage and advise on legal aspects of labor and employment issues, in close coordination with the ASPCA's People Team (HR), that arise within and between client teams
• Conduct comprehensive research and analysis on diverse substantive and procedural issues, including a wide variety of issues relevant to ASPCA initiatives and programs
• Counsel internal clients on risk management and strategic program development
• Educate staff on legal issues/risks facing specific areas of their work through interdepartmental trainings

Liaise - 15%

• Liaise with other generalist attorneys to ensure the highest possible caliber of legal advice being provided to internal clients across the board
• Liaise with outside counsel, especially on litigation, labor and employment, information technology (IT), intellectual property, and real property matters

Additional Responsibilities - 15%

• Draft regular internal reports
• Other duties as assigned

Exemplifies the ASPCA's Core Values:

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals
• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes
• Believes in Team - that we are stronger
• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible
• Focuses on Impact, specifically making changes for animals

Education:

• J.D. degree from an ABA accredited U.S. law school
• Admitted to practice law or be licensed as authorized in-house counsel in at least one jurisdiction in which the ASPCA has a key program group, including, New York, California, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina or Washington, D.C.

Travel:

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of the time as needed

Experience:

• At least 4 years of prior law firm or other comparable experience required; in-house corporate experience (for-profit or nonprofit) a plus
• Experience with IT-related contracts and contract provisions (e.g., software licenses, hardware acquisition, maintenance, system implementation, SaaS and other cloud services, consulting services, etc.), strongly preferred
• Experience in any of the following areas a plus:
  • Data privacy security laws
  • Intellectual property
  • Litigation
  • General corporate or nonprofit practice
  • Nonprofit development or finance

Knowledge Requirements:

• Contract drafting experience required
• Knowledge of relevant substantive areas of nonprofit corporate law a plus
• Knowledge of animal law is a plus, but is not required; however, a commitment to animal welfare is critical

Skills Requirements:

• Excellent judgment and discretion, especially regarding confidential and sensitive matters
• Strong research and analysis skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to present information clearly in oral and written form to a variety of audiences
• Plans, organizes, and prioritizes work
• Accepts accountability for and effectively executes responsibilities
• Asks questions to identify needs that may not be stated
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and moving parts
• Demonstrated leadership ability in a dynamic and high-pressure environment
• Effective problem solver and ability to manage multiple competing deadlines simultaneously

Compensation & Benefits

The applicable target hiring range for this remote role is based on where the employee works, which for remote roles is the employee's primary location of residence, and its respective cost of labor. We have organized the U.S. varying costs of labor index into three geographic zones. As a point of reference, below, we have included our ASPCA locations by geographic zone to illustrate what the hiring range would be in each of the following areas.

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring rangeis for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience.The expected hiringsalary ranges for this role are set forth below and may be modified in the future.

• Zone 1 (For example: Asheville, NC; Champaign, IL; Columbus, OH; Gainesville, FL; Miami, FL; Oklahoma City, OK; Overland, KS; Union, MO; Weaverville, NC): $128,000-$135,000
• Zone 2 (For example: Los Angeles, CA): $138,000-$145,000
• Zone 3 (For example: Washington D.C.; New York, NY): $148,000-$156,000

You can view which zone applies to where you plan to workhere. For questions regarding other locations not found on the list, please send an email toCareers@aspca.orgfor more information.

Information on our Benefit offerings can be foundhere.

Qualifications:

Language:

Education and Work Experience:

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA's standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA's People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA's vision - that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries in the initial interview. We are permitted to require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant may redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.