Director of Legal

Director of Legal

Requirements

• Law degree (J.D. or international equivalent) and active US bar membership.
• At least 6 -8 years’ experience as a lawyer in a law firm or in-house setting.
• Experience in non-profit legal matters.
• Superb written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of related areas of law, including corporate legal matters, including contracts, intellectual property, non-profit regulatory compliance, fundraising, tax, insurance, and/or litigation preferred.
• Mature Christian faith with an eager commitment to IJM’s core values: Christian, Professional, and Bridge-Building.
• High emotional intelligence.
• Ability to function as a strategic advisor.
• Ability to exercise relational leadership and lead through influence.
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented, and creative problem-solver.
• Rigorous analytical thinker with the capacity to quickly absorb new subject areas.
• Ability to interact with high-level, high-profile internal and external stakeholders.
• Orientation to process & systems thinking.

Responsibilities

• Ensure regional implementation and monitoring of global standards and policies that ensure legal compliance for IJM’s operations within the region.
• Manage regional and other legally binding agreements to ensure IJM’s interests in the region are protected, and ensure contracts are elevated to Global Office of the General Counsel, when necessary.
• Provide strategic legal research, analysis, and recommendations as necessary to the Regional President, North America and other regional leadership.
• Provide strategic legal guidance and transactional legal support on all regional matters, elevating to the Chief Risk Officer and General Counsel as necessary.
• Ensure all teams within the region receive necessary transactional and operational legal support, particularly on critical areas such as fundraising, employment, and nonprofit compliance.
• Collaborate with regional fundraising and finance teams to develop solutions that allow the region to pursue innovative, high-yield fundraising initiatives, events, and partnerships in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Collaborate with Human Resources team(s) to ensure compliance with and proactively respond to all relevant employment-related standards and legal requirements throughout the region.
• Oversee management of regional registrations and filings, and in coordination with the Officer, Global Governance, ensure all entities within the region are in good standing.
• Responsible for management and outcome of all regional engagements with external legal counsel (paid and pro bono).
• Develop and implement regional legal risk reduction and mitigation strategy.
• Provide ongoing reporting from the region to the Global center regarding compliance measures, needs, and standards.
• Serve as part of the North American leadership team.
• Directly supervise any regional legal staff.
• Establish and maintain a rhythm of collaboration with North American leadership team and regional stakeholders.
• Foster relationships across cross-functional teams to better understand regional goals and support needs.
• Strategically cultivate, maintain, and utilize IJM’s external legal counsel (paid and pro bono) within the region.
• Oversee regional legal function budget.
• Develop and implement regional systems, tools, and other resources for maintaining and monitoring legal compliance in the region.
• Ensure teams throughout the region receive/access the training, resources, processes and tools necessary to comply with global legal standards and policies, promote legal compliance, and reduce legal risk.
• Actively participate in and contribute to a community of practice with other attorneys providing in-house legal services to IJM, periodically providing guidance and input on areas of relevant expertise within that community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of related areas of law, including corporate legal matters, including contracts, intellectual property, non-profit regulatory compliance, fundraising, tax, insurance, and/or litigation preferred.