General Counsel

The General Counsel is charged with providing independent, proactive, and strategic guidance to Save the Children US and Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) leadership, staff, and Board of Trustees regarding issues and opportunities that support the agency’s mission and goals—that all children survive, learn, and are protected, with a focus on the most deprived and marginalized children.

You and your team will engage staff across all departments to champion an ethical culture of compliance, fundamentally grounded in our core values of accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity, and integrity—as well as a full commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism. To help us achieve our goals, you will lead the assessment of a host of dynamic ethical, contractual and legal issues; inviting divergent views; and managing multiple tasks and activities in a resilient, collaborative, efficient, and professional manner. We will look to you and your team to review and recommend institutional policies and procedures, and review or prepare contracts and other legal documents.

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

Lead, coordinate, and integrate a team of legal professionals charged with evaluating and managing our organization-wide domestic and overseas legal needs and exposures through

Legal review of policies, practices and procedures

Advice to divisions on policies and procedures, contracts, sample documents, disclosures, internal publications, Form 990 and other filings, brochures, reports and releases for donor or public dissemination.

Develop and oversee the strategic framework for the legal affairs of the organization.

Lead ongoing legal risk assessments related to Save the Children Employer Duty of Care (DOC) to determine the level of control and the support needed. Work with internal DOC team to create the framework and structure to advance related DOC initiatives.

Lead the review, approval, and maintenance process for Save the Children US organizational policies

Oversee all litigation. Primary areas of advice and review relate to:

Regulatory compliance involving federal grants and contracts.

Other compliance matters; non-profit charitable regulations and taxation; lobbying and 501c4 regulations; corporate governance; contracts and licensing; gift solicitations and gifts administration; trademark, general litigation, advocacy and relationships with major donors and other SC entities.

Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, collaborate closely with senior leadership, our Board of Trustees, and partner with our SCI/A member organizations on a wide range of legal and risk management issues

Network and collaborate with fellow General Counsels within the Save the Children movement and externally as appropriate within our industry to stay up to date and proactive regarding legal developments and issues affecting our mission and operations.

Required Qualifications

Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school

Minimum of 15 years of experience in area of expertise

A valid license to practice law in a state or territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Proven success in a leadership role within an in-house counsel team, advising C-Suite and Boards on legal issues.

Demonstrated proficiency in leadership, judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

Proven thoughtful, evaluative, and critical thinking skills with ability to identify and assess complex legal and regulatory issues and related risks and structure effective risk responses and operating implementation strategies.

Reliable, resourceful, proactive, and motivated to find creative solutions to balance the legal risk of the organizations with its programmatic goals.

Demonstrated ability to listen effectively and use information to evaluate and determine appropriate course of action for situations which are highly sensitive and confidential.

Proven ability to develop institutional policies and procedures.

Demonstrated professional proficiency in communication, relationship-building, and collaboration with all levels of an organization.

Expert level technical and/or managerial knowledge, skills, and experience to lead a department or region, or to provide the technical advice, guidance and direction related to large programs

Willingness and ability to travel up to 15% of the time, both domestically and internationally

About Save the Children

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom Save the Children is in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse. In addition, it is Save the Children’s policy to create and proactively maintain an environment that aims to prevent and deter any actions and omissions, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that place children at the risk of any kind of child abuse. All our representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation. Any violations of this policy will be treated as a serious issue.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran. Save the Children complies with all applicable laws.

Save the Children US offers outstanding benefits that include health, dental, vision and life insurances, pet insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an Employee Assistance Program, 403(b), generous vacation, personal sick leave, family leave, parental/adoption leave, commuter benefits, dress for your day, and much more.