Skip to main content
Posted April 13, 2021

General Counsel

The Nature Conservancy
Arlington, VA Full Time

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC or the Conservancy) has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life...

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy (TNC or the Conservancy) has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. As a science-based organization, it creates innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive.

Rooted in the Mission and guided by its Values, which include a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures, TNC knows it will only achieve its Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. Whether it’s career development, work/life balance, or a rewarding mission, there are many reasons to love life at TNC. The TNC goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to the Conservancy’s mission are valued.

The General Counsel leads the Global Legal Team (GLT) and Enterprise Risk (Ethics, Compliance & Privacy, Risk, Internal Audit) Teams (ERT), consisting of approximately 139 people and 10 direct reports. They are a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and will have a significant role in helping shape organizational priorities. The General Counsel ensures the organization adheres to all legal and regulatory requirements, offers counsel on legal issues, facilitates business development and serves as a trusted advisor to the ELT. The General Counsel will serve as liaison to select committees of TNC’s board of directors. This position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

YOUR POSITION WITH TNC

The General Counsel provides the full spectrum of legal oversight for a diverse, global organization. As a member of the ELT they will provide strategic legal direction on high impact, complex and critical legal and business issues to help structure transactions, enhance breakthrough funding and project ideas on a global basis. The General Counsel will identify organizational legal issues and assesses corporate risk to ensure that the Conservancy is fully compliant with all legal requirements as it pursues its conservation objectives. The General Counsel keeps abreast of important global trends that impact the Conservancy, creatively integrates different ideas and perspectives to challenge status-quo thinking and translates broad legal strategies into clear business objectives and practical action plans. The General Counsel will advise the CEO and the Board of Directors (Board) and provide expertise in legal matters to leverage TNC’s conservation objectives prudently and in compliance with all applicable local, national, and global legal statutes and regulations. They will advise Conservancy leadership, assist in the development of new global conservation strategies, and negotiate across a variety of legal systems. The General Counsel understands legal business processes from a global perspective and creates and maintains integrated legal standards and services that support a global enterprise.

The General Counsel is responsible for the strategic leadership of the Global Legal Team and the Enterprise Risk Team and identifies long-term future needs and appropriate strategic opportunities. They will develop efficient systems to be able to rapidly deploy TNC legal staff, outside law firms and a network of pro bono firms to priority areas. They will identify, develop, and implement standards and best practices to marshal the organization’s legal talent to achieve organization-wide results on a global basis. They will develop, share, and infuse cutting-edge practices and thinking across organizational regions and functions; aligning strategies and results with conservation priorities; and ensuring that the Conservancy is a powerful, catalytic and transformative institution with a pre-eminent role in the global conservation arena.

The General Counsel ensures the integration of efforts across the Global Legal Team and assigns clear accountability, backed by appropriate authority, to ensure the delivery of business goals at multiple organizational levels. As a member of senior leadership, they will engender staff innovation and distinction through creativity, thoughtful risk taking, and accountability. The General Counsel fosters a professional environment that provides for continuous learning and development and that attracts and retains diverse, best-in-class talent. They will provide accurate motivating feedback and constructive criticism and develop successors and talent pools for key positions.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE

Executive Leadership

Acts as key member of the Conservancy ELT.

Works closely with leadership, the Board and the staff, providing legal expertise and support that will best align and leverage the conservation and business objectives of the Conservancy.

Serves as staff liaison to the Audit Committee of the Board.

Risk Management

Manages, develops and advises on proactive global risk and safety management policies. Ensures that the organization is kept informed and well versed in ever changing global laws and regulations.

Ensures Conservancy compliance with governmental regulations and all applicable local, national, and international legal statutes.

Oversees the delivery of legal services and resources to accomplish organizational goals, strategies, and priorities.

Safety Management

Ensures compliance to provide safe and healthful practices to people in their working environments and providing procedures to protect property and resources throughout all of its global programs. The goals are to prevent injuries, losses of life, and damage or loss of property in the course of all work being done to accomplish the mission.

Building a Positive and Engaging Culture

Manages the Associate General Counsels, Chief Audit Officer, Chief Ethics, Compliance & Privacy Officer, Risk Officer, Director of Finance & Operations, GLT/ERT and an Executive Coordinator to the General Counsel.

Ensures that the attorneys, legal associates and ERT staff are fully engaged, motivated and are provided with the requisite training, tools, and resources to meet the global legal needs of the organization.

Create and Nurture External Partnerships

Manages a strong network of pro bono law firms and develops new relationships with key global firms.

Persuasively conveys the mission of The Nature Conservancy and regional programs and priorities to diverse groups, including donors, partners, Board members and others who are critical to the organization’s overall prosperity and success.

Fosters appropriate organizational connections with relevant governmental agencies such as SEC and IRS, legislatures, and the legal community at large.

Organization and Process Improvement

Drives the continuous improvement of standards and legal processes, including the ability to translate complex legal requirements into flexible business solutions.

Responsible for financial management of legal programs, including setting financial goals, analyzing results and adapting for best results.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Juris Doctorate or equivalent. LL.M. degree from a U.S. law school is required if law degree was acquired outside of the U.S. and licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Fifteen (15) years of experience working as in-house counsel with a large global organization and/or global law firm.

Accomplished executive with a proven track record as a legal strategist and a proven background in working at the senior levels with private and public sector entities.

Willingness and ability to develop familiarity with legal systems in and outside of the U.S. and the ability to adapt TNC’s policies and procedures in compliance with local law.

Experience working on legal and regulatory matters in multiple international jurisdictions is preferred.

Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.

Experience managing, leading and motivating in-house legal teams or law firm teams of at least 10 members.

Experience overseeing or advising on ethics and compliance matters.

Experience evaluating and/or negotiating complex, high profile or sensitive agreements.

Experience communicating complex legal concepts to clients and senior leaders.

Experience managing outside counsel and evaluating budgets.

Experience managing or overseeing litigation is preferred.

Experience advising or overseeing internal audit teams.

Fluency in English.

Deep knowledge in a broad range of legal disciplines including, but not limited to, corporate law, employment law, insurance, real estate, privacy and security, and regulatory issues.

Experience advising or overseeing physical security and safety.

Good working knowledge of relevant conservation issues and commitment to Conservancy goals and methods.

Desired Qualifications

Outstanding leadership and visionary qualities.

A collaborative leader who can influence across geography and lines of authority within a mission-based organization.

A well-organized and self-directed individual who is politically astute and a team player capable of creating relationships, based on mutual respect and trust, with key internal and external stakeholders.

An energetic, forward-thinking, and creative individual with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image.

Ability to quickly understand the legal importance of new and unfamiliar issues.

Sound judgement, decision-making and problem-solving ability, with the utmost integrity.

Demonstrated experience using diplomacy and tact to build strong relationships and motivate staff.

A diffuser in high-tension situations. Works effectively in high-tension situations and maintains composure under pressure.

Relates to senior management and board members regarding difficult and complex issues.

Embraces diversity as a core value and is committed to cultivating a best-in-class Global Legal Team.

Strong customer service philosophy with a bias for action who can manage a fast-paced and demanding environment.

HOW TO APPLY

Nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest should be directed electronically by clicking Apply to this Job below. Do not apply on the nature.org site. Please include a Resume and Cover Letter outlining qualifications relevant to the job requirements. All inquiries and communications will be handled confidentially. The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM EST on May 4, 2021.

This listing expired on Jun 13. Applications are no longer accepted.

Below are some other jobs we think you might be interested in.