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Principal Deputy General Counsel

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Position Summary:

Democracy Forward Foundation (DF) is seeking a Principal Deputy General Counsel to support a range of functions critical to the organization’s legal and business operations. This role requires a proactive, solutions-driven legal professional with strong leadership capabilities and experience across multiple legal disciplines. The Principal Deputy General Counsel will report to the General Counsel, and will work closely with the Chief of Staff & Operations and Deputy General Counsel,  Chief of People, Culture, and Strategy, and support all organizational divisions.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Draft and review external contracts and agreements, including consulting, retainer, co-counsel, and funder agreements;
  • Support corporate governance matters, including working with the Board;
  • Manage attorney conflict issues and help implement internal screening procedures;
  • Provide guidance, and/or work with outside counsel on professional ethics matters ;
  • Provide employment advice and counsel, working in collaboration with outside counsel as necessary. This includes reviewing salary letters, personnel policies, and advising on the full range of personnel issues;
  • Work with internal team and outside counsel to ensure the organization continues to adhere to the highest level of legal compliance and that all applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies are followed; 
  • Provide support for insurance, IP, audit and tax issues;
  • Identify legal risks and develop mitigation strategies;
  • Ensure tax compliance for nonprofits.
  • Develop and deliver internal training programs and assist in creating policies that align with legal and ethical standards.
  • Stay abreast of  developments around non-profit best practices, political law practices, and non-profit organizations and flag any areas of consideration..

Qualifications:

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

  • Experience advising multiple stakeholders, preferably in an in-house or general counsel role, with a record of increasing experience and leadership  
  • Experience managing complex workflows
  • Experience caring for highly sensitive and confidential information
  • Superb interpersonal skills, with an impressive history of forging strong relationships with stakeholders 
  • Comfortable leading, managing and influencing in a non-hierarchical structure
  • Ability to work under pressure, manage conflicting priorities and navigate ambiguity 
  • Demonstrated commitment to Democracy Forward’s mission
  • Self-awareness, commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds
  • Commitment to workplace inclusion and ability to contribute affirmatively to a just and equitable workplace culture
  • Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations using tact and diplomacy
  • Collaborative leadership style with the ability to develop relationships of trust and confidence with colleagues across teams and departments
  • Outstanding communications skills, both written and verbal, and demonstrated ability to quickly learn new subject matters
  • Minimum of five (5) years of in-house role or experience in complex organization advising diverse stakeholders with a record of achievement, leadership and increasing responsibility
  • JD degree required
  • Preference for DC based applicants working from the office a few days per week.

 The salary range for this position is  $150,000 - $175,000 commensurate with experience plus excellent benefits. Compensation is commensurate with experience. 

Democracy Forward is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly encourage people of color; lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities; and veterans to apply. Please note that all lawyer positions require a law degree and active membership in the bar of a state or the District of Columbia. 

Not sure you meet all of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement.  If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to mission-based legal and policy work, returning to work after a gap in employment, or simply looking to transition or take the next step in your career path, we welcome the opportunity to have you on our radar.  Please include in your cover letter the nature of your interest in legal and policy work promoting democracy and progress and what you hope to bring to our team and the role for which you are applying. 

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