Assistant General Counsel

AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST • Washington, DC

4d • $110,000 - $120,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Assistant General Counsel works under the direction of the General Counsel and handles routine to moderately complex legal projects. As a member of AFT’s three-person Legal Department, this role provides legal guidance across the organization’s nonprofit operations, including corporate governance, programs, government relations and advocacy, development, communications and marketing, and land projects. The position supports legal compliance, risk mitigation, and AFT’s mission through practical legal strategy and counsel.

The role advises staff and management on program and organizational matters; drafts, reviews, and negotiates contracts and other legal documents; supports intellectual property management; advises on employment, privacy, cybersecurity, and internal policy matters; manages litigation and dispute resolution; and supports real estate and conservation land projects. The Assistant General Counsel also conducts legal research, delivers staff training, supports special projects, and monitors relevant legal developments.

This is a remote position with occasional evening or weekend work potentially required to meet deadlines. Travel is expected to be no more than 5%. The position has no supervisory responsibility and is funded in whole or in part through grant funding, subject to continued availability and adequacy of that funding. AFT describes the role as full time and offers a salary range of $110,000–$120,000 based upon experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor.
• Admission to a state bar.
• At least 3 years of legal experience or commensurate general legal and contracting experience.
• Experience advising for-profit or nonprofit organizations on a wide range of business matters.
• Ability to draft quality legal documents quickly and respond promptly and helpfully to staff needs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in managing legal risk within broadly defined policies and practices.
• Ability to work across multiple jurisdictions and manage multiple projects in a decentralized environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work cooperatively and constructively as part of a team.
• Ability to anticipate problems, identify issues of concern in advance, and gain acceptance or change thinking in sensitive situations.
• Adaptability, accountability, professionalism, emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Ability to work effectively within established leadership structures and enterprise-wide decision-making processes, contributing through collaboration, initiative, and constructive dialogue.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with OMB Uniform Guidance.
• Familiarity with working with public agencies.
• Experience with real estate transactions and conservation easements.
• Familiarity with agricultural land protection and agricultural conservation easements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as legal liaison for AFT programs and draft, review, and negotiate program-related documents in accordance with applicable laws, public policy, and internal policies and protocols.
• Advise on advocacy and lobbying activities and compliance with local, state, and federal lobbying and ethics laws.
• Advise on nondisclosure agreements and support departments with legal research needs.
• Manage entity formations, management, and dissolutions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, subawards, memoranda of understanding, donor agreements, and other agreements with partners, consultants, governmental entities, and others.
• Advise staff on federal and state grant compliance, including OMB Uniform Guidance requirements.
• Advise development staff on commercial co-ventures, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising matters.
• Support management of contract templates and contracting processes across the organization.
• Advise on protecting and managing AFT intellectual property, including trademarks and copyrights; review and negotiate licensing agreements; and oversee trademark registration, maintenance, and infringement matters.
• Advise management and human resources on employment law, employment policies, and compliance with federal and state employment laws.
• Coordinate with outside employment counsel on complex matters and support workplace investigations and appropriate remedial action.
• Provide legal support for internal controls and policies, data privacy and cybersecurity matters, and records retention.
• Manage litigation, including engaging and overseeing outside litigation counsel; evaluate claims and defenses; provide strategic recommendations; and coordinate discovery responses and document preservation.
• Support and advise program staff on land projects, including conservation easement acquisitions, Buy-Protect-Sell transactions, Farm Legacy real property gifts, leasing, and other real property transactions.
• Draft agreements and contracts for land projects, review partner documentation, advise on conservation easement stewardship and enforcement, and research real property law issues.
• Support program staff in preparing and reviewing materials for the Land Projects Committee of AFT’s Board of Directors.
• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to all departments and provide practical, mission-aligned counsel.
• Conduct legal research and analysis, develop and deliver staff training on legal compliance, support special projects, and stay current on relevant legal developments.
• Perform other legal duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical and prescription coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability
• Voluntary life insurance
• Healthcare and dependent-care flexible spending accounts
• Health savings account
• 401(k) plan
• 13 sick days per year for regular full-time employees
• 15 vacation days during the first year, increasing by one day per year up to 20 days per year
• Twelve fixed holidays
• A week off between Christmas and New Year’s when all offices are closed
• Up to three floating holidays, depending on hiring month
• Remote work opportunity

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level