Corporate Paralegal & Executive Liaison, Advancement

University of New Orleans•New Orleans, LA

About The Position

This position, under the supervision of the Executive Director of University Advancement (who also serves as President & CEO of the LSU New Orleans Foundation), provides corporate and transactional paralegal support. It leads board governance, corporate records, and entity compliance, supports the Foundation's finance and budget oversight functions, and serves as the executive liaison to the President/CEO. The role is the Foundation's primary internal resource for contracts, gift agreements, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and board administration. Responsibilities include coordinating and staffing the LSU New Orleans Foundation Board of Directors and its committees, maintaining official corporate records, ensuring organizational compliance with applicable laws and governing documents, and supporting executive-level strategic initiatives and special projects. The role requires exceptional discretion with privileged and confidential material and the judgment to work independently across legal, governance, finance, and executive priorities.

Requirements

Paralegal certificate or degree from an accredited program, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Three or more years of corporate, transactional, or governance paralegal experience
Experience drafting, reviewing, and managing contracts and legal documents
Louisiana notary public commission, or the ability to obtain one within six months of hire
Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to handle privileged, sensitive, and confidential matters with discretion and sound judgment
Comfort working with budgets, account coding, and expense documentation in coordination with a finance team
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proven ability to work independently and to manage competing priorities and deadlines
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and with document and records management

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a nonprofit, foundation, or higher education board and its committees
Experience as a corporate secretary or in board governance
Executive support or chief-of-staff experience to a president, CEO, or senior executive
Familiarity with nonprofit budgets, chart-of-accounts structures, and expense and grant compliance
Familiarity with nonprofit governance, charitable-solicitation registration, and 501(c)(3) compliance
Familiarity with gift agreements, restricted funds, and endowment documentation
Familiarity with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT

Responsibilities

Drafts, reviews, routes, and manages contracts, memoranda of understanding, nondisclosure and vendor agreements, and gift agreements.
Coordinates with the LSU System and outside counsel.
Maintains legal files, templates, and the contract lifecycle, including approvals and signatures.
Serves as the primary staff resource to the LSU New Orleans Foundation boards and their committees, including scheduling, agendas, materials, minutes, and resolutions.
Maintains bylaws, policies, conflict-of-interest processes, and governance calendars.
Manages the President/CEO's priorities, correspondence, scheduling, meeting preparation, and follow-up.
Coordinates confidential projects and communications.
Serves as a trusted point of contact among the President/CEO, the boards, staff, and external stakeholders.
Monitors Foundation budgets against the chart of accounts.
Tracks spending to ensure the Foundation and its departments remain on budget, and flags variances.
Reviews Foundation account activity and advancement team expenses to confirm each is properly coded and supported by complete documentation sufficient for approval, in partnership with the Advancement Operations & Events Manager.
Maintains corporate records.
Ensures 501(c)(3) compliance.
Supports gift-agreement execution and restricted-fund documentation.
Performs other responsibilities as assigned in support of the goals and objectives of the Foundation and the University.