Director, Legal affairs & Risk Management

Center for Energy and Environment•Minneapolis, MN

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Legal Affairs & Risk Management leads the legal, compliance, risk, and contract functions of the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) ensuring alignment with CEE’s nonprofit mission and goals. The Director of Legal Affairs & Risk Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of legal and risk matters across the organization while also providing strategic guidance on legal and compliance issues. The Director provides practical legal analysis and advice across CEE’s programs and operations, ensures the organization’s contracts and agreements are sound and well-managed, leads all aspects of corporate insurance and risk management, and ensures compliance with applicable laws and internal policies. The Director leads internal policy development and compliance as it relates to the legal and risk functions; monitoring business registrations and requirements; and other legal matters that arise. The role also carries responsibility for forward-looking legal strategies including interpreting and implementing evolving or changing external rules and regulations at the local, state, and federal levels, as well as AI governance. The Director leads a legal team that includes a Contracts and Compliance Manager and a Legal Operations Specialist and serves as the primary point of contact for outside legal counsel. The Director is a member of CEE’s Leadership Group and reports to the Chief Operating Officer. The Director is also a member of the Information Security Working Group (ISWG) that oversees the handling of IT risk and security.

Requirements

Hands-on experience drafting, negotiating, and managing contracts across a range of agreement types.
Experience managing corporate insurance programs, including renewals, claims, and vendor relationships.
Familiarity with industry compliance standards and regulations at the local, state, and federal levels (e.g., Occupational Safety and Health Act, federal and state funding requirements, nonprofit regulatory requirements).
Strong leadership and team management skills; ability to supervise and develop staff while remaining hands-on.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present legal and risk concepts clearly to non-legal audiences.
Demonstrated experience and success working collaboratively.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities independently.
Analytical thinker with strong problem-solving aptitude.
Ability to handle private, sensitive, and confidential information with discretion.
Proficiency in MS Office and standard legal operations tools.
J.D. from an accredited law school required; active bar license in Minnesota or another U.S. jurisdiction in good standing.
Minimum of 6 years of legal experience, preferably in non-profit sector
Legal experience with demonstrated progression of responsibility, including experience in contracts, risk management, and compliance.
Knowledge of federal and state regulatory compliance, including familiarity with nonprofit or mission-driven organization contexts.

Responsibilities

Provide legal expertise, analysis, and practical guidance on legal issues across the organization, including program, operations, employment, and governance matters.
Handle all legal claims, including potential litigation; assess when outside counsel is appropriate and oversees those relationships.
Ensure compliance with internal policies and federal, state, and local regulatory requirements to protect the organization from legal risk.
Monitor and interpret developments in applicable law and regulation at the local, state, and federal levels — including executive orders, legislative changes, and agency guidance — and advise leadership on implications and recommended organizational responses.
Maintain compliance with funding source requirements, including federal grants, state funding, and funder/partner contracts — and advise staff on applicable restrictions.
Oversee business registrations and state filings, including registration in new states as CEE changes or expands its operational footprint.
Manage contracted outside counsel use strategically, including scoping matters, monitoring budgets, evaluating performance, and determining when external legal expertise is necessary.
Manage CEE’s Intellectual Property portfolio and guidelines in collaboration with outside counsel.
Oversee drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and advising on legal documents including client contracts, vendor agreements, subcontracts, MOU/MOAs, terms and conditions.
Ensure internal and external compliance under all agreements.
Monitor the organization’s procurement policy and contracts management are aligned with best practices.
Partner with Corporate Services, Program Directors and others across the organization to optimize entire contracts lifecycle workflow.
Maintain CEE’s delegated signing authority framework, including the list of authorized signers, approval thresholds, and routing requirements for contracts and other legally binding agreements.
Supervise the Contracts and Compliance Manager, providing guidance and oversight on day-to-day contract processes and complex or sensitive agreements.
Lead all aspects of CEE’s corporate insurance program, including vendor and carrier relationships, policy renewals, coverage assessment, claims management, and loss prevention.
Evaluate major loss exposures in terms of frequency and severity; advise management on risk treatment priorities and mitigation methods.
Monitor CEE’s risk management standards to ensure alignment with strategic goals and compliance with applicable law and best practice and perform annual assessments of each department to identify unique risks needing to be addressed.
Review organizational operations, facilities, and safety protocols to identify potential liability concerns; work with leaders to maintain and improve risk mitigation measures.
Lead quarterly Safety Committee meeting to understand risk exposure and safety needs and ensure effective safety program implementation across the organization.
Operationalize best practices related to workers’ compensation; manage litigated and complex claims in coordination with the CHRO and outside counsel as needed.
Serve as a key member of CEE’s Information Security Working Group (ISWG), adding legal and risk perspectives and contributions to IT safety and security program.
Lead incident response in collaboration with Data Security staff to ensure proper management of potential breaches and claims.
Lead development, implementation, and regular review of organizational safety and risk policies and procedures.
Liaise with CEE’s staff, as well as clients and vendors, on legal, risk, and compliance matters.
Own and maintain CEE’s AI Governance Policy, ensuring it reflects current best practices, emerging legal standards, and organizational needs.
Collaborate with Human Resources to inform staff and leadership on risk management, safety, and security standards and training.
Ensure corporate governance practices remain current, including entity maintenance and policy documentation.
Partner with HR to attract and select diverse quality candidates for the department staffing needs; onboard, train, and build connections with employees.
Determine and communicate to staff the relevant work priorities and expectations for the role; evaluate and manage performance; determine interventions or corrective actions when needed.
Lead staff through regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, tailored development plans, and skill-building.
Facilitate regular team meetings and implement feedback loops to boost morale and retention.
Demonstrate support for equal opportunity in hiring and employment decisions.
Demonstrate respect for different cultures, values, beliefs, and perspectives.
Foster a culture of inclusiveness and incorporate diverse perspectives into decision-making processes.