Director, Legal, Compliance & Risk

Pure Earth•New York, NY

11h•$97,000 - $170,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Pure Earth seeks an experienced Director, Legal, Compliance & Risk, ideally an attorney, to manage the organization’s legal, compliance, and risk management functions. The role reports to the Vice President, Operations and works closely with the C-Suite, department and country leadership, the Board, and the Audit & Risk Committee. The Director provides strategic legal guidance and operational support to ensure legal compliance across Pure Earth’s entities, manage organizational risks, and protect its intellectual property and organizational interests. The role balances strategic advisory work with operational execution, including framework development and day-to-day legal and compliance needs. The successful candidate will bring experience establishing and improving organization-wide initiatives and implementing operational changes. Responsibilities span legal entity governance and compliance, risk assessment and incident response, insurance portfolio and claims management, contract lifecycle and intellectual property management, staff training and legal advisory support, and legal audits and remediation. In the first 12 months, success includes bringing the global insurance portfolio into compliance and ensuring it addresses priority risks, implementing at least two priority risk mitigation projects and three priority policies, and conducting compliance and risk audits for at least five country offices. The position is based in New York, NY, with New York City preferred and remote candidates considered. NYC-area employees follow a hybrid schedule, working in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays and having the option to work remotely on other weekdays. Occasional weekends, late nights, or early mornings may be required to accommodate global time zones, and occasional travel may be expected. The position is full-time and exempt. Salary ranges from $97,000 to $170,000, with additional compensation potentially considered for highly qualified candidates.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent legal qualification, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
8–12+ years of legal and/or risk management experience in a corporate, nonprofit, or in-house counsel setting; global or multi-entity experience is required.
Relevant international experience.
Strong knowledge of compliance, regulatory, and risk management principles.
Excellent written and verbal communication and change management skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
Proficiency with legal research tools, contract management, and standard MS365 applications, including SharePoint, MS Teams, and MS Planner.

Nice To Haves

Admission to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.
Experience in the international nonprofit or NGO sector.
Familiarity with environmental or sustainability-related regulations.
Experience managing international legal and compliance matters.
Knowledge of intellectual property management procedures.
Experience developing training programs and conducting workplace trainings.

Responsibilities

Manage the full lifecycle of legal entities, from establishing legal operations in new countries to winding down or closing inactive entities.
Ensure compliance with legal obligations, bylaws, and regulatory requirements across headquarters and overseas entities.
Conduct compliance assessments, identify gaps and concerns, and review and update organizational policies and procedures as regulations evolve.
Manage legal entities and corporate documentation for all Pure Earth entities.
Conduct risk assessments to identify potential legal, compliance, and operational risks, and partner with leadership to identify and prioritize organizational risks.
Lead legal aspects of incident investigations, manage required regulatory notifications, and serve as legal lead during crisis events.
Support development of a practical, fit-for-purpose risk management approach and coordinate with insurers, brokers, outside counsel, and mitigation planning during crises.
Manage global and country-specific insurance portfolios, including D&O, general liability, cyber, workers’ compensation, and program-specific coverage; lead annual renewals, broker relationships, and claims management.
Manage the end-to-end contract lifecycle for headquarters and overseas offices, including drafting, review, execution, renewal, and closeout, while ensuring organizational consistency.
Oversee the corporate engagement policy and ensure partnerships and agreements are appropriately documented.
Manage trademark registrations and monitor trademark protection.
Maintain the organization’s contract repository in collaboration with Finance and Grants Management.
Improve contract management systems, templates, and workflows.
Develop and deliver training programs on legal and compliance matters for staff and leadership.
Provide legal guidance on employment-related matters in partnership with HR and advise executives and staff on legal implications of business decisions and strategic initiatives.
Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Program teams to implement compliance initiatives.
Conduct legal audits, including assessments of compliance with policies, procedures, legal requirements, privacy, and data management.
Issue recommendations based on audit findings, oversee implementation, and track remediation efforts.
Ensure proper procedures are followed across legal and risk management functions.