General Administrative Officer - Legal Affairs & Human Resources

Pelican Bay Foundation, Inc.•Pelican Bay, FL

About The Position

The General Administrative Officer – Legal Affairs & Human Resources (GAO) is a senior executive role responsible for overseeing the Foundation’s legal affairs, human resources, governance support, and enterprise risk management. Reporting directly to the General Manager, the GAO serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and the Board of Directors, ensuring the Foundation operates with sound governance, compliant, and effective people practices, and informed, risk-based decision making. The GAO will primarily focus on legal compliance, risk mitigation, employee relations, policy development, and managing the full employee lifecycle (recruitment, performance, benefits, termination) from a legal and strategic standpoint. The role requires expertise in employment law, contract management, and organizational governance to ensure lawful, ethical, and efficient people operations. This position combines broad legal leadership with hands-on human resources oversight. The GAO is not intended to replace outside legal counsel, but rather to provide internal legal judgment, frame issues and options, manage risk exposure, and coordinate effectively with external counsel. On the Human Resources side, the GAO provides strategic direction and leadership to an HR team while serving as a guiding and trusted presence for managers and staff across the organization.

Requirements

Ten or more years of progressive experience in legal, human resources, or general administrative leadership roles within complex organizations.
Demonstrated experience advising senior executives and Boards on legal, governance, and people-related matters.
Strong working knowledge of business law, employment law, and governance, with experience managing and coordinating outside legal counsel.
Proven ability to lead and develop teams, exercise sound judgment, and balance legal rigor with practical business considerations.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly and effectively.
Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school is required.
Admission to the Florida Bar and an active license to practice law in the State of Florida, in good standing, are required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in community associations, hospitality, nonprofit, or other consumer-facing organizations is preferred.
Human Resources-specific certifications or equivalent experience are a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide internal legal leadership across a wide range of matters, including Homeowners’ Association (HOA) law, contracts, business and employment law, governance issues, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk.
Identify legal and operational risks, evaluate options, and advise the senior leadership team and the Board of Directors on appropriate courses of action.
Serve as the primary internal point of coordination with outside legal counsel, ensuring legal matters are appropriately scoped, prioritized, and cost-effective.
Oversee contract review, policy development, dispute management, records requests, and regulatory interactions.
Draft, review, and manage contracts, including vendor, client, and crucial employment-related documents (offer letters, NDA's, settlement agreements).
Oversee litigation, dispute resolution, and investigations, advising on termination processes.
Develop and maintain standard legal templates, policies, and decision frameworks to promote consistency, efficiency, and risk mitigation.
Partner with the senior leadership team and the Board of Directors to support strong governance practices and statutory compliance.
Provide guidance on Board procedures, elections, fiduciary duties, confidentiality, and records obligations.
Support Board committees as assigned, particularly those involving governance, compensation, and personnel matters.
Translate legal and regulatory requirements into clear, practical guidance for Board members and senior staff.
Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Foundation’s human resources function, ensuring alignment with organizational values, culture, and long-term objectives.
Lead the full employee lifecycle: recruitment, onboarding, performance management, compensation & benefits, and employee development.
Develop, implement, and enforce HR policies and procedures (payroll, safety, workplace environment, etc.) in collaboration with legal standards.
Lead, mentor, and develop the HR team, with responsibility for team structure, capability building, and performance.
Oversee core HR functions including employee relations, performance management, compensation administration, benefits, compliance, training, and workforce planning.
Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and managers on employee and organizational matters, ensuring consistency, fairness, and professionalism.
Ensure HR policies and practices comply with applicable laws while fostering a positive, engaging, and accountable workplace culture.
Support the senior leadership team in developing scalable administrative systems, policies, and internal controls appropriate for a complex, member-facing organization.
Contribute to leadership discussions regarding organizational structure, succession planning, leadership development, and culture.
Partner with senior leaders to ensure HR practices and administrative processes support operational excellence and high-quality member experience.
Develop and manage budgets for both legal and HR functions.
Provide legal/HR training to staff and management.
Maintain secure and compliant records and data.

Benefits

Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) & Paid Holidays
Medical, Dental, and Vision options on the first of the month following 30 days from your start date
401(k) with excellent employer match
Free Team Member Meals
Team Member Referral Bonus Program
Company Paid Group Life, Disability and AD&D
Company Paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Company provided uniforms

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