General Counsel & Asst. Corp. Secretary

St. Vincent De Paul Village•San Diego, CA

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

For more than 75 years, Father Joe’s Villages has worked to prevent and end homelessness, one life at a time. As Southern California’s largest homeless services provider, the organization is a cornerstone of the San Diego social services landscape, delivering housing, healthcare, and supportive services to individuals and families in crisis. With approximately 500 employees and an annual operating budget of $75M, it serves over 12,000 individuals annually, housing approximately 2,000 people each night. The work is delivered in a highly complex, multi-program environment spanning housing, healthcare, behavioral health, employment services, and education, supported by diverse public funding, government contracts, grants, and philanthropic investment. This creates a sophisticated regulatory, compliance, and risk landscape requiring disciplined governance and strong enterprise legal leadership. Father Joe’s Villages is seeking a General Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary to serve as its chief legal officer and a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to the President & CEO. This is an opportunity to step into a visible, enterprise-level legal leadership role at a mission-driven organization operating at scale and complexity, safeguarding the organization, strengthening governance, and enabling sound decision-making across all operations. This position is ideal for a seasoned legal executive drawn to mission-driven work, organizational complexity, and the opportunity to modernize and strengthen legal and compliance infrastructure within a dynamic nonprofit environment.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in the California State Bar in good standing
10–12+ years of progressive legal experience, including significant depth in corporate governance, employment law, contracts, compliance, and litigation
At least 5 years in a senior leadership role advising executives and Boards of Directors
Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, housing, or similarly regulated, multi-funding environments strongly preferred

Nice To Haves

Strong executive judgment with the ability to balance legal risk, operational realities, and mission impact
Proven ability to advise senior leaders and Boards in complex, high-stakes environments
Sophisticated understanding of enterprise risk management and regulatory compliance in multi-program organizations
Ability to operate with independence, discretion, and sound decision-making in ambiguous or fast-moving situations
A collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to legal leadership that enables - not obstructs - mission delivery

Responsibilities

Serve as primary legal advisor to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Boards of Directors
Provide legal and risk guidance on organizational strategy, operations, and major initiatives
Support high-impact transactions and enterprise decision-making
Serve as Assistant Corporate Secretary to two Boards of Directors
Advise on governance, fiduciary duties, and nonprofit best practices
Oversee Board and committee documentation and processes
Lead enterprise employment law strategy and workplace investigations
Advise on employee relations, discipline, termination, accommodations, and leave matters
Manage agency claims and employment litigation with outside counsel
Oversee contracts, grants, leases, and complex agreements
Lead contract and grant compliance across funding sources
Serve as HIPAA Privacy and Security Officer
Develop enterprise-wide legal, compliance, and risk frameworks
Direct litigation and claims strategy across multiple operational areas
Oversee insurance programs and risk mitigation strategies
Partner with insurers and outside counsel on resolution and exposure management
Provide legal oversight for acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and financing
Advise on property-related compliance and operational risk
Lead and develop the Legal and Compliance function
Supervise legal and compliance staff
Manage budget and outside counsel relationships
Build scalable legal infrastructure and systems