Senior General Counsel, Compliance and Ethics Officer

Noblis • Reston, VA

7h

About The Position

Noblis is seeking a Senior General Counsel, Compliance and Ethics Officer to serve as chief legal advisor and principal ethics leader for Noblis, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the role provides strategic legal counsel across the organization, promotes high ethical standards, and serves as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Trustees and its standing committees. The position calls for expertise in nonprofit governance, federal government contracting law, intellectual property, and corporate ethics, along with the judgment and executive presence to advise the CEO, Board, and organizational leaders.

The role advises on the legal, regulatory, and governance requirements of a tax-exempt federal contractor, including 501(c)(3) obligations. It leads enterprise legal and ethics programs, supports Board governance, advises on federal contracts and business operations, oversees litigation and disputes, and directs the organization’s intellectual property portfolio and university partnerships. It also provides enterprise-level oversight of corporate security, monitors regulatory developments, and partners with the Chief People Officer on employee relations and workplace conduct matters.

The position requires a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school, active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar, at least 15 years of progressive legal experience, and at least seven years in senior or executive legal leadership. U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Top Secret security clearance are required. Travel within the U.S. is up to 10%. The stated physical demands include lifting up to 30 pounds, walking, bending, and driving.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• At least 15 years of progressive legal experience, including at least seven years in a senior or executive legal leadership role.
• Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit corporate law, governance, tax-exempt organization compliance, 501(c)(3) governance obligations, private benefit and private inurement restrictions, and the legal environment for nonprofit federal contractors.
• Substantial experience with federal government contracting, procurement regulations including the FAR and DFARS, and contract administration.
• Experience managing intellectual property portfolios, including patent prosecution and technology licensing.
• Experience structuring and negotiating university partnership agreements, research collaborations, and academic affiliation arrangements.
• Direct litigation experience, including the ability to lead or personally handle complex legal proceedings and engage with outside counsel.
• Demonstrated success building and leading a corporate ethics program aligned with nationally recognized standards.
• Experience serving as Corporate Secretary or in a comparable board governance role.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal concepts to executive, Board, and operational audiences.
• Executive presence and judgment to engage credibly with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and senior leaders.
• Deep nonprofit acumen and understanding of the legal, governance, and operational dynamics of a mission-driven, tax-exempt organization.
• Collaborative leadership and ability to partner across Business Operations, Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, and technical divisions.
• Commitment to ethical stewardship and the judgment and professional courage to uphold organizational integrity amid ambiguity and pressure.
• Strategic vision and ability to anticipate legal and regulatory trends, translate them into organizational strategies, and communicate them clearly.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government Top Secret security clearance.
• Travel up to 10% within the U.S.; ability to lift up to 30 pounds, walk, bend, and drive.

Nice To Haves

• LL.M. in Government Procurement Law, Intellectual Property, or a related discipline.
• Prior experience as General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel within a nonprofit federal contractor or Federally Funded Research and Development Center.
• Experience with organizations recognized by the Ethisphere Institute or comparable ethics award programs.
• Familiarity with ITAR, EAR, and export control regulations.
• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, and organizational integrations within the nonprofit or government contracting sector.
• Active involvement in professional legal or ethics associations such as the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, or the American Bar Association Government Contracts Section.
• Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional designation or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

• Advise the CEO and executive leadership team on legal and ethical matters, strategic initiatives, organizational change, enterprise risk, and external relationships.
• Provide guidance on nonprofit corporate governance, tax-exempt status, 501(c)(3) compliance, private inurement, unrelated business income, and public-interest standards.
• Collaborate across divisions and functions to integrate legal and ethical considerations into organizational decisions, and represent Noblis in relevant external communities.
• Serve as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Trustees and its committees; prepare agendas, resolutions, minutes, and governance materials; advise on fiduciary duties and governance obligations; maintain corporate records, bylaws, and governance documents; and coordinate with auditors, regulators, and government agencies.
• Advise on federal procurement law and contracting regulations, including the FAR and DFARS; partner with Business Operations to review and negotiate contracts, teaming agreements, subcontracts, and cooperative arrangements; and provide policy guidance on emerging contractor requirements.
• Lead litigation strategy, handle matters directly or manage outside counsel, and oversee responses to disputes, federal court proceedings, administrative tribunals, arbitration, subpoenas, and regulatory inquiries.
• Provide enterprise-level oversight of corporate security operations, policies, risk mitigation, insider threat programs, facility security, personnel clearances, incident response, security awareness, and vulnerability assessments; report security posture and emerging threats to executive leadership.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve the corporate ethics and compliance program, including hotlines, investigations, reporting, training, and awareness communications; ensure impartial and timely resolution of ethics concerns and support alignment with recognized ethics standards.
• Direct the intellectual property portfolio, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, technology licensing, prosecution, protection, and commercialization; negotiate university partnerships, research collaborations, joint ventures, and academic affiliations; advise on government-contract data rights and technical data ownership.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments and work across the organization to update policies and embed compliance obligations in operations.
• Partner with the Chief People Officer on employee relations, workplace investigations, conduct matters, employment law, discipline, grievances, accommodations, and separation agreements.
• Travel up to 10% within the United States and meet the stated physical demands of lifting up to 30 pounds, walking, bending, and driving.

Benefits

• Health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits.
• Paid leave.
• Professional development.
• Tuition assistance.
• Work-life programs.
• Awards recognizing exceptional performance and superior demonstration of service standards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree