Staff Counsel

American Humane•Washington, DC

9d•$110,000 - $140,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Under guidance of the General Counsel, the Staff Counsel provides mid-level attorney level support across all programs and departments. The Staff Counsel contributes to the overall efforts of furthering American Humane Society’s mission by working collaboratively with staff at all levels of the organization to support work and initiatives that advance the priorities and objectives of the organization.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited university and be a member of good standing in a bar of at least one state.
Minimum of three years of relevant experience. Prefer experience in the areas of non-profit law, public interest law, governance, philanthropy, intellectual property and/or contract drafting and negotiations.
Important qualifications include high work standards, high level of attention to detail and organization, the ability to set and balance priorities, strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills, initiative, a high level of responsibility, flexibility, mature judgment, a collaborative work style, the discretion to handle confidential information, and a professional demeanor.
Skilled in the use of network computer systems, and related programs, including solid understanding of Microsoft Office, in particular Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

Program and Operational Support
Provide a broad range of day-to-day legal support and counsel to staff regarding program and non-profit operations, including animal welfare certification programs, philanthropic services, information technology, data privacy, events planning, communications and appeals, insurance, human resources, litigation and administrative proceedings, corporate governance and general operations.
In consultation with General Counsel, conduct deep dive analysis into each program to learn the operations, assess risk, and update/revise processes and documents as needed.
Contract Drafting and Administration
Draft and revise contracts from templates (e.g., certification program agreements, independent contractor agreements, sponsorship agreements, non-disclosure agreements).
Review and negotiate contract terms in consultation with program and operations staff.
Provide pre-contract preparation support and assist staff in understanding terms and compliance.
In collaboration with the legal team, utilize the contract approval process and management system to effectively document all contractual obligations and organizational assets, and to maintain up to date records of contract status and pending deadlines.
Board of Directors
Perform general corporate governance matters such as preparation of charters, policies, notices, agendas, and resolutions.
Assist with preparation of materials for Board meetings.
Other
Assist with special projects and other duties as assigned by General Counsel.
Support tracking and oversight of the organization’s trademark portfolio in coordination with outside counsel.
Assist with tracking and understanding domestic and foreign legislation that impacts the organization’s operations and mission.