Vice President of Legal Affairs and Compliance

Childrens Rescue Fund•New York, NY

About The Position

The Vice President of Legal Affairs and Compliance is a senior executive leader responsible for overseeing all legal, regulatory, and risk management functions, combining nonprofit governance with expertise in government contracts, Medicaid, and healthcare law across Children’s Rescue Fund. This senior leadership role serves as a key advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership ensuring the organization operates with the highest standards of compliance, governance, and legal integrity,, while negotiating contracts, managing risk, and handling complex regulatory issues. The incumbent will be singularly [direct hands-on] responsible for all legal matters for the organization.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in law, political science, business administration or other related field from an accredited college or university.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and a member in good standing with the State Bar of New York with an active license.
Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a senior management legal counsel role.
Experience in 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit law.
Expertise in labor and employment law, regulatory compliance, risk management, litigation, and strategic planning.
Significant legal experience, including nonprofit governance, government contracting (particularly with social services agencies – DHS, HUD), and healthcare law, with familiarity with Medicaid.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and analytical skills. The ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and effectively explain complex legal issues to both legal and non-legal audiences.
High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
Stays current with evolving nonprofit laws and regulations, ensuring the organization adheres to all applicable statutes.
Full comprehension of the influences of the external environment on the organization.
Ability to anticipate legal issues or risks and propose effective solutions.
Ability to think and act calmly in emergency situations.
Ability to work with a team.
Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
Strong organizational skills with ability to manage tasks efficiently.
Excellent time management skills with ability to prioritize assignments.
Excellent analytical, evaluative, and human service management skills.
Excellent written and oral communication, organizational, supervisory, and leadership skills.
Must have incredible initiative, the ability to work well under pressure, and the ability to be flexible and work both independently and as part of a team to complete complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
Must be adept and comfortable with crisis management.
Ability to work effectively with a wide range of community-based providers.
Knowledge of community health services, social service support agencies and networks.
Familiarity with DHS and OTDA social service documentation policies and procedures.
Critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills as well as resourcefulness.
High level of computer proficiency in Word, Excel, and the ability to learn new technologies and databases.
Contributes to the overall success of the organization by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor or designee, and being able to pivot with ever-changing priorities and newly added job-related responsibilities that arise based on business changes, needs, and demands.
May be required to work long hours and a varied schedule.
Travelling throughout various locations in the New York City area, or domestic, for meetings, events, or site visits will be required.
Lifting and moving objects weighing up to 30 pounds several times a week.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Nice To Haves

Service as Legal Counsel of an NGO [Non-Governmental Organization] is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in a start-up non-profit environment.

Responsibilities

Lead the organization’s legal and compliance strategy across all programs and sites
Identify, assess, and mitigate enterprise-wide risks (operational, regulatory, reputational)
Advise executive leadership on high-impact decisions, including expansion, partnerships, and crisis response
Establish a proactive legal framework that supports growth while minimizing exposure
Ensure full compliance with NYC DHS, NYS OTDA, HUD, OMH, and all applicable oversight entities
Oversee agency-wide compliance infrastructure, including audits, inspections, and corrective action plans
Standardize compliance practices across shelters and supportive housing programs
Build systems that shift compliance from reactive → predictive and performance-driven
Government liaison: Acts as the primary contact with government regulators and external agencies. Advises on proposed legislation and regulations related to human and social services.
Contract management: Draft, review, and negotiate agreements with government entities, vendors, and partners. Work in collaboration with compliance with all contract terms.
Provide executive oversight of: Government contracts (DHS, city/state funding streams) Vendor and service agreements Strategic partnerships and MOUs
Support negotiation of high-value, high-risk agreements
Ensure legal alignment with CRF’s financial and operational goals
Oversee all legal matters including litigation, claims, investigations, and disputes
Manage and direct outside legal counsel to ensure cost-effective and strategic representation
Establish internal legal protocols and documentation standards
Provide executive oversight of contract lifecycle management
Oversee legal strategy related to workforce management across all sites
Advise on complex employee relations, investigations, and risk exposure
Partner with HR leadership to ensure compliant, equitable, and consistent practices
Mitigate risk related to union, labor law, and workplace claims
Serve as legal advisor to the Board of Directors and Board Committees
Ensure adherence to bylaws, governance policies, and fiduciary responsibilities
Lead development and review of governance frameworks and policies
Support board-level decision-making on risk, compliance, and strategic initiatives
Build and lead the Legal/Compliance function (team, structure, priorities)
Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical practice
Train leadership and program teams on legal and compliance standards
Serve as a visible executive presence across the organization
Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with other departments, such as finance, human resources, and program teams, to ensure all operations are legally sound.
Staff training: Develop and deliver legal and compliance training to staff on relevant topics, such as regulatory changes, data privacy (HIPAA), and risk management.