The Deputy Director, Legal (Tax) will be responsible for providing sophisticated yet practical legal advice regarding the laws applicable to U.S. private foundations, primarily by overseeing the development and continuous improvement of investment-related guidance for the Legal division, ensuring coordination within the division and with key stakeholders across the foundation, and for developing and implementing a training strategy for such guidance in partnership with other Legal team members.
Responsibilities:
Serve as the legal relationship manager for stakeholders such as Grants and Contracts Services (GCS) on matters related to grants and direct charitable expenditures, and the associated investment compliance policies and practices.
Develop and implement a knowledge management strategy for tax and investment compliance guidance that is integrated within the Legal division’s broader knowledge management platforms and coordinated with platforms maintained by key stakeholders such as GCS.
Proactively engage with foundation colleagues to incorporate strategies and goals into legal advice and compliance strategies that are calibrated appropriately for the foundation’s risk tolerance.
Develop and implement a strategy for training and educating foundation staff on legal and compliance issues related to Transactions and global investment-making.
Identify and advise on legal issues across a wide range of subject areas, while specializing in the laws applicable to tax-exempt organizations.
Identify the need for, and develop and maintain, cross-foundation policies, practices and guidance regarding investment compliance, ensuring appropriate stakeholder engagement and change management.
Manage a team of direct reports and serve in a consultative role to the Legal Leadership Team, in collaboration with other Deputy Directors within the Legal division.
Understand and support the objectives of internal client groups, developing creative solutions, and resolving issues in compliance with applicable law and the foundation's policies, values and risk philosophy.
Structure, negotiate and draft complex Transactions, and provide guidance in developing and implementing guidelines for Transaction terms and conditions, policies and practices and management.
Demonstrate generalist expertise to identify legal issues and collaborate, where appropriate, with other Legal team members or foundation stakeholders to lead the resolution of complex and strategic legal issues in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and foundation policies and processes.
Demonstrate subject matter expertise and leadership on projects and activities where such expertise is required.
Quickly establishing a relationship of trust with key partners and participating as a primary point of contact and strategic advisor to diverse program and/or operations client groups.
Manage outside counsel as needed.
Some travel may be required.
Requirements:
Juris Doctor degree and current bar membership in good standing are required.
Minimum of 10 years’ experience in the practice of law with proven subject matter expertise in the laws applicable to tax-exempt organizations operating globally.
Substantial in-house experience with a private foundation required.
Outstanding drafting and negotiating abilities are required.
Experience successfully managing a team of other legal professionals preferred but not required.
Strong business sense and client focus.
Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and collaboratively as part of a team effort.
Strong interpersonal skills, maturity, sound judgment, and ability to communicate in a clear and compelling manner with internal and external audiences.
Intellectual curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness, and resilience.
Self-motivated and a passion for the mission of the foundation.
