Senior Officer, Legal Affairs and Deputy Senior Counsel (Hybrid)
Legal Affairs
The Pew Charitable Trusts is tackling some of the most pressing challenges we face today, whether it is addressing the impacts of climate change, conserving the natural environment and the rich diversity of life it supports, improving the efficiency of government services to benefit all people, promoting civic engagement and supporting the freedoms underpinning our democracy, or addressing health and welfare challenges impacting marginalized communities. Pew’s Legal Affairs team provides crucial legal guidance to diverse teams of experts who develop, support, and communicate research and analyses explaining critical emerging issues, inform public policy, and advocate for solutions to these and other important problems.
For over 20 years, Pew has made dramatic advances in its charitable activities. In this role, you’ll be at the center of Pew’s efforts, supporting the organization as the work grows in volume and complexity. Your astute legal insights will be put to good use, as this position is responsible for a wide and growing array of legal matters.
Position Overview
The Senior Officer is a key member of Pew’s Legal Affairs team and is responsible for serving as a subject matter expert and advising Pew’s programs on a variety of complex legal issues. This position is expected to engage in work with little supervision and contribute to the smooth operation of legal affairs within Pew. Specifically, the attorney will conduct research and provide advice on novel legal questions and complex programmatic work; act as a liaison between legal affairs and Pew staff and leadership; support Pew’s existing and expanding lines of work; draft, review and negotiate domestic and international monetary and non-monetary agreements; and engage in other work as requested. Success in this position will require significant client engagement and the ability to lead and provide legal advice on a broad spectrum of complicated projects and topical areas in support of the organization's programmatic activities.
This position reports to a Director for Program and is based in Pew’s Washington, DC office, and is eligible for hybrid work.
Responsibilities
- Lead and train other attorneys on the planning of large scale, complex projects, agreements, communications and ongoing programmatic work with limited oversight.
- Oversee the planning, development and implementation of the department’s role in various institutional initiatives and projects.
- Analyze complex legal questions and provide clear, concise guidance and recommendations both in writing and orally.
- Provide risk-calibrated, legally informed business advice in support of Pew’s existing, expanding, new and ending lines of work.
- Structure, draft, negotiate and review agreements and complex domestic and international programmatic collaborations with nonprofit and for-profit entities.
- Counsel staff on legal and compliance issues relating to federal, state, local and international laws, including lobbying and government ethics.
- Manage outside counsel as necessary for specialized legal advice.
- Develop subject matter expertise as requested on legal topics important to the institution and provide subject matter support to the department and the organization.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Opportunities to participate in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within Pew and Legal Affairs.
Requirements
- Generally, requires a minimum of 10 years of legal experience.
- J.D., licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia or Pennsylvania, or eligible for such admission promptly upon hiring.
- Strong client service skills and the ability to: resolve problems creatively, collaboratively, and effectively; identify underlying issues, patterns and trends in complex situations; and, apply relevant expertise and experience to solving diverse legal questions.
- Experience with corporate transactional matters, such as business combinations, and restructurings.
- Dynamic leadership and problem-solving skills, sound judgment, high integrity and the ability to understand a situation quickly, gain credibility and influence the organization through thoughtful counsel.
- Ability to work with peers and leadership from various departments across the organization.
- Demonstrated ability to manage, draft and negotiate a broad range of complex contractual and non-binding agreements.
- Experience in developing and conducting trainings for a diverse audience.
- Exemplary written and oral communications skills, including the ability to summarize issues and address them in a clear, concise and easily understood manner. Highly attentive to detail in all written communications.
- Experience advising clients on lobbying, government relations, nonprofit advocacy and government ethics preferred.
- Significant in-house experience at a sophisticated nonprofit is preferred or experience advising nonprofits at a large law firm.
- Ability to quickly understand Pew's goals and to counsel clients on how to best achieve those goals, consistent with informed and properly mitigated legal and business risks.
- Successful candidate must be confident, with strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to develop productive, trusting relationships at all levels.
- A clear understanding of confidentiality and privilege.
- Collegial personality and ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams of legal and non-legal professionals.
Travel
This position requires occasional travel to Philadelphia office.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country for which they are seeking employment without the need of a visa sponsorship.
Total Rewards
We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.
The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
