Assistant General Counsel

About the Organization

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global organization committed to our mission: to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. Since our founding in 2008, we have awarded over $1.4 billion in grants to more than 600 organizations advancing climate solutions around the world. We helped grow the field of climate philanthropy to where it stands today, establishing infrastructure, global networks, and momentum for continued growth. Through our Global Programs and Services, we equip philanthropy with global knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.

• Scaling solutions: Our collaborative Global Programs— focused on solution areas including carbon dioxide removal, cooling, industry, transportation, and more — produce results that are bending the greenhouse gas emissions curve. From the U.S. to Europe, China, Brazil, and beyond, we collaborate with a diverse community of funders, NGOs, and climate leaders to accelerate just and equitable climate solutions.
• Guiding and supporting funders: Our Global Services provide funders with comprehensive resources to assess, build, evolve, and execute high-impact climate-giving strategies. Our Global Intelligence service equips funders and the climate community with climate insights to pinpoint opportunities for impact and philanthropic insights to help identify investment priorities. We facilitate Global Collaborations that enable funders to increase individual and collective impact. Our Global Grantmaking services enable funders to invest in climate solutions around the world.
• Fostering collaboration, exploration, and growth: Our collaborative approach and commitment to learning ensures that we continuously explore innovative ideas and emerging opportunities — all with the aim of scaling philanthropy-supported initiatives to help end the climate crisis.

As experts in climate science, public policy, economic and social analysis, and strategic philanthropy, ClimateWorks’ staff understands the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of climate change. We are researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grantmakers who care passionately about our mission. For more information, please visit www.climateworks.org/careers.

Job Summary

The Assistant General Counsel provides legal advice and counsel to the operations of a US-based nonprofit organization with global activities and analyzes complex legal and operational issues and/or processes across a variety of topics, including: tax compliance, data privacy and security, international law, strategic and crisis communications, public technical reports, and risk analysis and support across departments and functions.

Primary Responsibilities

Working under the direction of the General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel will perform the following job functions:

• Advise on federal, state legal compliance for nonprofit organizations working on environmental or climate mitigation issues.
• Draft and review consulting contracts, funder and grant agreements, memoranda of understanding and other legal documents as needed.
• Review and provide legal opinions on external-facing communications and reports.
• Work with outside counsel in the US and globally to develop internal legal guidance, memoranda and opinions as needed for staff and leadership.
• Provide guidance and staff trainings as needed on a variety of legal and risk issues.
• Work with the General Counsel and other members of senior management to adopt organizational approach to enterprise risk management.
• Provide legal opinions on contracts, data privacy, artificial intelligence and technology issues as needed;
• Advise on employment, labor and benefits matters as needed.
• Evaluate appropriate legal course of action to meet organizational objectives in a heightened risk environment and advise senior leadership as needed.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree from an ABA accredited law school.
• Current and active license to practice law in at least one (1) US jurisdiction.
• 6+ years of professional legal experience either in a law firm working on or with tax-exempt organizations or as in-house counsel for a nonprofit organization.
• Prior experience with international organizations and the provision of legal analysis and advice on related regulatory and compliance laws in countries outside of the US.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Substantial experience with legal risk management.
• Experience working with organizations that have global operations and activities.
• Prior litigation experience a plus.
• Prior experience working on environmental or climate issues.
• Experience in meeting facilitation and working in coalitions.
• Ability to quickly evaluate and determine appropriate legal course of action to meet business unit needs.
• Ability to build and maintain respectful and professional rapport with management, coworkers, consultants and external partners.
• Proven success in collaborating across a matrixed organizational environment, including excellent written/verbal communications skills, as well as presentation skills.
• Ability to engage in limited travel.

Compensation

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location)

Salary Range (Bay Area / NYC): $165,000 - $175,000 annually

Salary Range (Other US): $155,000 - $165,000 annually

***ClimateWorks strives to create an equitable culture of transparency and fairness.

Location

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as US Flexible. Exceptional candidates can work from the SF office or from other locations, geographic differential applied to compensation based on local cost of labor.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to equal employment principles. We strive to find ways to attract, develop, and retain the talent needed to meet business objectives, and to recruit and employ highly qualified individuals representing the diverse communities in which we live.

Our employment policies and decisions on employment and promotion are based on merit, qualifications, performance, and business needs. We make the decisions and criteria governing the employment relationship with all employees in a nondiscriminatory manner, without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, sex (including childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), pregnancy, uniform service member and veteran status, citizenship status, disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. Support and belief in this principle is a basic responsibility of all employees.

This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment.

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package:

Healthcare Plans:

Multiple options available through Kaiser & UHC

• HMO - 100% coverage for employee and dependents
• POS - Employee pays difference beyond HMO coverage (3 out of 4 POS options are at 100% coverage for employee and dependents)
• Dental –100% coverage for employee and dependents
• Vision – 100% coverage for employee and dependents

Fertility Benefit

• Fertility care through Carrot Fertility. Access to on-demand doctor-approved content, pregnancy support, and virtual chats with medical, legal, and regulatory experts.

Disability Benefit (long and short-term)

Life Insurance (3x base salary up to $750k for employee only)

PTO

• 20 days (1st year)
• 25 days (2nd - 8th year)
• 30 days (9th year)

Holidays

• 11 Observed and 2 floating

401k Plan

• After 6 months of service, CWF automatically contributes 9% of gross earnings per pay period to retirement fund*
• After 6 months of service, CWF matches 100% of employee contributions up to a max of 6% of gross earnings per pay period*