Senior Counsel

The Senior Counsel will join a team and organization transforming into a multi-entity philanthropic endeavor. The Senior Counsel supports the organization’s growth and development, assessing risks, seeing opportunities, and recommending possible pathways forward. The role also provides legal expertise and judgment to operational and programmatic functions, bringing deep knowledge, crucial perspective, and trust-based partnership to a dynamic organization.

The Senior Counsel is a member of the larger Legal Office, which in addition to counsel functions houses the Contracts and Grants Management teams. This role reports to the Chief Legal Officer. As a member of the team, the Senior Counsel is encouraged to help build an inclusive, agile, effective, and well-integrated team where the contribution of each member is valued and respected.

This is a Limited Term Employee (LTE) position and is expected to have a duration of 2 years. This means that, absent some change, the position will end within that timeframe as defined in the offer letter. The limited duration of the position does not alter the at-will nature of the position or work at Pivotal Ventures.

Legal Support:

• Build and help manage a high-performing legal support function, including coordinating outside counsel, as required, in service of providing timely and specialized legal expertise to Pivotal.
• Provide expert legal advice to the Chief Legal Officer and leadership on matters involving corporate governance, intellectual property, tax and regulatory compliance (including with respect to domestic and international grantmaking), and institutional structure, policies, and procedures.
• Proactively monitor, assess and advise on emerging legal and regulatory trends that may impact Pivotal's or its partners’ activities; identifying and mitigating risks.
• Serve as the primary legal counsel for assigned teams, advising Legal Office members and other Pivotal staff on issues such as due diligence, tax compliance, contract review and negotiation, intellectual property, and employment law, working with outside counsel on complex legal issues as needed and appropriate.
• Hold responsibility for a significant number of organizational policies, reviewing and updating them to comply with the law, ensure consistency across the network, and reflect the foundation’s mission, practices, and values.

Cross-Org Collaboration:

• Assist in developing and delivering training on legal issues.
• Effectively manage organization-wide projects from conception through adoption, including policy development and implementation, systems adoption, and other multi-stakeholder efforts, with an understanding of best practices in change management.
• Support the Chief Legal Officer, Legal Office, and the rest of Pivotal on other projects, processes, and systems as requested.

The above description reflects the general duties of the position, but additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or behavior required to be successful in this role.  

• Outstanding analytical and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to collaborate across functions and up and down organizational hierarchy.
• Well-honed creative solutions-orientation, with ability to consider divergent viewpoints, solve problems constructively, and develop approaches that achieve desired results while bringing along skeptics.
• Experience successfully navigating internal dynamics as well as the range of matters and “clients” that are part of any high-functioning non-profit or philanthropic entity.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team, and to contribute constructively to group efforts in fast-paced or ambiguous situations.
• In-depth understanding of tax-exempt organization law, gift tax issues, and political law as they apply in the context of multi-entity philanthropic ecosystem.
• Enthusiasm and comfort explaining and advising on legal issues for non-lawyer audiences, including a commitment to sharing knowledge in accessible, engaging ways.
• Track record of designing and leading organization-level projects and change processes balancing inclusion, collaboration, shared purpose, and decisiveness.
• Dedication to Pivotal’s mission and values.
• Reputation for integrity, impeccable judgment, and discretion with confidential information
• Demonstrated ability to operate on two levels: doing the practical day-to-day work and thinking strategically to solve problems and align efforts with big-picture goals.

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited institution.
• Admission in good standing to the Bar of at least one state in the U.S. and willingness to waive into another if needed.
• 15+ years of experience, with 8+ years working as a lawyer in a variety of settings to support tax-exempt organizations.
• Experience will ideally include 4+ years of in-house legal experience in a multi-entity philanthropy or nonprofit ecosystem working on similar issues.
• Demonstrated experience supporting cross-border grantmaking.
• Experience working on impact investing and/or partnerships with 501(c)(4) organizations a plus.

The Salary range for this position is $289,300 - $302,300. This position is based in Seattle, WA or Washington DC. Remote may be considered for exceptionally qualified US-based candidates in certain geographic locations who are willing to travel.

This is a Limited Term Employee (LTE) position and is expected to have a duration of 2 years. This means that, absent some change, the position will end within that timeframe as defined in the offer letter. The limited duration of the position does not alter the at-will nature of the position or work at Pivotal Ventures.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability and long-term care insurance, fertility benefit, backup caregiving solution, 144 hours of vacation, 96 hours of sick leave, 401k, HSA, FSA, discretionary annual target performance bonus and more.