Director, Legal Counsel

Summary:

The Director, Legal Counsel plays a key role in the Legal Department,  where you can make a real impact drafting and reviewing contracts and advising on legal matters related to animal welfare programs, labor and employment, and other corporate matters in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Overview

Lifesaving impact, rewarding careers: Working at the ASPCA means you’ll be part of an established team of experts on the frontlines to save, transform and protect the lives of millions of animals.  

Who We Are

The Legal Department works across all ASPCA departments to provide legal support and policy guidance, ensuring that all of the ASPCA’s work is consistent with our organizational goals, positions, and policies and adheres to all federal, state, and local laws.  The Legal Department prioritizes respect for our internal clients, business partners, colleagues and others; excellence in the work that we perform and the advice that we provide; and being present in the life-saving work of the ASPCA by showing up for our colleagues, clients, and constituents.

What You’ll Do

The ASPCA is currently hiring for two Director, Legal Counsel positions, each of which will report to a Senior Director, Corporate Counsel and has no direct reports. One Director, Legal Counsel will support the ASPCA’s programs, including its community-centered medical teams, shelter teams, and veterinary and behavioral experts; and the ASPCA’s operations, including its IT, facilities, and strategy teams. The other Director, Legal Counsel will support the ASPCA’s policy teams, including its government relations, national field and disaster response, farm animal program, grants, and legal advocacy and cruelty response teams; the finance and real estate teams; the fundraising teams, including membership and advancement; and the communications teams, including internal and external communications.

Where and When You’ll Work

• This remote-based position (which requires travel, as described below) is open to all eligible candidates based within the United States.

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% annually, as needed.

What You’ll Get

Compensation

The target hiring range is based on where the employee works, which for remote roles is the employee’s primary location of residence, and its respective cost of labor.  You can view which zone applies to you based on your location (aspca.app.box.com/v/aspcazonetable). For questions regarding locations not on the list, please send an email to Careers@aspca.org for more information. 

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary ranges for this role are set forth below and may be modified in the future.   

• Zone 1: $128,000 - $135,000 annually

• Zone 2: $141,000 - $148,000 annually

• Zone 3: $141,000 - $148,000 annually

   

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.  

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.

• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, ten company paid holidays and paid personal time off that allows flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.

• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions—we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.

• Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:

 

Advise and Counsel

• Draft, review, and negotiate various corporate contracts and other legal documents, including confidentiality agreements, consulting contracts, and other documents used by ASPCA program teams.

• Work in close partnership and collaboration with teams across the organization on multidisciplinary and cross-departmental projects and initiatives

• Ensure efficient, scalable and compliant expansion into new areas of work

• Sensibly manage operational risk to foster innovation, security, and resilience

• Counsel internal clients on risk management and strategic program development

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws and internal policies

• In close coordination with the ASPCA’s People Team, manage and advise on legal aspects of labor and employment issues that arise within and between client teams

• Conduct comprehensive research and analysis on diverse substantive and procedural issues, including a wide variety of issues relevant to ASPCA initiatives and programs

 

Collaborate with Internal and External Partners

• Liaise with other Legal Department attorneys to ensure the highest caliber of legal advice is being provided consistently to internal clients throughout the organization

• Collaborate with outside counsel, particularly on litigation matters and complex labor and employment and intellectual property matters

• Educate staff on legal issues and risks facing specific areas of their work through interdepartmental trainings

Qualifications

• Licensed and admitted to practice law in at least one United States jurisdiction required

• Knowledge of animal law is not required, but a commitment to animal welfare is critical

• Excellent judgment and discretion, especially regarding confidential and sensitive matters

• Strong research and analysis skills

• Presents information clearly in oral and written form to a variety of audiences

• Plans, organizes, and prioritizes work

• Accepts accountability for and effectively executes responsibilities

• Ability to ask questions to identify needs that may not be stated

• Strong ability to collaborate effectively

• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.

Education and Work Experience

• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited U.S. law school required

• At least 4 years of experience practicing law (e.g. experience in a law firm, in-house experience, etc.); legal in-house corporate experience (for-profit or nonprofit) a plus

• Experience drafting and negotiating agreements and contracts (e.g. settlement agreements, leases, SAAS agreements) required

• Knowledge of nonprofit corporate law a plus

• 3 or more years of direct experience in real estate, finance, education and/or transportation matters a plus

Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

  

Language:

English (Required)

Education and Work Experience:

Doctorate: Law (Required)

  

Our EEO Policy:
The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Your Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act:
Pursuant to regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), we provide this notice to applicants about eligible employees’ protected leave for certain reasons. Click on the link to learn more.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado and Oregon: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058 and ORS 659A.030, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries through completion of the initial interview. We can require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant should redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.

Indiana Applicants: Pursuant to Indiana law, we are providing notice that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by: (1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or (2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component. Should you feel that you were a victim of discrimination on the basis of veteran status, please let us know at careers@aspca.org. Alternatively, you can file a complaint with the following agencies at any time: Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Office: (317) 232-2600 | Toll Free: (800) 628-2909; Hearing Impaired: (800) 743-3333 | Fax: (317) 232-6580; E-mail: icrc@crc.in.gov | Website: www.in.gov/icrc. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Indianapolis Field Office; 115 W. Washington Street South Tower Suite 600; Indianapolis, IN 46204; Phone: 463-999-1240; Fax: 317-226-7953; TTY: 1-800-669-6820;ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122.

Massachusetts Applicants: Per Massachusetts law, we are providing notice that it is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Philadelphia Applicants: You may view your rights under the Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Act here.