Chief Counsel

About Whistleblower Aid

Whistleblower Aid (WBA) is a pioneering 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal organization that helps government employees and private-sector workers report and expose wrongdoing. Our clients come forward at great personal risk to bring the transparency needed for public accountability and reform. Whether holding the government to account, protecting our democracy, defending the Constitution, safeguarding our national security, or reporting corporate malfeasance harming the public, our clients’ truth-telling is driving much-needed changes across industries and agencies, and their impact is felt around the world.

We are a small team of lawyers, strategists, and communications professionals who work tirelessly to keep our whistleblowers safe and their disclosures legal and effective.

About the Position

Whistleblower Aid is seeking to hire an experienced, mission-driven attorney as our next Chief Counsel. As a member of the leadership team, the Chief Counsel will help lead our growing organization by overseeing our programmatic legal work. This role will directly support, provide legal guidance to, and represent our clients; personally oversee the development and execution of whistleblower disclosures; build strategy to advance our entire legal program; and publicly represent the organization.

Whistleblower Aid’s work is highly sensitive, and this position requires absolute discretion and professionalism.

This is a full-time, at-will employee position. This role is hybrid, serving our office in Washington, DC, with a minimum of two days in the office per week.

Responsibilities

• Lead, oversee, and manage WBA’s programmatic legal work.
• Serve as Chief Counsel for all whistleblower clients—government and corporate—who risk much when they bring wrongdoing to light.
• Provide strategic counsel and support to the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Strategy Officer on both case-related and organizational/operational matters.
• Support organizational needs by making legal risk assessments, conducting research and analysis, and producing risk mitigation strategies.
• Research, create, and file lawful whistleblower disclosures with law enforcement agencies, Inspectors General, Congress, and other regulatory, investigative, and law enforcement bodies that generate impactful investigations and enforcement actions.
• Review drafted legal documents and disclosures, ensure quality control on organization-wide matters, and ensure lead counsel for each case updates and maintains current case plans for active matters.
• Lead assigned casework, including case strategy, team strategy, drafting, editing, filing, legal analysis, legal arguments, and evidence review.
• Prevent retaliation against clients, including but not limited to adverse employment actions, attacks on credibility, and frivolous litigation or SLAPP suits.
• Work closely with the leadership team to develop and execute impact strategies that ensure client disclosures lead to public awareness, policy change, institutional reform, and accountability.
• Serve as the lead legal point of contact for all outside partners, including co-counsel, subject matter experts, and consultants.
• Recruit and manage direct-report legal staff, teams of co-counsel, investigators, paralegals, and other contractors.
• Cultivate and create partnerships through targeted outreach and educational events.
• Represent the organization at industry events, conferences, and on panels as appropriate.
• Expand and support collaboration with a trusted network of advocacy partners, mission-aligned NGOs, legal groups, and policymakers.
• Work collaboratively with the leadership and communications teams to establish thought leadership, ensure impactful media engagement, and build WBA brand awareness.
• Represent the organization publicly in furtherance of its mission and brand.
• Support the organization’s advocacy and external relations strategies in service of cases and clients, including appearances in print, television, and other media.
• Participate in and support the organization’s fundraising and development activities.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to the organization’s attorneys.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Deep commitment to public service with a demonstrated track record.
• J.D. degree and admission to at least one state bar.
• 10+ years of supervisory legal experience.
• Hands-on experience producing and editing legal work product under time-sensitive conditions.
• Hands-on experience managing and conducting document review.
• Superior writing skills.
• Proven ability to lead and grow organizations, preferably in a nonprofit or mission-driven environment.
• Ability to publicly represent an organization through effective public speaking, strong interpersonal skills, and professionalism.
• Agility to function in dynamic circumstances with a creative problem-solving approach.
• Strong track record of leading by example, including modeling resourcefulness, responsiveness, empathy, and collegiality.
• Preferred experience in government oversight, such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), an Office of Inspector General (OIG), an agency General Counsel’s office, a federal agency with investigative or civil enforcement authority, or congressional investigations.
• Preferred legal experience in whistleblower law.
• Preferred ability to practice law in Washington, DC.

Benefits

Whistleblower Aid offers a generous benefits package, including:

• Fully employer-paid health insurance.
• Employer-sponsored retirement plan with company match.
• Life insurance.
• Generous paid time off policy.

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Email your application to: [email protected]

Please include the following with your application:

• Cover letter.
• Resume/CV.