General Counsel

About the Role

The general counsel serves as the principal legal advisor and steward of programmatic and organizational legal issues. The position reports to the Managing Director and is part of the executive operations team. The general counsel plays a critical role in guiding Indivisible’s strategy and operations, advising the executive team, senior leadership and the Board of Directors. The general counsel coordinates with outside counsel and other experts as necessary.

The estimated proportion of time spent on core job duties is as follows:

• • • 30% Strategic advice to the executive team and senior leadership
    • 30% Organizational and programmatic advice
    • 25% Employment law and labor relations
    • 15% Department management

What You’ll Do

The general counsel is responsible for providing comprehensive legal guidance on complex issues to include (but not limited to):

STRATEGIC BUSINESS ADVICE – 30%

• • • Provide advice to the executive team and BOD as needed, regarding legally sensitive communications, litigation and administrative action strategies, risk analysis, mitigation strategies, liability and insurance.
    • Promote and defend Indivisible’s interests before courts, administrative agencies, and policymakers, and regularly report and provide strategic guidance on legal developments that could affect operations.
    • Review, draft and advise on contracts, leases, grant agreements, job descriptions, and other documents.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROGRAMMATIC ADVICE – 30%

Programmatic advice

• • • Consult with programmatic leadership to develop legal frameworks to support programmatic work.
    • Develop strong connections to cross-functional teams.
    • Anticipate need and coordinate the development of training materials on a variety of legal issues.
    • Effectively communicate complex legal issues to non-legal stakeholders.

Nonprofit compliance

• • • Ensuring the organization maintains compliance with nonprofit governance laws such as tax-exempt status, reporting obligations, and regulatory requirements.
    • Nonprofit compliance strategies and entity guidance for Indivisible’s 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and federal and state PACs.
    • Overseeing lobbying and election compliance at the federal, state and local level.
    • Entity oversight as it relates to the organizational budget and time tracking.
    • Manage corporate compliance.
    • Monitor legal development in a wide range of legal areas, including elections and nonprofit law.
    • Protect Indivisible’s intellectual property interests.
    • Oversee corporate governance issues for multiple Boards.

Legal oversight on financial compliance

• • • Review development proposals and reports for legal compliance and advise on contribution restrictions.
    • Support compliance on financial report requirements to include reviewing Indivisible’s draft 990s.

EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR RELATIONS – 25%

• • • Provide strategic advice on all employment law matters, including advising on personnel policies, employee relations, disciplinary actions, workplace issues, and compliance with federal, state, and local labor laws.
    • Provide strategic advice on labor relations matters to include contract negotiations and collective bargaining agreement interpretation, and provide oversight of the grievance process.
    • Work closely with the HR team and other internal stakeholders to ensure adherence to the collective bargaining agreement.

DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT – 15%

• • • Manage legal department budget and program.
    • Manage and mentor the legal team consisting of Senior Counsel and Senior Compliance Manager.
    • Oversee relationships with outside counsel. Liaise at the confluence of law, organizational risk, programmatic objectives. Translate organizational risk, history, objectives.

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• • • Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school, bar membership in good standing in any jurisdiction with a preference for DC.
    • 10 years legal experience in the nonprofit political advocacy sector, to include 3-5 years of senior leadership, required; previous experience as General Counsel preferred.
    • 5-7 years of employment law and labor management experience providing legal guidance in a unionized workplace to include contract negotiation and interpretation experience.
    • Experience working in a remote workplace is preferred.
    • Proven track record for managing multiple projects, meeting deadlines, collaborative problem solving and exceptional strategic thinking.
    • Exceptional judgment and discretion.
    • Legal acumen supportive of programmatic and political agility.
    • Thrive in high-volume problem-solving in a fast-paced landscape.
    • Able to work independently and as part of a team.
    • Excellent written, verbal skills, strong attention to detail.

About Indivisible Project

We’re building something new. We’re a progressive grassroots organization that began in the aftermath of Trump’s election. We’re working to build a democracy that reflects a broad, multiracial “we the people,” one that works for all of us and is sustained by all of us. To support this movement, we’ve built an incredible team at the national level. We dream big, we support each other, and we have fun doing it.

We’re changing what’s politically possible. Indivisible is part of the powerful progressive movement reaction to Trump, fighting the racist, misogynistic, plutocratic, and authoritarian agenda trumpeted by Trump and the GOP congress. Indivisible has been featured on the Rachel Maddow Show multiple times, as well as in the New York Times and in pretty much every other major news outlet in the country.

We’re building together. We’re building a new organization every day – a rare opportunity to model what we want to see in the world. We’re deeply committed to equity and building a diverse and inclusive organization.

We’re looking for you. If you want to fight for the soul of American democracy, there’s no better place to be than Indivisible. We’re looking for more team members who are passionate about building an inclusive democracy and committed to getting results. It’s an exciting, fulfilling place if you’re someone who wants to fight fiercely for the progressive world we want to have.

Every one of us on the national team is here because we believe this movement is the best way to retake and build progressive power in this country. Does that ring true for you? If so, great – throw your hat in the ring to join our team. Let’s start #winning together.

Indivisible Project is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical condition. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of support needs at the time of application.

The pay range for this role is:
$169,890 – $220,000 USD per year (Remote (United States))

Learn more here