Nonprofit / Charities Law Attorney in Bellingham, WA

Government

Bellingham, WA

Nonprofit / Charities Law Attorney in Bellingham, WA

Attorney

Min 10 yrs required

No

Job Title: General Counsel

Job Responsibilities:

- Strategic Legal Support: Collaborate with the Chief Operating Officer and senior leaders to address legal aspects of operations and strategic initiatives, including nonprofit lobbying, intellectual property, fundraising, data privacy, social media, operations, programs, and partnerships. Provide legal counsel on nonprofit governance and employment law to ensure program alignment with federal, state, and local laws. Offer legal advice to ensure compliance while pursuing the mission.

- Regulatory and Compliance Management: Oversee compliance with nonprofit-specific regulations and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure adherence to relevant regulatory requirements, including environmental, fundraising, and tax-exempt status regulations. Keep the organization informed about changes to federal and state laws impacting the nonprofit sector and environmental advocacy.

- Employment Law and HR Compliance: Provide legal guidance on employment matters, including employee relations, disputes, hiring, terminations, compensation, and benefits. Ensure compliance with labor laws, including federal, state, and local workplace regulations, and support the HR team with policy development and training. Partner with the VP of People and Culture to draft and review employee agreements, contracts, handbooks, and other human resources documents.

- Governance and Corporate Compliance: Support the COO and Executive Leadership on governance matters, including compliance with IRS 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) regulations, lobbying restrictions, and other tax-exempt status requirements. Advise on corporate governance best practices and legal obligations for board members and staff.

- Contract Management: Develop, negotiate, review, and maintain contracts, agreements, and memoranda of understanding with external partners, vendors, and stakeholders, including cause marketing, sponsorship, royalty, fundraising, non-disclosure, and lease agreements. Work with the Chief Development Officer to develop processes for gift agreements. Ensure all contracts support organizational business priorities and comply with applicable laws. Manage legal aspects of grant agreements, donations, and sponsorship arrangements. Collaborate with external legal counsel when necessary and manage efforts to resolve disputes cost-effectively.

- Other Responsibilities: Conduct internal legal audits to assess compliance with laws and identify areas for improvement. Provide ongoing training and resources to staff on legal matters, including ethical responsibilities and organizational policies. Support and coordinate on legal matters and interactions with regulatory agencies, advocacy organizations, and external stakeholders. Understand compliance requirements for all applicable registration requirements, annual filings, and state charitable registration process. Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Information:

- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
- A minimum of 10+ years of relevant work experience and years of legal practice as an attorney, preferably with US tax-exempt entities or international nonprofits.
- Demonstrated expertise in regulatory compliance and 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) governance.
- Experience advising nonprofit leadership on legal matters, including risk management, contracts, and strategic decisions.
- Familiarity with fundraising laws and grantmaking for 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Knowledge of the legal landscape surrounding environmental issues and nonprofit tax-exempt status.
- Strong experience managing legal disputes, contract negotiations, and working with external legal counsel.
- Demonstrated ability to handle stressful situations with professionalism, diplomacy, and a calm demeanor.
- High ethical standards and exemplary customer service are mandatory.

Key Skills:

- Collaborative Leadership: Ability to work closely with the COO and senior leadership team to provide sound legal advice and support organizational goals.
- Strategic Thinking: Strong ability to anticipate legal challenges and align legal strategy with the nonprofit’s mission and long-term vision.
- Problem Solving: Expertise in analyzing complex legal issues and providing actionable solutions.
- Clear Communication: Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex legal information for leadership and staff.
- Ethical Integrity: A commitment to the highest ethical standards in the nonprofit sector, with a focus on transparency and accountability.
- A self-starter: Able to exercise independent judgment, flexible, and motivated to take ownership of projects and demonstrate follow-through.
- Relationship builder: Excellent social and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build effective relationships at all levels and across culturally diverse teams; builds trust quickly.
- Highly organized: A track record of meeting short- and long-term responsibilities in a fast-paced, dynamic organization.
- Committed to the mission of protecting the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges.

Education/Training:

- Juris Doctor (required) from an ABA-accredited law school.
- License to practice law in any state or territory of the US.

Salary Information:

- The expected minimum salary is $185,300 annually. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s specialty skills, years of experience, location, and unique background. The organization is committed to fair pay practices and posts expected salary ranges for each of its positions. Candidates whose salary requirements may be outside of the expected range are encouraged to connect.

Hybrid Work Environment:

- The organization embraces a hybrid work environment, allowing staff the flexibility to work virtually and in-person while building strong connections across the institution.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

- The organization provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. The organization encourages applicants with a diverse range of relevant skills and experiences to apply, noting that a 100% match is not required.