Deputy General Counsel

POSITION SUMMARY

 

The Deputy General Counsel (DGC) serves as a senior legal leader within the Office of the General Counsel, providing strategic legal guidance, managing complex legal matters, and supporting the organization's mission, operations, and governance. The DGC assists the General Counsel in directing the legal department's activities, supervising legal staff, and serving as acting General Counsel in the General Counsel's absence. This position requires exceptional legal acumen, sound judgment, and the ability to advise executive leadership on a broad range of legal, regulatory, and compliance issues.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Legal Leadership & Strategy

• Advise the General Counsel, executive leadership, and Board of Directors on legal matters affecting organizational strategy, risk, and operations.
• Serve as acting General Counsel during periods of absence, assuming full responsibility for department oversight and legal decision-making.
• Develop and implement legal strategies aligned with the organization's goals, risk tolerance, and regulatory environment.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and proactively advise leadership on potential impact.

 

Legal Operations & Supervision

• Supervise and mentor attorneys, paralegals, and other legal department staff, fostering professional growth and a high-performance culture.
• Manage the department's day-to-day legal operations, including workflow management, matter tracking, and outside counsel relationships.
• Oversee the selection, retention, and evaluation of outside counsel; review and approve legal invoices and budgets.
• Establish and improve legal department processes, policies, and systems to enhance efficiency and service delivery.

 

Contracts & Transactional Matters

• Draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts including vendor agreements, partnership agreements, licensing arrangements, and other commercial transactions.
• Provide guidance on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and other significant business transactions.
• Maintain and update standard contract templates and playbooks.

 

Compliance & Risk Management

• Lead or support the organization's compliance programs, including regulatory compliance, ethics policies, and internal controls.
• Identify, assess, and manage legal and regulatory risks across the organization; present risk findings to leadership.
• Investigate and respond to potential compliance violations, working with relevant stakeholders to remediate issues.

 

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Manage litigation matters, including coordinating with outside litigation counsel, overseeing discovery, and advising leadership on litigation strategy and risk.
• Represent the organization or supervise representation in regulatory proceedings, mediations, and arbitrations.
• Implement and oversee litigation holds and legal document preservation obligations.

 

Corporate Governance

• Support Board of Directors governance activities, including preparation of Board materials, resolutions, and minutes.
• Advise on corporate governance best practices and ensure compliance with applicable corporate law.
• Maintain corporate records and manage entity formation, qualification, and dissolution activities.

 

CORE COMPETENCIES

 

• Legal Expertise: Legal Expertise
• Strategic Thinking: Strategic Thinking
• Leadership & Team Development: Leadership & Team Development
• Communication & Influence: Communication & Influence
• Problem Solving & Judgment: Problem Solving & Judgment
• Integrity & Ethics: Integrity & Ethics
• Collaboration: Collaboration
• Adaptability: Adaptability

 

Competency Descriptions

Legal Expertise: Demonstrates deep knowledge across multiple areas of law relevant to the organization; stays current with legal and regulatory developments; applies sound legal judgment to complex and novel situations.

Strategic Thinking: Anticipates legal challenges and opportunities; integrates legal strategy with business objectives; provides proactive, solution-oriented counsel rather than reactive legal opinions.

Leadership & Team Development: Inspires, deve