Senior Director of Legal Affairs

OVERVIEW: 

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, this role will lead the legal function for the organization. This will involve not only managing the legal team but also assisting with general legal issues that surface within the organization and proactive legal reviews to ensure effective and compliant operation of the organization. As the Senior Director of Legal Affairs, you will help build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, such as students, staff, and legal partners.  You will also provide high-quality professional support on a range of legal, regulatory, and compliance issues and be a key advisor to YUU’s senior leadership.  

To be successful in this role, you will be a highly motivated and energetic individual who can be part of an interdisciplinary team of all career stages, departmental teams and geographies.  You will engage in partnerships and professional development opportunities from the legal profession and community.  

The Senior Director, Legal Affairs will also interact with students as a coach and/or mentor, participating in building a positive educational environment. 

We are open to candidates living in any of the states in which Year Up United operates https://www.yearup.org/locations with a preference for those residing in the New York Metropolitan Area, the Greater Boston Area and the National Capital Region.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Provide sound legal, regulatory, and compliance advice to the organization, including senior and Executive Team leadership.
• Assess and address legal issues that surface, make recommendations, and drive implementation strategies to improve the process for raising and managing student and staff-related situations that require legal attention.
• Supervise and support all contracting work, which will include drafting, reviewing, negotiating and monitoring contracts and agreements (i.e., corporate partner agreements, operating agreements with community partners, consulting agreements, vendor agreements, marketing agreements, leases, etc.).
• Support the development of new contract templates for new ventures, including consulting services and other new products, and help to guide and lead our contract monitoring and tracking efforts.
• Draft and review internal policies related to student affairs, HR, privacy, development, and other areas of compliance.
• Develop educational training materials for staff in order to implement legal-related processes.
• Manage pro-bono relationships with law firms and oversee outside counsel and insurance representatives on litigation or other specialized matters.
• Conduct legal research, policy compliance assessments and legal compliance assessments.  Serve on the organization’s Ethics and Compliance Committee.
• Partner with Human Resources and line managers on employment issues and compliance.
• Collaborate with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging team.
• Advise on intellectual property, use of data, tax, insurance, financial and audit compliance and other matters, collaborating with other functional teams when appropriate.
• Stay up to date with relevant legal changes and draft resources for staff related to changes in law affecting any aspect of Year Up United’s work.
• Provide specific assistance related to employment law.
• Maintain current working knowledge of federal policy proposals and actions that affect our students or other stakeholders, collaborating with external policy consultants or counsel as needed.
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the workforce. 
• A member in good standing of the bar in at least one state where we operate. Membership in additional states is a plus.
• Excellent leadership, communication and collaboration skills.
• Strategic thinker with ability to incorporate proactive problem-solving skills, both with people and projects.
• Ability to simultaneously lead a team and execute daily legal work. 
• Proven ability to navigate and develop solutions for legal challenges while effectively communicating limitations and ensuring organizational compliance. 
• Strong organizational and time management skills and the ability to work under pressure. 
• Passion for working with young adults, an unshakable belief in their potential and a strong commitment to the mission of Year Up United. 
• Understanding of the Opportunity Divide and its drivers. 
• Commitment to a culture of belonging.

Salary Range- $180,0