General Counsel (Part-Time)

ABOUT UNBOUNDED

UnboundEd recently joined two other professional learning organizations, Pivot Learning, and CORE Learning. Together as one entity, we are now the largest equity-focused professional learning organization in the nation. We provide evidence-based, comprehensive instructional and curriculum support to educators and school systems leaders in over 40 states across the country.

UnboundEd empowers educators to transform teaching and learning. We work with classroom teachers, school leaders, and district executives to ensure engaging, affirming, and meaningful grade-level instruction, so that we eliminate the predictability of student outcomes by race and socioeconomic status. We focus on the needs of students of color and those who have historically been at the margins because when we do that, all students benefit.

ROLE SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the (30 hours per week, schedule to be negotiated upon hire) General Counsel serves as the organization’s legal counsel and will play a primary and significant role in providing legal guidance, governance support, and strategic direction to the Board of Directors and Executive Team. Their expertise will be critical to safeguard the organization’s compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and best practices. The ideal candidate is a passionate legal practitioner with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a passion for advancing equity through education.

UnboundEd is a virtual organization and this employee can be based anywhere in the United States. UnboundEd has core business hours where we expect all staff to be available from 9 am to 5 pm local time and up to 10% travel is required.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

Legal and Governance Support: Provide comprehensive legal counsel and guidance to the organization's leadership, Board of Directors, and board committees

• Prepare Board minutes and arrange signatures after the Board has approved the minutes
• Assist with Board committees, including committee charters and the management of Board committees
• Advise on legal matters pertaining to corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and ethics
• Advise on mergers and acquisitions
• File applications and renewals of all trademarks with the Patent Office
• Review and coordinate Form 990 and financial statements
• Act as UnboundEd's resident agent in each state in which it is qualified to do business
  • Support the filing of state foreign qualification annual reports
• File charitable solicitation renewal extensions and charitable solicitation renewal registrations

Grant Agreements and Contract Review and Negotiation: Review, analyze, and negotiate a wide range of legal documents; create templates when needed

• Review legal documents including grant agreements, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), contracts, and copyright license agreements
• Offer recommendations and negotiate terms to protect the organization's interests and ensure alignment with our organizational vision, goals, and priorities.
• Review and assess all grant agreements to ensure compliance with legal requirements and alignment with our organizational vision, goals, and priorities
• Advise on grant funding terms and conditions, intellectual property rights, reporting obligations, and compliance obligations

Human Resources/Talent Support: Collaborate with the Talent team to provide legal guidance and support in matters related to human resources and personnel management

• Monitor employee vs. contractor classifications
• Preview terminations and prepare separation and severance letters
• Ensure compliance of personnel policies, materials, and processes with applicable Department of Labor and other legal and regulatory requirements
• Advise on employment contracts and a wide variety of employee relations matters to foster an inclusive, equitable, and people-centered work environment
• Review policies, advise on modifications, and help create new ones when needed
• Conduct and advise on Fair Labor Standards Act classifications and audits
• Assist with 401K retirement matters including participating in the 401K committee as an advisor

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and active membership in the bar association
• Minimum ten (10) years of experience practicing law in a general counsel role with exposure to all areas of law including employment, contracts and negotiations, intellectual property, and non-profit board governance and procedures; prefe