Chief Legal and Risk Officer

Company Description

JDRF's mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D. For more information, please visit jdrf.org or follow us on Twitter: @JDRF

Job Description

Job Summary

This REMOTE ELIGIBLE position reporting to the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, the Chief Legal and Risk Officer (CLRO) will advise JDRF on legal, compliance, risk management matters; analyze and manage legal and reputational risk; and ensure that the practices, policies and operations of the organization and its affiliates meet all legal and regulatory requirements wherever JDRF and its affiliates operate, engaging outside counsel as needed.  The CLRO will have direct accessibility to JDRF’s Audit Committee and will also serve as JDRF’s corporate secretary.

Major Responsibilities

This position will be responsible for any of the following:

• Serve as a thought partner to the executive team and international Board of Directors (IBOD).
• Manage the contract review and approval process, including drafting contract templates and reviewing and negotiating contracts across the entire organization.
• Lead the organization on legal matters related to intellectual property; charitable solicitations; information security and privacy; and nonprofit rules related to lobbying and political activities.
• Advise on legal aspects of structuring collaborations and other business development activities for JDRF and any of its affiliates.
• Lead the creation and ongoing execution of an enterprise risk management program including the internal audit function (staff and co-sourced).
• Lead the corporate compliance program including but not limited to conflicts of interest, whistleblower policies, information security, and data privacy.
• Identify and assess legal and business risks to the organization, including managing JDRF’s business and professional liability insurance program.
• Identify and evaluate emerging legal issues for the organization and its affiliates using a strong problem-solving and solutions orientation, proactively seek out and stay current on relevant legal developments.
• Partner with Chief Human Resources Officer and outside employment law counsel (as necessary) on labor and employment matters as well as executive compensation matters
• Engage and manage outside counsel for the enterprise as needed

Qualifications

Qualifications

• A law degree and admission to a state bar.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in private practice and/or as in-house counsel with a nonprofit legal and policy organization; experience in international nonprofit operations strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the various legal and compliance issues facing U.S. nonprofit organizations, particularly in the areas of contract law; employment law and executive compensation; intellectual property; information security and privacy; insurance and professional liability; charitable solicitations; probate and trust management; and state and federal lobbying regulations.
• Experience working with high-functioning nonprofit governing boards and related governing documents.
• Experience working with retirement plan fiduciary committees.
• Experience leading enterprise risk management programs and corporate compliance programs.
• Experience negotiating complex and sophisticated contracts, including ability to assess and articulate appropriate risk/reward analyses, with strong negotiation and dispute resolution skills; experience with research grant award agreements and/or equity investment agreements with intellectual property rights strongly preferred.

Additional preferred skills and knowledge:

• MBA
• Demonstrated initiative, including ability to proactively identify and address issues and make recommendations on difficult and sensitive issues;
• Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment, problem solve, and perform well independently with a solutions-oriented approach;
• Ex