Senior Counsel

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Senior Counsel
Location: remote
Country: United States
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization founded in 2002, primarily in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Its mission is to save lives and reduce the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries by supporting governments and the private sector in creating and sustaining high-quality health systems. CHAI operates in over 40 countries, with a diverse team of approximately 1800 staff members, including employees, volunteers, and secondees. The organization has expanded its focus beyond HIV to include infectious diseases such as COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis, as well as non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes. CHAI is committed to maximizing sustainable impact at scale and ensuring that programs are designed to be nationally scalable, with shared learnings globally. The organization values diversity and inclusion, recognizing that its mission is best advanced by the contributions of individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds.

Job Overview:
The Senior Counsel position at CHAI involves providing internal legal counsel to the organization's leadership and overseeing its legal affairs. This includes managing outside counsel, advising on internal and external investigations, employment and labor issues, and contract practices. The Senior Counsel will guide teams in structuring, negotiating, and executing legal aspects of commercial transactions, as well as advising on risk management and addressing various legal matters such as employment law, intellectual property, tax compliance, and litigation. The role requires maintaining high professional and ethical standards while supporting CHAI's mission and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The Senior Counsel will collaborate with various teams within CHAI, including finance, contracts, global operations, HR, and programmatic teams, and will report to CHAI's CFO. This is a full-time, fixed-term position for 6 to 12 months, with the possibility of extension, and may allow for part-time arrangements. The role requires a location on the East Coast of the USA and involves up to 20% domestic and international travel.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide legal counsel to CHAI’s leadership teams on all operational legal matters.
• Advise on internal and external investigations under CHAI’s Safeguarding program.
• Offer legal advice on human resources matters for national and international staff, including employment contracts, hiring, separation, benefits, leaves, anti-discrimination, immigration, and labor regulations.
• Address high priority legal issues and provide timely information to CHAI Senior Leadership Team.
• Collaborate with the contracts department on the development and review of agreements.
• Oversee the protection of CHAI’s intellectual property rights.
• Partner with outside counsel for local jurisdiction matters and oversee dispute resolution.
• Advise Finance and HR teams on organizational tax questions.
• Manage CHAI’s legal entity management function and ensure compliance with entity structures. 1
• Review and advise on risk management strategies and insurance coverages. 1
• Support the development of risk mitigation plans. 1
• Partner with senior leadership on communications with donors and stakeholders. 1
• Review and implement organizational policies and procedures across various departments.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and a minimum of 10 years of experience in a senior legal position, preferably in global health or development organizations or a comparable private law firm.
• Active law license in the United States.
• Experience in international markets and negotiating complex agreements.
• Preferred experience with international corporate and employment legal matters, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
• Strong cultural sensitivity and experience in a geographically dispersed organization.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with all levels of the organization and advise leadership effectively.
• Highly solutions-oriented with the ability to assess risk and provide comprehensive legal advice in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated experience in identifying potential problems and devising creative solutions.
• Unquestioned ethics and integrity, with respect for CHAI staff and stakeholders. 1
• Willingness to integrate diverse views into work products. 1
• Experience with ethics and corporate transactions in diverse geopolitical contexts. 1
• Strong knowledge of international nonprofit governance and US tax-exempt organization law preferred. 1
• Experience with government contracting is desirable. 1
• Ability to travel up to 20%. 1
• Passionate about CHAI's values.

Educational Background:
A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school is required for this position.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of experience in a senior legal role, with a preference for candidates who have worked in global health or development organizations or have comparable experience in a private law firm. Candidates should have experience in international markets and a strong understanding of complex legal agreements, particularly in the context of low- and middle-income countries.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to CHAI's operational regions would be considered a plus, enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This is a full-time, fixed-term position for 6 to 12 months, with the possibility of extension. CHAI is open to part-time arrangements. The role requires a location on the East Coast of the USA, with up to 20% domestic and international travel. CHAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce.