Associate General Counsel (English/Spanish)

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. 

About Heifer International      

In 1944, Heifer International’s founder, Dan West, began outlining a simple but groundbreaking plan to tackle hunger around the world. West, a farmer from the Midwest and Church of the Brethren member, had recently returned from feeding weary refugees during volunteer service in the Spanish Civil War.     

He had seen firsthand that giving people food was a short-term solution, whereas providing them with animals offered a steady supply of nutritious food for an entire family. His philosophy still inspires Heifer’s work today. Partnering with farmers across a range of different livestock and crops, we create unique solutions to local challenges.    

Today, Heifer International has operations in 19 countries around the world, working alongside local farmers, business owners and their communities, as they mobilize and envision their futures. Together, we build inclusive, resilient economies, so communities can develop effective ways to end global hunger and poverty in a sustainable way.      

To date, we have supported more than 42 million farming families across Africa, Asia and the Americas and in the past five years alone, we have worked alongside 2.7 million families to close the living income gap or set them on a path to doing so. Between now and 2030, we will support an additional 10 million people to reach a living income by scaling up our signature programs. To achieve this, Heifer International relies on its passionate, committed and highly skilled staff.   

ROLE FUNCTION 

Associate General Counsel will provide a full array of legal services needed in an international nonprofit environment, with an emphasis on 

• Delivering advice, counsel, and training to Heifer employees on various legal topics  
• Leading substantive areas of Heifer’s legal work, as assigned 
• Structuring registrations, formations, and transactions 
• Drafting and reviewing templates, white papers, grants, contracts, registration documents, formation documents, powers of attorney, documents related to impact capital, and other various legal documents 
• Acting in place of General Counsel when she/he is out or is focused on other duties. 

In carrying out tasks within Legal Services, Associate General Counsel may train and supervise, and assist in training and supervising, paralegal(s), Associate Counsel, external legal counsel, and other legal resources. 

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES 

Grants and Contracts (50%) 

Train teams of designated Contract Specialists on grant and contract drafting, review, and negotiation. Provide ongoing advice and counsel to Heifer employees, including Contract Specialists, in matters related to grants and contracts. Review, negotiate, and draft various grants and contracts. Supervise other legal assets and resources in connection with grants and contracts review, including paralegals, Associate Counsel, and external legal counsel. 

• Train, advise, and counsel Contract Specialists and other staff in matters related to grants and contracts 
• Create, implement, and conduct other various legal trainings 
• Well-drafted Independent Contractor Agreements, Grant- and Project-related Agreements, Employment Agreements, Corporate Letters of Agreement, License Agreements, Software Agreements, Cooperation Agreements, Endowment Agreements, Professional Services Agreements, Lease Agreements, Charitable Solicitation Agreements, and Relationship Agreements 

Corporate (15%) 

Assist in structuring branch offices and legally separate entities. Provide corporate advice and counsel, concentrating on specific Heifer regions (Americas, Africa, Europe, and/or Asia), as assigned. Supervise other legal assets in connection with certain corporate work, including paralegals, Associate Counsel, and external legal counsel. 

• Complete transaction-related due diligence 
• Well-drafted Term Sheets, Loan Agreements, Promissory Notes, Mortgages, Security Agreements, Deposit Agreements, Joint Venture Agreements, Partnership Agreements, Equity Transfer Agreements 

Impact Capital (10%) 

Assist in structuring impact capital transactions.  Review, negotiate, and draft documents related to impact capital. Supervise other legal assets in connection with certain transactions, including paralegals, Associate Counsel, and external legal counsel. 

• Complete transaction-related due diligence 
• Well-drafted Term Sheets, Loan Agreements, Promissory Notes, Mortgages, Security Agreements, Deposit Agreements, Joint Venture Agreements, Partnership Agreements, Equity Transfer Agreements 

Assist in other areas of law (10%) 

• Intellectual property, real estate, charitable registrations, dispute resolution and litigation, and privacy and data protection laws 
• Assist People Department with matters related to hiring, promotions, discipline, grievances, disputes, separations, pay, benefits, immigration, and labor and employment issues 
• Review and draft policies 
• Develop best practices and white papers 
• Provide updates on key legal developments 
• Manage counterterrorism checks and procedures 
• May perform other job-related duties as assigned 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. 
• 8-10 years of job-related experience. 
• Minimum of 4 years experience in management. 
• Licensed and in good standing as an attorney in the United States. 
• Fluency in English and Spanish, particularly in legal matters (this includes speaking, reading, and writing). 
• Ability to draft, review, negotiate, and manage complex grants and contracts in a dynamic, demanding environment while overseeing staff, providing training and feedback, and ensuring efficient workflow of processes and systems. 
• Ability to form and organize corporate entities, including drafting articles, bylaws, and relationship agreements. 
• Ability to assist boards of directors with various governance-related issues, including advising on Robert’s Rules of Order, drafting resolutions, and providing orientation and training.  Ability to structure impact investing transactions, and draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide variety of documents related to such transactions (which may include debt, equity, and hybrid components). 

Preferred Requirements: 

• Nonprofit or substantive volunteer experience. 
• Business-related undergraduate or graduate degree. 
• General understanding of international law. 

Most Critical Proficiencies: 

• Managing large projects 
• Supervising external counsel and other legal assets in certain areas of responsibility 
• Proficient in writing of all kinds. 
• Proficient in grant and contract law. 
• Proficient in structuring and documenting transactions. 
• Great attention to detail. 
• Excellent skills in organization, research, and writing. 
• Strong understanding of laws applicable to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations operating internationally, including but not limited to tax laws and laws related to international grant-making and anti-terrorism. 
• Strong understanding of non-profit culture. 
• Ability to manage administrative matters such as managing calendar, drafting correspondence, and maintaining established electronic filing system. 

Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands: 

• Constant face-to-face, telephonic, and electronic communication with colleagues and attorneys, both in the US and internationally. 
• Relate to, and communicate professionally and effectively with, a diverse group of individuals from various cultures. 
• Maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate time zone differences existing in an international organization. 
• Perform multiple tasks and manage consistently competing priorities in a rapidly changing environment.   
• Work well independently and in teams.  
• Manage a large number of projects involving numerous parties. 
• Work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality and discretion. 
• Produce and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format. 
• May require constant sitting and moving and working at a computer for extended periods. 
• Willingness to travel locally and internationally.  

Salary Information:  

The expected base salary range for this position is $110,000 to $120,000 annually. Placement within the range will be based on the experience and competency level of the candidate. 

What We Offer:  

Heifer International offers a variety of benefits for U.S. based employees working 30 or more hours per week. 

• Health and wellness benefits including Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Saving Account 
• Employee assistance program 
• 403(b) retirement plan (match 1% employee to 2% employer up to a maximum of 4% match +3% employer discretionary contribution regardless of employee contribution) 
• 22 vacation days in addition to 12 statutory and discretionary holidays, and 10 sick days per year 
• Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)  
• Professional development and annual merit increase opportunities 
• Optional critical illness insurance, legal assistance plan and pet protection 
• And more! 

Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of disability.