Senior Vice President and General Counsel (Full-time Position)
Apply NowCompany: Open Space Institute, Inc.
Location: New York, NY 10025
Description:
Position Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel (Full-time Position)
Reports To: President and Chief Executive Officer
Department: Legal / Executive
Location: New York City - Midtown Manhattan
Salary Range: $250,000 - $300,000, commensurate with experience, includes a robust benefits program
Date: August 8, 2024
About the Open Space Institute
Founded in 1974, the Open Space Institute (OSI) is a national leader in land protection that creates connections to nature and the outdoors for all people. Over the half century, OSI has protected more than 2.5 million at-risk, irreplaceable acres of forests, wetlands, and shorelines across the North American Eastern Seaboard. Expanding in both scope and size, OSI employs entrepreneurial spirit, determination, and expertise to protect the land that matters most - to preserve clean drinking water; improve the public's access to parks, public trails, and greenways; save at-risk wildlife habitat; strengthen communities; and to combat climate change and mitigate its effects.
The Open Space Institute is deeply committed to equity in our field and our organization. We are working to address systemic inequities that exclude people from the many benefits that land provides. And we're building a team and culture within OSI that reflects the true diversity of the communities we aim to serve.
Position Summary
Reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for OSI serves as the chief legal officer, overseeing and leading a team of five attorneys and two paralegals within the Legal Department. The Senior Vice President and General Counsel is a core member of the executive leadership team and plays a critical role in formulating organizational priorities and strategy and assessing risk. They also provide strategic legal advice to the executive team and board of directors, helping to navigate complex legal issues.
Experience
The successful candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of experience in a law firm or as corporate in-house counsel with a concentration in real estate law, financing, and nonprofit law and governance. They will also have a working knowledge of corporate law, conservation transactions, loan transactions, contracts, lobbying restrictions, tax exempt organizations and conservation easements.
Position Information
Please note: If you do not wholly meet the qualifications but believe you are otherwise well-suited to meet the needs of this position, we encourage you to apply
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel of OSI is the chief legal officer and oversees the Legal Department. They are a key member of the leadership team and will participate in assessing risk and formulating organizational priorities.
They offer counsel on legal issues and serve as a trusted advisor to the leadership team. This position reports directly to OSI's President and Chief Executive Officer.
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel provides the full spectrum of legal oversight of the work of the OSI lawyers and the Legal Department to ensure that the Department is properly staffed, has resources to carry out its responsibilities, and is up to date on changes of applicable laws and regulations including those specific to tax-exempt organizations.
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel also advises the organization with regard to issues related to employment law, claims against the organization, and the engagement of outside counsel when deemed necessary and advisable to address those claims. They will also assist and provide input to the Finance Department in the preparation of the annual financial statements, Form 990, and related information returns.
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel advises the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors and provides expertise in legal matters. They understand national legal practice and create and maintain integrated legal standards and services that support a multi-state organization.
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel ensures seamless coordination within the Legal Department and establishes clear accountability for all team members. They foster a professional environment that provides for continuous learning and development and that attracts and retains diverse, outstanding talent.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Qualifications
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned.
Apply at https://www.openspaceinstitute.org/careers
You will receive an acknowledgement once your application has been submitted. We will contact you if we would like to schedule an interview.
OSI is committed to providing a competitive compensation package. The salary for this role ranges from $250,000 to $300,000 depending on the candidate's skill level and experience with context to the position. It is uncommon for a candidate to be hired at the top of the pay range. The recruiting team is committed to sharing details regarding compensation based on the candidate's qualifications during the interview process. OSI provides a benefits package that exceeds market standards, including: comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, life and disability insurances, retirement plan, professional development assistance, and other resources designed to support the passion, commitment and energy that is vital to our team members.
OSI is an equal opportunity employer and is actively recruiting a diverse workforce. Land conservation benefits all people. Our mission is best advanced by the contributions and leadership of people across varying identities, including racial, gender, spiritual, and cultural. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment that fosters belonging and we look for future team members who share that same value. We encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.
We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, height, weight, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We consider qualified applicants with arrest/conviction records for employment.
Reports To: President and Chief Executive Officer
Department: Legal / Executive
Location: New York City - Midtown Manhattan
Salary Range: $250,000 - $300,000, commensurate with experience, includes a robust benefits program
Date: August 8, 2024
About the Open Space Institute
Founded in 1974, the Open Space Institute (OSI) is a national leader in land protection that creates connections to nature and the outdoors for all people. Over the half century, OSI has protected more than 2.5 million at-risk, irreplaceable acres of forests, wetlands, and shorelines across the North American Eastern Seaboard. Expanding in both scope and size, OSI employs entrepreneurial spirit, determination, and expertise to protect the land that matters most - to preserve clean drinking water; improve the public's access to parks, public trails, and greenways; save at-risk wildlife habitat; strengthen communities; and to combat climate change and mitigate its effects.
The Open Space Institute is deeply committed to equity in our field and our organization. We are working to address systemic inequities that exclude people from the many benefits that land provides. And we're building a team and culture within OSI that reflects the true diversity of the communities we aim to serve.
Position Summary
Reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for OSI serves as the chief legal officer, overseeing and leading a team of five attorneys and two paralegals within the Legal Department. The Senior Vice President and General Counsel is a core member of the executive leadership team and plays a critical role in formulating organizational priorities and strategy and assessing risk. They also provide strategic legal advice to the executive team and board of directors, helping to navigate complex legal issues.
Experience
The successful candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of experience in a law firm or as corporate in-house counsel with a concentration in real estate law, financing, and nonprofit law and governance. They will also have a working knowledge of corporate law, conservation transactions, loan transactions, contracts, lobbying restrictions, tax exempt organizations and conservation easements.
Position Information
Please note: If you do not wholly meet the qualifications but believe you are otherwise well-suited to meet the needs of this position, we encourage you to apply
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel of OSI is the chief legal officer and oversees the Legal Department. They are a key member of the leadership team and will participate in assessing risk and formulating organizational priorities.
They offer counsel on legal issues and serve as a trusted advisor to the leadership team. This position reports directly to OSI's President and Chief Executive Officer.
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel provides the full spectrum of legal oversight of the work of the OSI lawyers and the Legal Department to ensure that the Department is properly staffed, has resources to carry out its responsibilities, and is up to date on changes of applicable laws and regulations including those specific to tax-exempt organizations.
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel also advises the organization with regard to issues related to employment law, claims against the organization, and the engagement of outside counsel when deemed necessary and advisable to address those claims. They will also assist and provide input to the Finance Department in the preparation of the annual financial statements, Form 990, and related information returns.
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel advises the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors and provides expertise in legal matters. They understand national legal practice and create and maintain integrated legal standards and services that support a multi-state organization.
The Senior Vice President and General Counsel ensures seamless coordination within the Legal Department and establishes clear accountability for all team members. They foster a professional environment that provides for continuous learning and development and that attracts and retains diverse, outstanding talent.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Act as key member of the OSI leadership team.
- Oversee the delivery of legal services and resources to accomplish organizational goals, strategies, and priorities.
- Manage the Legal Department of five attorneys and two paralegals and ensure that members of the department are fully engaged, motivated, and provided with the requisite training, tools, and resources to meet the legal needs of the organization.
- Advise OSI staff with regard to compliance with state and federal law relating to not-for-profit corporations, corporate governance, legal compliance with regulatory authorities, and the appropriate registration of OSI in other states.
- Be conversant with the work of OSI staff and its affiliates.
- Manage litigation undertaken by outside counsel.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor Degree required.
- LLM Degree or other advanced study in real estate law, conservation law or law of tax-exempt organization is helpful.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in law firm or as corporate in-house counsel with concentration in real estate law, financing, and nonprofit governance.
- Working knowledge of corporate law, real estate transactions, loan transactions, contracts, lobbying, tax exempt organizations and conservation easements.
- Experience in managing, leading, and motivating in-house legal teams or law firm teams.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
- Frequently sits for long periods of time;
- Frequently speaks, reads, writes and uses a computer keyboard; and
- May require occasional standing, walking, lifting, stooping, bending, moving files.
This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned.
Apply at https://www.openspaceinstitute.org/careers
You will receive an acknowledgement once your application has been submitted. We will contact you if we would like to schedule an interview.
OSI is committed to providing a competitive compensation package. The salary for this role ranges from $250,000 to $300,000 depending on the candidate's skill level and experience with context to the position. It is uncommon for a candidate to be hired at the top of the pay range. The recruiting team is committed to sharing details regarding compensation based on the candidate's qualifications during the interview process. OSI provides a benefits package that exceeds market standards, including: comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, life and disability insurances, retirement plan, professional development assistance, and other resources designed to support the passion, commitment and energy that is vital to our team members.
OSI is an equal opportunity employer and is actively recruiting a diverse workforce. Land conservation benefits all people. Our mission is best advanced by the contributions and leadership of people across varying identities, including racial, gender, spiritual, and cultural. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment that fosters belonging and we look for future team members who share that same value. We encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.
We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, height, weight, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We consider qualified applicants with arrest/conviction records for employment.