General Counsel

Position Title: General Counsel

Department: Finance

Location: Remote, United States *

Key Relationships:

Reports to: CFO, dotted line to CEO

Assignment Type: Full-time

Compensation: $211,000 – $247,000

Benefits: Check out information about our benefits here! https://www.americares.org/take-action/jobs/

ABOUT AMERICARES:

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster. Each year, Americares reaches 85 countries on average, including the United States, with life-changing health programs, medicine, medical supplies, and emergency aid. Americares is one of the world’s leading nonprofit providers of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit americares.org.

POSITION SUMMARY:

We are seeking a General Counsel to oversee our Legal & Compliance and Risk Management functions. As a key advisor to the Leadership Team and organization, the General Counsel will build a strong understanding of Americares’ business model and offer thoughtful legal advice across a wide range of issues.

The General Counsel will lead our Legal and Compliance teams, deepening a culture of support for our mission and team and consistently asking “how might we accomplish this organizational goal?”. The General Counsel will be an exceptional partner and collaborator with both internal and external stakeholders, leveraging these relationships to support the work of the Legal and Compliance teams.

The General Counsel’s portfolio will include risk management, many global insurance policies, legal agreements and matters, regulatory compliance, governance advice, and internal audit. They will be a key partner in our Medicine Security work, supporting everything from partnership agreements to warehousing contracts.

The General Counsel will perform their duties under the guidance and direction of the CFO and President and CEO. This position provides a unique opportunity for the qualified candidate working to enable the organization to make a positive impact on the lives of others globally.

Insurance and Risk Management

The General Counsel will oversee the risk management process for Americares, maintaining the relationship with our insurance brokers/partners and ensuring a comprehensive and cost-effective global insurance package to protect the organization, it’s assets and global staff. She/he/they will also be responsible for overseeing and periodically updating the current Enterprise Risk Management system and process and keeping the Audit Committee apprised of both assessed risks and mitigation measures.

As a key partner on our Medicine Security work, where Americares supplies donated medicines to health center partners globally, the General Counsel will also ensure compliance across all aspects of our access to medicine programs. This may include reviewing partner agreements for donations of medicines and medical supplies, reviewing contracts for compliant warehousing, and engaging with local legal counsel to ensure compliance as we ship medicines and medical supplies around the globe.

The General Counsel will also partner with the Leadership Team to articulate our risk tolerance as an organization and create tools and training that allow staff to understand and assess risk in their work.

Legal Agreements and Corporate Matters

The General Counsel and team will review all appropriate contract/agreement types for the organization, as well as provide any necessary oversight of litigation involving Americares.

In addition, They will develop relationships and coordinate work with various outside counsel, as appropriate, and will be responsible for hiring and firing outside counsel. The General Counsel will lead the creation and administration of any new legal entities of Americares.

Policy Compliance
The General Counsel will ensure Americares has up to date, thoughtful policies. They will oversee the review and revision of current and proposed organizational policies and procedures.

Regulatory Compliance

Another important focus of the General Counsel will be staying current on and providing oversight for all statutory rules and regulations that govern Americares business, particularly wholesale distribution compliance and state licensing and registrations. This position will provide and/or coordinate legal and compliance training for the Program, Development, Finance, and GIK Operations teams, plus appropriate global office staff.

Internal Audit

As part of the organization’s risk management efforts, the General Counsel will coordinate and interface with our internal auditors. They will advise the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on areas for audit and will help direct the organization in appropriate changes or improvements based on audit findings and recommendations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for compliance with all rules and regulations that govern our work, including DSCSA (drug tracing from manufacture to beneficiary), (Federal Drug Assoc.) FDA, DEA (for our supply chain and medicines work), FCPA (foreign bribery), OFAC and BIS (donor, partner, employee screening), and GDPR (data privacy); keep abreast of state and federal legislative changes that affect the organization’s operations and update operational policy, as required
• Responsible for analyzing, negotiating, and drafting a high volume of contracts/agreements in a short time frame including master services agreements, service level agreements, partnership agreements, confidentiality agreements, licensing agreements, cause marketing agreements, lease agreements, MOUs, and national, international, and intergovernmental grants
• Advising on domestic and international matters relating to access to medicines, employment law, intellectual property, real estate, fundraising, non-profit/tax status, government grants and contracts, corporate governance, data/privacy law, etc.
• Identifying risks to the organization and ensuring appropriate mitigation strategies and proper safety and security, internal audit and insurance coverage
• Handling internal investigations as part of the Global Safeguarding Team
• Providing advice and drafting documents for the creation, governance, and administration of legal entities in the U.S. and overseas
• Developing and providing regular training on legal issues and compliance to staff at all levels and locations
• Supervising domestic and international litigation and outside counsel
• Supervising a part-time legal staff who is responsible for all state fundraising and wholesale distribution licenses
• Supervise the Legal and Compliance team (2 attorneys, half-time insurance expert, internal auditor and a policy and compliance specialist)
• Providing general non-profit corporate governance advice; preparing board materials
• Partnering with key leadership to resolve legal issues as they arise and proactively shape policy and best practices

CORE AMERICARES RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Foster Americares values of responsiveness, results orientation, collaboration, efficiency, continuous improvement and integrity
• Coach, support and develop staff to increase individual and team effectiveness
• Develop and manage implementation of plans to increase compliance knowledge, including SOPs and other efficiency initiatives

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must Have Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s and Law Degree (J.D.) required
• 10+ years of legal experience preferably involving wholesale distribution compliance regulations and export controls
• International NGO and/or Pharma experience preferred
• Risk management experience preferred, especially around safety & security, internal audit and insurance
• Experience creating and delivering legal and compliance training
• Attention to detail and ability to work to defined specifications
• Excellence in analysis and observation skills
• Excellent written and oral communication, management and personnel skills
• Outstanding systems/technical skills which includes MS Office and mastery in MS Word
• Must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States and ability to travel internationally

Personal Success Factors:

• Effective coach, mentor and teacher: the ability to train staff in legal and compliance regulations related to Americares business
• Must be a leader and a doer; roll-up-your sleeves type to get things done
• Ability to successfully work in a cross functional environment
• Successfully manages multiple projects concurrently
• Ability to be able to understand the “Big Picture” and think creatively about achieving organizational goals
• Energized by learning new processes and a willingness to both accept and drive change
• A positive, continuous improvement and solutions-oriented mindset
• Interest and knowledge of nonprofit legal and compliance thought leadership around best practices and trends in the nonprofit industry, especially around supply chain issues

Our Core Competencies:

• Ownership and results
• Communication
• Problem solving
• Equity and inclusion
• Teamwork and conflict resolution
• Leadership
• Prioritization

Management

• Management
• Strategy and planning
• Decision making

As a global health organization, we are committed to ensuring a safe environment for our staff, partners, and visitors. All Americares staff and visitors who are on-site at any of our locations or will be traveling for work are required to be fully vaccinated (which includes a booster, when eligible) against COVID-19 unless an exemption required by law is applicable.

Americares is currently authorized to support remote work employees in the following locations: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. #LI-REMOTE

Americares is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

To request a disability accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us at [email protected].

How to apply

Please submit a complete application on our website:

https://americares.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/1255?c=americares