Associate General Counsel

About the role

The Associate General Counsel will provide both tactical and strategic legal guidance and support across CFR’s operations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This individual will collaborate closely with the Chief Legal Officer, CFR leadership, and various departments to address legal needs related to contracts, intellectual property, privacy, employment matters, compliance, governance, and more. The ideal candidate will possess strong legal expertise, a commitment to the organization’s mission, and the ability to pragmatically navigate balancing legal and organizational considerations. This position is based in CFR’s New York office at least three days per week. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite. Effective Monday, September 14, 2026, CFR employees will be based on-site at least four days per week. CFR’s remote working schedule is subject to change.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, MOUs, grants, partnership agreements, and vendor contracts to protect the organization’s interests.
• Lead on ContractSafe, CFR’s contract management tool.
• Review and manage conflict of interest and political activity disclosures from employees and contributors.
• Lead on Navex, CFR’s conflict of interest and whistleblower tool.
• Manage the annual state charitable filings process and lead on Labyrinth, CFR’s compliance vendor.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting nonprofit organizations, including tax-exempt status requirements.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks by developing policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Handle insurance matters and liability concerns specific to the organization.
• Manage intellectual property rights, including trademarks, copyrights, and licensing agreements.
• Advise on data privacy and cybersecurity matters, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Provide guidance on employment policies, contracts, and employee relations to ensure compliance with employment laws.
• Assist in managing legal disputes, litigation, and risk exposure in collaboration with outside counsel.
• Stay informed on legal trends and developments impacting nonprofit organizations.
• Support the Chief Legal Officer in other legal and strategic matters as needed.
• Perform any other duties or tasks as assigned or required.

Requirements

JD with a license to practice in New York State.

Qualifications

• At least 6 years of relevant legal experience, ideally in law firm and in-house roles.
• Experience in nonprofit law, tax-exempt organizations, or membership-based organizations is highly desirable.
• Exemplary written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrable experience and success developing and maintaining constructive professional relationships across departments and practice areas.
• Strong knowledge of contract law, privacy, governance, employment law, and intellectual property.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Understanding the application of AI and other relevant technology in the workplace.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a mission-driven environment.

Benefits

In addition to competitive salaries, the Council on Foreign Relations offers a benefits package that is among the best offered by nonprofit institutions today, including an award-winning health and wellness program, an on-site fitness center, and generous leave policies and health insurance programs.

Pay

The full-time annual compensation range for this position is $160,000-$180,000 depending on experience.

Schedule

• This position is based in CFR’s New York office at least three days per week.
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are considered institutional anchor days where all staff are required to be onsite.
• Effective Monday, September 14, 2026, CFR employees will be based on-site at least four days per week.
• CFR’s remote working schedule is subject to change.

About CFR

The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is committed to fostering a foreign policy community in the United States that is more representative of American society, recognizing that diverse backgrounds and perspectives contribute to broader, more informed participation in the foreign policy debate and lead to an enhanced understanding of the world and the United States’ role therein. To that end, CFR is dedicated to continuing to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout its work and workplace by building a more diverse membership and staff, producing and dispensing thoughtful analysis on a broad range of foreign policy issues, and developing relevant, wide-reaching programming that also serves to expand the foreign policy talent pipeline to underrepresented populations.