General Counsel

Omidyar Network · San Francisco, CA · 1 wk ago

Legal$375k–$469k/yrFull-time

About the role

We are seeking a leading legal voice to help shape the future of technology and society. As General Counsel, you will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team, providing legal and strategic counsel on both programmatic and operational decisions. You will lead a talented internal legal team and manage a network of specialized outside counsel, serving as a trusted advisor to our executive team as well as our Board.

Responsibilities

Serve as the organization’s authority on nonprofit, tax, and philanthropic law, including IRS 501(c)(3) compliance, foundation governance, and the legal dimensions of grant-making and impact opportunities
Advise on legally innovative structures to maximize mission impact — including cross-border grantmaking, fiscal sponsorships, and collaborative funding mechanisms
Provide guidance on new for-profit investments and engage on the management of our legacy for-profit portfolio, stewarded by our Head of Finance
Represent ON externally as a member of our Senior Leadership team – including philanthropic legal networks as well as mission aligned convenings and fora
Act as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors, overseeing all governance matters and ensuring alignment with bylaws, policies, and applicable regulations
Advisory on navigation of politically complex and rapidly evolving environments
Manage the organization’s multi-entity structure, including international entities, in close collaboration with finance and operations
Ensure ongoing compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including IRS regulations governing tax-exempt organizations, LDA, FARA, UBIT, OFAC sanctions and screening requirements, as well as global data privacy laws such as GDPR
Ensure compliance with conflict-of-interest policies
Lead comprehensive risk assessments across grantmaking, investments, operations, and staff engagement — and translate findings into practical mitigation strategies
Monitor and analyze the evolving legal, regulatory, and political landscapes to safeguard the organization’s mission and reputation and assist with organizational crisis response planning, contingency planning, and reputational risk management
Partner closely with functional leaders across the organization to provide timely, accessible, and actionable legal guidance
Support continuous improvement and innovation in our investment, grants, and contracts management processes, developing best-in-class templates and toolkits that reflect both legal compliance and operational excellence
Develop and maintain templates, toolkits, and training programs that empower staff on topics ranging from grant-making and advocacy to investing and compliance
Oversee outside counsel relationships and budgets for specialized legal needs, ensuring value, efficiency, and mission alignment

Requirements

J.D. degree and license to practice law in the applicable jurisdiction

15+ years of legal practice, including significant in-house experience at a private foundation and/or large law firm

Deep expertise in U.S. nonprofit and foundation tax law, preferably including experience in a grant-making context

Experience advising on early- to growth-stage venture capital equity or fund investments (desirable)

Experience working in global settings on cross-border deals and grants (desirable)

Excellent people management and mentorship skills, with a demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams with an empowered, entrepreneurial culture

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues for non-legal audiences

A collaborative, team-first orientation — comfortable working across functions and with external partners

An autonomous self-starter who exercises sound independent judgment and drives effective resolution of legal issues

Ability to interpret and analyze complex data and information

Flexibility and adaptability suited to a dynamic, fast-moving organization

Experience building strategic alliances (desirable)

Demonstrated ability to turn complex legal advice into practical processes and guidance materials

A genuine commitment to ON’s mission and the ability to counsel staff on how to achieve organizational goals— accounting for legal risk while keeping impact at the center

Qualifications

Experience working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment

Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Experience with legal research and analysis

Experience with contract drafting and negotiation

Experience with regulatory compliance and risk management

Experience with international law and cross-border transactions

Experience with data privacy and cybersecurity

Experience with grant-making and foundation governance

Experience with corporate governance and board-level matters

Experience with financial reporting and budgeting

Experience with intellectual property and trademark law

Experience with employment law and labor relations

Experience with environmental and social responsibility

Experience with public policy and advocacy

Experience with technology and emerging trends

Experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion

Experience with crisis management and organizational resilience

Experience with strategic planning and long-term visioning

Experience with stakeholder engagement and community outreach

Experience with fundraising and donor relations

Experience with legal ethics and professional conduct

Experience with legal technology and automation