General Director, Legal, Compliance & Risk

Location: New York, NY, USA

About Pure Earth

Pure Earth is a global leader in improving public health and development outcomes by reducing exposure to lead and other toxic pollutants. We work closely with governments to embed evidence-based, sustainable solutions into public systems at the national scale. By translating data into action and pairing technical expertise with local partnerships, Pure Earth designs and delivers practical interventions that reduce pollution and poisoning risks, strengthen public response systems, and support long-term health and economic progress.

About the Role

Pure Earth seeks an experienced Director of Legal, Compliance & Risk, ideally an attorney, to manage legal, compliance, and risk management functions for the organization. This role reports to the Vice President, Operations, and will work closely with the C-Suite, Department and Country leadership, as well as the Board and the Audit & Risk Committee to ensure the organization maintains full legal compliance across all of its entities, effectively manages organizational risks, and protects its intellectual property and organizational interests. This individual will coordinate and collaborate with team members across the organization, focusing on providing strategic legal guidance, and ensuring compliance and operational excellence. The role balances strategic advisory with operational execution, supporting both framework development and day-to-day legal and compliance needs. Applicants should have experience setting up and improving organization-wide initiatives, introducing and rolling out changes and improvements in a variety of operational functions.

Responsibilities

• Compliance & Legal Governance
  • Responsible for full life cycle of legal entity management, from set up of legal operations in new countries through scheduled wind down or closing inactive entities.
  • Ensure Pure Earth maintains full compliance with all legal obligations, bylaws, and regulatory requirements across all of its entities (HQ and overseas).
  • Conduct comprehensive compliance assessments to identify gaps and areas of concern.
  • Review and update organizational policies and procedures to maintain compliance with evolving regulations.
  • Manage legal entities and corporate documentation for all Pure Earth entities.
• Risk Assessment & Management
  • Conduct risk assessments to identify potential legal, compliance, and operational risks.
  • Lead legal aspects of incident investigations and manage required regulatory notifications.
  • Partner with leadership to identify and prioritize organizational risks.
  • Support development of a practical, fit-for-purpose risk management approach.
  • Serve as legal lead during crisis events, coordinating with insurers, brokers, outside counsel, and support mitigation planning.
  • Manage the organization’s global and country relevant insurance portfolios, including D&O, general liability, cyber, workers compensation, and program specific coverage.
  • Lead annual policy renewals, broker relationships and claims management.
• Contract & Intellectual Property Management
  • Responsible for end-to-end contract lifecycle including drafting, review, execution, renewal, and close out for HQ and Overseas offices and ensure consistency across organization.
  • Oversee corporate engagement policy and ensure appropriate legal documentation of partnerships and agreements.
  • Manage all trademark registrations and monitor trademark protection (8-year renewal cycle and ongoing management set to renew in 2033).
  • Maintain and manage the organization contract repository in collaboration with Finance and Grants Management.
  • Drive continuous improvement of contract management systems, templates, and workflows.
• Training & Advisory Support
  • Develop and conduct training programs on legal and compliance matters for staff and leadership.
  • Provide legal guidance on employment-related matters in partnership with the HR function.
  • Advise executives and staff on legal implications of business decisions and strategic initiatives.
  • Collaborate with HR, Finance, and Program teams to implement compliance initiatives.
• Audit & Quality Assurance
  • Conduct legal audits to assess compliance with policies, procedures, and legal requirements, including privacy and data management.
  • Issue recommendations based on audit findings, oversee their implementation, and track remediation efforts.
  • Ensure proper procedures are followed across legal and risk management functions.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree or equivalent legal qualification.
• 8-12+ years (global/multi-entity required) of legal and/or risk management experience in a corporate, non-profit, or in-house counsel setting.
• Relevant international experience.
• Strong knowledge of compliance, regulatory, and risk management principles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and change management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
• Proficiency with legal research tools, contract management, and standard MS365 office applications (including SharePoint, MS Teams, MS Planner).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the international non-profit or NGO sector.
• Familiarity with environmental or sustainability-related regulations.
• Experience managing international legal and compliance matters.
• Knowledge of intellectual property management procedures.
• Experience developing training programs and conducting workplace trainings.

Skills

• Analytical & Strategic Thinking: Ability to identify complex legal issues and develop strategic solutions.
• Attention to Detail: Precision in legal documents, contracts, and compliance matters.
• Communication: Clear articulation of legal concepts to non-legal audiences.
• Organization & Project Management: Ability to manage multiple audits, reviews, and initiatives simultaneously.
• Risk Awareness: Proactive identification and mitigation of potential organizational risks.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with executive leadership and across departments.
• Professional Integrity: Commitment to ethical conduct and confidentiality.

Work Environment & Expectations

This position reports to the Vice President, Operations, but will also work closely with the C-Suite and the Board and the Audit & Risk Committee. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with executive leadership and have exposure to all aspects of Pure Earth's business. Full-time. Hybrid work model. Employees are expected to work in the NYC office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with the option of working remotely on other weekdays. Occasional weekends, late nights, or early mornings to accommodate global time zones with overseas teams may be required. Occasional travel may be expected.

Pay

This role is classified as an L5 position. The salary for this position ranges from $97,000 - $170,000. Additional compensation may be considered for highly qualified candidates.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Paid holidays.
• Paid sick time.
• Paid parental leave.
• 401(k) plan participation.
• Life and disability insurance.