Description
Heifer International (โHeiferโ) is an equal opportunity employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. About Heifer International In 1944, Heifer Internationalโs founder, Dan West, began outlining a simple but groundbreaking plan to tackle hunger around the world. West, a farmer from the Midwest and Church of the Brethren member, had recently returned from feeding weary refugees during volunteer service in the Spanish Civil War. He had seen firsthand that giving people food was a short-term solution, whereas providing them with animals offered a steady supply of nutritious food for an entire family. His philosophy still inspires Heiferโs work today. Partnering with farmers across a range of different livestock and crops, we create unique solutions to local challenges. Today, Heifer International has operations in 19 countries around the world, working alongside local farmers, business owners and their communities, as they mobilize and envision their futures. Together, we build inclusive, resilient economies, so communities can develop effective ways to end global hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. To date, we have supported more than 42 million farming families across Africa, Asia and the Americas and in the past five years alone, we have worked alongside 2.7 million families to close the living income gap or set them on a path to doing so. Between now and 2030, we will support an additional 10 million people to reach a living income by scaling up our signature programs. To achieve this, Heifer International relies on its passionate, committed and highly skilled staff. ROLE FUNCTION
Associate Counsel will provide a full array of legal services needed in an international nonprofit environment (in both English and Spanish) with an emphasis on: Delivering advice, counsel, and training to Heifer employees on various legal topics Leading substantive areas of Heiferโs legal work, as assigned Structuring legal registrations and formations Drafting and reviewing templates, white papers, grants, contracts, registration documents, formation documents, powers of attorney, and other various legal documents Review, negotiation and drafting of (a) grants and contracts, and (b) documents related to impact investing, such as loan agreements, promissory notes, etc., and (c) assisting with global employment practices. Grant & Contract Review (50%)
Review, negotiate, and draft various grants and contracts to be utilized in jurisdictions in which Heifer does business. This includes assisting, advising, and liaising with Heifer Impact Capital. Independent Contractor Agreements Grant- and Project-related Agreements Teaming and Pre-teaming Agreements Memorandums of Understanding Confidentiality Agreements Powers of Attorney Employment Agreements License Agreements Software Agreements Cooperation Agreements Endowment Agreements Professional Services Agreements Lease Agreements Charitable Solicitation Agreements Relationship Agreements Loan Agreements Revolving Loan Agreements Promissory Notes Novation Construction Agreements Termination Letters Mutual Separation Agreements Waivers and Releases Acknowledgments Agreements regarding Positions of Authority Agreements addressing Conflicts of Interest Risk and HR (20%)
Assist and liaise with Heiferโs Risk Management team and Human Resources/People Department (โHRโ), as necessary. Assist in employee investigations Assist in identifying legal risks to the organization and providing legal strategies to mitigate risk Provide legal disciplinary advice and recommendations Monitor whistleblower reports and coordinate in investigation and resolution thereof Assist in dispute resolution, pre-litigation, and litigation as it relates to employee claims Assist HR in hiring, promotions, discipline, grievances, disputes, and separations Coordinate, advise, and assist in necessary layoffs and terminations Draft and negotiate Mutual Separation agreements across nineteen countries and various U.S. states Investigate and resolve various labor and employment law-related issues, including distinctions between independent contractors and employees across nineteen countries and various U.S. states Assist in immigration-related tasks Review pay, benefits, and tax considerations, across nineteen countries and various U.S. states Draft and regularly update Employment Agreements across all jurisdictions in which Heifer works Review and draft policies Assist in the review and drafting of organization-wide messaging regarding terminations, layoffs, country office closings, etc. Oversee conflict of interest disclosures and assess the need for intervention Corporate Governance (15%)
Assist in structuring branch offices and legally separate entities. Provide corporate advice and counsel, concentrating on specific Heifer regions (Americas, Africa, Europe, and/or Asia), as assigned. Supervise other legal assets in connection with certain corporate work, including paralegals and technical writers while liaising with Country Directors, C-Suite Executives, and external legal counsel as necessary. Corporate advice and counsel Registrations of branch offices De-registrations of branch offices Formation/Organization of affiliates and legally separate entities Assist in the establishment of relevant governing boards of legally separate entities and affiliates Dissolution of affiliates Assist in compliance matters Maintain global legal framework/graphic General Legal Operations (10%)
Assist in overseeing and managing legal needs in Heiferโs programs areas (Americas, Africa, Europe, and/or Asia) Assist in registration and maintenance of intellectual property globally Provide updates on key legal developments Assist in dispute resolution, pre-litigation, and litigation of contracts Monitor local counselโs efforts on active litigation in Heiferโs program areas Assist in real estate-related transactions Assist in state registrations, maintenance, and dispute resolution Assist in protecting trade secrets Review internal and external communications Maintain repository of legal documents Develop best practices, white papers, and memos on developing legal concerns Assist in complying with privacy and data protection laws across all jurisdictions in which Heifer does business Assist in locating, evaluating, engaging, and liaising with international counsel Assist in tax assessments and disputes Manage counterterrorism checks and procedures Review and verify legal invoices from international counsel Maintain communication with Heiferโs program areas as needed to ensure continued support is given Assist in creating creative solutions to dynamic legal concerns across all jurisdictions in which Heifer works May perform other duties as assigned Organization-Wide Legal training (5%)
Train teams of designated Contract Specialists on grant and contract drafting, review, and negotiation. Provide ongoing advice and counsel to Heifer employees, including Contract Specialists, in matters related to grants and contracts. Supervise other legal assets and resources in connection with grants and contracts review, including paralegals, technical writers, and external legal counsel. Train, advise, and counsel Contract Specialists, Technical Writers and other staff in matters related to grants and contracts Create, implement, and conduct other various legal trainings Maintain and update wide variety of legal templates for use in various jurisdictions in which Heifer works Assist in Grant compliance in coordination with legal team members Minimum Requirements:
Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school. Three (3) years of job-related experience. Licensed and in good standing as an attorney in the United States. Fluency in English and Spanish, particularly in legal matters (this includes speaking, reading, and writing). Ability to draft, review, negotiate, and manage complex grants and contracts in a dynamic, demanding environment. Preferred Requirements:
Nonprofit experience highly preferred. Business-related undergraduate or graduate degree. General understanding of international law. Most Critical Proficiencies:
Proficient in writing of all kinds. Proficient in grant and contract law. Proficient in structuring and documenting transactions. Great attention to detail. Excellent skills in organization, research, and writing. Strong understanding of laws applicable to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations operating internationally, including but not limited to tax laws and laws related to international grantmaking and anti-terrorism. Strong understanding of non-profit culture. Ability to manage administrative matters such as managing calendar, drafting correspondence, and maintaining established electronic filing system. Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:
Constant face-to-face, telephonic, and electronic communication with colleagues and attorneysโboth in the US and internationally. Relate to, and communicate professionally and effectively with, a diverse group of individuals from various cultures. Maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate time zone differences existing in an international organization. Ability to work in a high-volume environment, perform multiple tasks, and manage consistently competing priorities in a rapidly changing environment. Work well independently and in teams. Manage a large number of projects involving numerous parties. Work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality and discretion. Produce and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format. May require constant sitting and moving and working at a computer for extended periods. Willingness to travel locally and internationally. Salary Information: The expected base salary range for this position is 88k to 98k annually. Placement within the range will be based on the experience and competency level of the candidate. Please submit a legal writing sample with your application. What We Offer:
Heifer International offers a variety of benefits for U.S. based employees working 30 or more hours per week. Health and wellness benefits including Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Saving Account Employee assistance program 403(b) retirement plan (match 1% employee to 2% employer up to a maximum of 4% match +3% employer discretionary contribution regardless of employee contribution) 22 vacation days in addition to 12 statutory and discretionary holidays, and 10 sick days per year Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) Professional development and annual merit increase opportunities Optional critical illness insurance, legal assistance plan and pet protection And more! Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of disability.
