Full-Time Associate General Counsel
Job Description
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation (Foundation) is a family foundation that is guided by the enduring business philosophy and personal values of Lucile and David Packard, who helped found one of the world’s leading technology companies. Their approach to business and community participation has guided our philanthropy for 50 years. Today, their children and grandchildren continue to help guide the work of the Foundation. The Foundation makes grants at the local, state, national, and international level and is located in Los Altos, CA.
The Foundation works on the issues their founders cared about most, which are improving the lives of children; enabling the creative pursuit of science; advancing reproductive health; conserving and restoring the earth’s natural systems; and supporting and strengthening an array of local nonprofit organizations.
A staff of 120 conducts the day-to-day operations of the Foundation and a Board of Trustees oversees the work of the Foundation. For 2015, the Foundation expects to make grantmaking awards of over $300 million. David and Lucile Packard passed onto the Foundation the following core set of values: integrity, respect for all people, belief in individual leadership, commitment to effectiveness, and the capacity to think big.
Responsibilities
This is a newly created position for an experienced attorney to work within and contribute to the legal function within a family foundation. We seek a versatile and thoughtful individual who enjoys working with others and developing solutions collaboratively.
The Office of General Counsel oversees all legal work for the Foundation, advises the Board, management, and staff, supports grantmaking and other activities, and ensures compliance with tax laws governing private foundations.
The Associate General Counsel will support the work of the Foundation and assist in advising on grantmaking, governance issues, tax, and limited investment work. This position is responsible for providing legal representation to the Foundation and for supporting staff by providing counsel on a variety of complex issues. The position includes ongoing work as well as short and long term projects such as policy development, creating Board presentations and materials, and research and analysis of tax and grantmaking issues. A requirement for the position is deep knowledge about out how foundations operate and the legal requirements that private foundations must follow.
The position will include the following responsibilities:
• Analyze legal issues that affect the Foundation and its activities at the local, state, federal, and international levels and prepare written analysis with recommendations, conclusions, policy suggestions, and propose implementation plans to meet the Foundation’s standards of integrity and effectiveness while creating staff friendly policies, guidelines, and internal systems
• Advise management and staff on laws applicable to private foundations and provide support on grantmaking and other activities at federal, state, and international levels
• Review complex grantmaking, contract, intellectual property and other issues; troubleshoot issues with staff and assist in finding and implementing effective and legal solutions and monitor as needed
• Assist in developing and delivering training on legal issues
• Represent the Foundation effectively internally and externally, including with outside counsel
• Lead and facilitate Foundation-wide projects and contribute to other teams
• Support and improve the Foundation’s internal processes and systems
• Identify areas and processes for improvement, make recommendations, and implement and communicate changes
• Special projects and other duties, as assigned
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Extensive experience at a major law firm, in-house corporate experience and/or work at a private foundation or large nonprofit is preferred with specific experience advising private foundation clients
• Experience advising governing boards and senior management of complex, international organizations
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to understand complex and nuanced legal concepts and analysis and explain those to non-lawyers to create practical processes, guidance, and training
• Demonstrated working knowledge of laws applicable to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations and laws applicable to private foundations, including in foreign jurisdictions
• Demonstrated expertise in several of the core areas of work listed below:
o Rules applicable to grantmaking to nonprofit, for-profit, and other non 501(c)(3) organizations
o Rules for working with foreign charitable organizations and in foreign jurisdictions
o Intellectual property, content management, and licensing
o Contract review and contract management, with experience in international contract issues
o Program-related investments and mission investments
o Tax reporting requirements, including the 990-PF and required attachments
o Employment law
• Demonstrated excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Presentation and training skills
• Impeccable integrity and excellent judgment as reflected in a professional record of successfully and independently providing counsel to clients
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate information needed by others as projects and situations develop; manage multiple demands, and organize time and resources effectively
• Excellent project and team management experience, including the ability to work collaboratively and build positive relationships across the Foundation
• Strong teamwork and client-service skills; experience exercising influence and managing change while having an open and inclusive tone with others; solution-oriented and able to incorporate user feedback as needed
• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to work through challenging complex situations
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Interacts well with all in a courteous, culturally sensitive, and tactful manner
• Administratively self-sufficient with demonstrated skill with Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and SharePoint
Physical Requirements
Candidate must have the ability to communicate via voice telephone, read and understand written communication, and generate written communication manually and using a computer. Candidate must also be able to work at a desk for long periods of time (2-3 hours), lift and move documents and supplies (not to exceed 25 lbs.), and bend to file or retrieve documents.
Education and Experience
J.D. from an accredited institution and a minimum of 8 years of related work experience. Admission to the California bar is preferred, or eligibility to sit for the California bar exam.
Benefits and Compensation
The Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a salary that is commensurate with relevant education and work experience. The position is full-time, exempt, and located in Los Altos, CA.