Senior Director, Legal

Summary

Join U.S. Energy Foundation as their new Senior Director, Legal! This newly created role leads legal strategies for both the 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations. You will provide crucial internal legal counsel and lead enterprise risk management, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. The position requires significant experience in nonprofit, corporate, and government law, strong analytical and communication skills, and a commitment to DEI. Based in a remote-first environment, this role offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities to make a significant impact on the clean energy sector. The position reports to the Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school, with active bar membership
• Admitted to practice in California or Washington, D.C., or the ability to use reciprocity to gain admission
• Significant legal experience in U.S. corporate, nonprofit, government, and contract law
• Demonstrable legal analytical skills, business acumen, and expertise in compliance and rules applicable to nonprofit, charitable organizations in the U.S. and/or political advocacy organizations
• Experience working with and advising senior management
• Solutions-oriented, collaborative leader who is committed to working effectively in a diverse, dynamic, and complex environment with a combination of national and regional staff and partners
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to present legal concepts and analysis effectively to the Management Team, the Board, funding partners, employees, allies, and other non-lawyers
• A demonstrated commitment to advancing the principles of DEI in a complex legal environment
• Strong business partner with a commitment to providing excellent service working effectively across all levels of the organization
• Collaborative, humble, and team-oriented work style
• Ability to travel three to four times a year for three to four business days at a time

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice and representation on compliance, governance, employment, and other legal matters consistent with EF and EAF’s missions and goals
• Ensure compliance with 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) regulatory requirements, including public education, lobbying activities, and political advocacy
• Lead the enterprise risk advisory team, a cross-functional team dedicated to evaluating the risk landscape, identifying risks, and designing risk responses and actions
• Lead or partner with relevant staff in developing and delivering policies, training, and compliance strategies on legal compliance and risk management in partnership with key vendors
• Oversee the work of legal consultants focused on organizational governance and regulatory compliance around 501(c)(3) rules, lobbying, and political advocacy
• Advise EF/EAF functional leads on legal risk matters within their purview—including real estate, employment, benefits, reporting, and corporate communications—to assist in interpreting the legal advice of external legal consultants and support decision-making on organization-wide impacts

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Disability
• Retirement benefits
• Paid time off
• Remote work