Vice President, General Counsel

Overview About Us

Here for animals since 1868, the San Francisco SPCA is a cherished San Francisco institution, known for compassion, excellence and innovation in the fields of animal welfare and veterinary medicine. We operate a public veterinary hospital, a high-quality, high-volume spay-neuter clinic, a community veterinary clinic, and provide low-cost community medicine programs. The SF SPCA saves the lives of homeless dogs and cats through our shelter medicine and adoption programs. Our innovative programs and services serve as models for humane organizations across the country and around the world. As a community-supported nonprofit, not affiliated with any national organization, our values : Be Generous, Fearless, and Connected guide over 350 talented and dedicated professionals to deliver on our promises each day. Iconic and innovative, the SF SPCA offers you the opportunity to join a team committed not only to veterinary excellence and animal welfare, but to a balanced and rewarding work environment.

Role Description

The Vice President, General Counsel (herein GC) is primarily responsible for risk management, contracts compliance, litigation, and corporate governance, assuring that the Society operates within all applicable laws, and assists the Development Department in safeguarding the Society's charitable beneficiary interests. This role will also serve as the corporate Secretary and liaise with third-party external counsel in the domains of employment law and immigration.

Responsibilities

Oversee and complete trust and estates matters in which the Society is a charitable beneficiary.

Negotiate, draft, review and manage contracts and other legal documents.

Serve as Corporate Secretary and perform corporate governance, ensuring all bylaws are updated and followed.

Act as the Society's registered agent and address public complaints that are legal in nature and support any litigation in the representation for the organization.

Liaise and consult with external legal partners on advice regarding lobbying and political activity, animal advocacy law, employment law, immigration law and any other aspect of the law in which the external firm is providing primary counsel.

Protect the Society's intellectual property and work in partnership with internal stakeholders in our Clinical Programs, as well as Finance, IT, and Human Resources, to ensure our IP is controlled.

Keep abreast of legal and industry changes that may affect the Society.

Oversee compliance with relevant federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and ensuring adherence to industry standards and best practices.

Risk Assessment and Management : conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential legal and operational risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.

Policy Development and Implementation : regularly review and implement organizational policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and best practices across all departments.

Facilitate dispute resolution processes, including mediation, arbitration, or litigation, when necessary, to resolve conflicts and protect the organization's interests.

Develop and work with Senior Leadership to support and implement crisis management plans to address emergencies, legal challenges, or reputational risks effectively.

Consistently practice ethical leadership within the organization, promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability in all legal and governance matters.

Qualifications

Law degree from accredited law school, plus at least 3 years of law firm or in-house experience in transactional law; working knowledge of nonprofit law, animal law, and / or estate and trust administration a plus.

California Bar admission in good standing.

Ability to take a measured approach between conservative legal compliance and appropriate risk.

Strong commitment to the mission and values of connection, generosity, and fearlessness.

Results-oriented professional with unwavering commitment to integrity.

Positive attitude and ability to work collaboratively with predominantly non-legal professionals in a team-oriented work environment.

Excellent judgment and ability to tailor advice to circumstances at hand.

Diplomatic interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with multiple audiences – always with professionalism, directness, and compassion.

Excellent organizational, prioritization, research, and writing skills.

Strong working knowledge of Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

This is a hybrid position with a minimum of 3 days per week onsite in San Francisco.

Salary & Benefits

The starting salary for this position depends on the depth and breadth of experience. The expected range is $182,000 – $205,000. Regular, full-time positions are eligible for a benefits package including :

Paid Time Off and Holiday pay

Medical, Dental & Vision insurance

Life Insurance

Long-term Disability Insurance

401k Retirement Plan and contribution matching

Student debt relief program

Pre-tax Commuter Benefits

Discounts on retail and pet supplies

Discounts on veterinary care at our SF SPCA Veterinary Hospital and Clinic

The SF SPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This job description reflects the assignment of essential functions and does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. The San Francisco SPCA is an at-will employer and may conduct pre-employment background checks and drug screening depending on the role.

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