Senior Legal Counsel

The Global Fund for a New Economy

Senior Legal Counsel
Introduction
The Global Fund for a New Economy (GFNE) seeks a Senior Legal Counsel who will be the primary legal advisor to the organization, providing strategic guidance on governance, compliance, and risk management as the organization transitions to independence. This role will support leadership, programs, and operations on legal matters, including international regulatory frameworks, nonprofit governance (501(c)(3) & 501(c)(4)), contract negotiations, and global safety and security issues.

About the Global Fund for a New Economy (GFNE)

Founded in 2024, the Global Fund for a New Economy (GFNE) is dedicated to building an economic system that benefits all people, protects our planet, and strengthens democracy. GFNE partners with leaders, changemakers, and innovative organizations to provide the strategic funding, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to drive this transformation.

As a remote-first organization, GFNE is committed to building a global team rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We value a wide range of perspectives and strive to foster a collaborative, inclusive workplace culture that aligns with our mission. Our work spans partnerships with think tanks, community organizations, academic institutions, labor unions, and advocacy groups, building a global movement for a sustainable and democratic economy.

With founding support from the Hewlett Foundation, Open Society Foundations, the Ford Foundation, and the Omidyar Network, GFNE is prioritizing efforts in ten countries: Brazil, India, the United States, South Africa, Kenya, Germany, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Mexico, and Indonesia. Our current focus areas include exploring the economic opportunities and challenges of the green transition and addressing the impact of AI and emerging technologies. Specifically, GFNE will invest in field building, mobilize resources for the ecosystem, and support partner organizations through catalytic grants and strategic and operational support. 

We invite those who share our commitment to a sustainable, inclusive, and equitable economy to join us in this transformative work.

About the role 

The Senior Legal Counsel will serve as the primary legal advisor for GFNE, providing strategic legal guidance to the senior leadership team, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks, and monitoring and mitigating legal risk across all aspects of the organization. This role will oversee legal risk management, governance, contract negotiation, and compliance as GFNE transitions from fiscal sponsorship to an independent entity.

The Senior Legal Counsel will work closely with program leads, people, finance, and operations teams to provide legal support on key strategic initiatives, international operations, and regulatory matters. They will also play a central role in advising on global safety and security issues, nonprofit tax law and governance (including 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) considerations), international employment law, and evolving legislative and regulatory frameworks impacting GFNE’s mission while supporting globally distributed teams and partners in the Global North and Global South.

Responsibilities

The work will entail a range of activities, including:

Legal Strategy and Risk Management

• Develop and execute a legal strategy that aligns with organizational goals and long-term mission.

• Advise on potential liability, anticipate legal risks, and ensure compliance across jurisdictions.

• Partner with program leads to provide guidance and legal opinion.

• Proactively assess and mitigate legal risks related to governance, contracts, employment, and partnerships.

2. Compliance and Governance

• Oversee compliance with U.S. 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) regulations, as well as international nonprofit governance requirements.

• Advise on organizational structure, including assessing the advantages of different registration types for GFNE’s global footprint.

• Support GFNE’s transition from fiscal sponsorship to an independent entity, advising leadership on governance structures and legal considerations.

• Assist in designing operational policies that align with GFNE’s long-term strategic objectives and funding model.

• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting tax-exempt organizations and international NGOs, ensuring GFNE remains compliant with evolving legal frameworks.

• Partner with the operations team to advise on safety and security across GFNE’s globally distributed workforce.

3. Contract Management and Negotiation

• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, MoUs, and agreements with funders, partners, vendors, and consultants.

• Track contract terms and conditions and ensure GFNE meets contractual expectations.

• Lead negotiations with outside parties on contractual issues and legal disputes.

• Assess, analyze, and summarize complex legal documents, making recommendations for necessary revisions or risk mitigation strategies.

• Participate and support due diligence exercises for incoming and outgoing grants

4. Employment and HR Legal Guidance

• Provide legal oversight for global employment practices, working with our People and Culture team to ensure compliance with labor laws in various jurisdictions.

• Guide international hiring, remote work policies, and employee classification to minimize legal risk.

Person specification

The Senior Legal Counsel will be a well-established leader in the field. They will have:

Legal Expertise

• Juris Doctor degree or equivalent, and a member of the Washington DC, New York, Massachusetts, or California bar.
• Minimum of 10 years of post-degree legal experience, including senior in-house counsel roles.
• Subject matter expertise in nonprofit law, business contracts, employment law (domestic and international), and global office presence.
• Experience working internationally, with a track record of handling legal matters related to corporate governance, data privacy, anti-corruption, compliance, and nonprofit operations.
• Strong familiarity with U.S. 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) regulations, nonprofit governance, and global compliance frameworks.
• Experienced in engaging with executive leadership, boards, external counsel, and regulatory agencies.

Leadership and Problem Solving

• A self-starter, agile, and proactive, with experience working in either a start-up or growth-oriented organizational context highly preferable.
• A natural leader with the ability to build trust and relationships across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Strong listening skills and a collaborative approach to problem-solving, working across all levels of the organization.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to assess complex legal issues and propose innovative, practical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and navigate legal ambiguity in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

• Client-first mentality with a focus on delivering high-quality, actionable legal advice in a timely manner.
• Ability to anticipate the organization’s legal needs and proactively provide guidance that enables strategic decision-making.
• Strong written and verbal communicator, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, accessible language for non-legal audiences.

• High level of cultural competency to operate in a Global North and Global South environment, with experience interacting with international governments, legal systems, and diverse stakeholders.

Compensation and terms & conditions

Location: Remote, but travel is expected to meet colleagues from the Fund, partners, and allied organizations. 

US work authorization is required if this position should be based in the US.

Working hours: Full-time. Some flexibility will be necessary to ensure effective working with a global team. 

Compensation for this role will be competitive relative to the market in which candidates are based. The Fund is currently determining benefits packages. The details of these will be discussed with candidates in due course. 

How to apply

If you wish to be considered for this appointment, please send a CV and cover letter outlining your interest in and relevance to the role.  

The deadline for applications is  28^th Mar 2025. 

The Global Fund for a New Economy is committed to building a diverse team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration, irrespective of racial or ethnic background, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health, or disabilities. We positively encourage applications from those from under-represented or marginalized groups.