General Counsel

This position will be hybrid requiring a few days per week in Washington DC office. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission. WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Program:

As the world’s largest economy and the number-one historical emitter, the U.S. carries enormous influence as to whether climate challenges can be successfully addressed. WRI works at the federal, state, local, and corporate levels to develop solutions to the most pressing environmental challenges. We conduct rigorous, peer-reviewed research and convene stakeholders from the public and private sectors to identify practical solutions. The United States needs an all-hands-on-deck approach to addressing the climate crisis. WRI is working to advance climate action on all levels of government and in high-emitting sectors to raise climate ambition through policy and economic recovery legislation. WRI also helps states, cities, corporates and other large buyers accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. WRI focuses on addressing market barriers to clean energy, accelerating the transition to renewable resources and advancing innovative solutions for a low carbon grid.

Job Highlight:

In this role, you will have the exciting opportunity to make an immediate impact at WRI as a member of its Global Executive Team reporting to the President/CEO.

As a leader familiar with international non-profits who understands the role of in-house counsel within a global context and can strike a balance between good customer service and risk mitigation, you will advance WRI’s mission. You will lead with strong ethics to support WRI’s mission and values while building trusted relationships to operate in a complex environment.

What will you do:

Key areas of responsibility include:

Trusted Legal Advisor:

1. As a member of the organization’s global executive team, provide advice and counsel to senior leaders in the organization.
2. Partner with programs leads to provide guidance, legal opinion, and, when necessary, review of issues. Oversee the safety and security function and develop safety-related protocols.
3. In collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer, manage insurance coverages and limits.
4. Partner with the HR team regarding matters related to relevant employment and labor laws and internal investigations.
5. Partner with the Finance team on tax, audit, and other financial matters.

Risk Management:

1. Proactively and creatively evaluate risk factors impacting business decisions, including receipt of donor funding, registering in new countries, entering into contracts with different types of entities, programmatic risk (particularly exposure of industries), and establishing policies and procedures.
2. Anticipate legal issues that could impact the organization.
3. Advise on potential liability and areas of risk for WRI.
4. Oversee intellectual property matters, including copyrights and trademarks, data privacy and security matters.
5. Advise on global employment law issues and people-related risks.

International Operations/Globalization:

1. Advise on the organization’s global operations and expansion, oversee office registration and closing processes, and assess advantages of registration type.
2. Support compliance with all applicable laws and regulations for WRI globally, including its multiple offices and affiliates.

Investigations:

1. Advise on investigations into employee complaints around the globe.
2. Support WRI’s Chief People Officer (CPO) in implementing a safe, equitable and inclusive workplace policy.
3. Serve as a key member of the newly-formed resolution team that ensures allegations of inappropriate conduct are treated consistently across all offices and at all levels of the organization.

Compliance and Ethics:

1. Be knowledgeable about and anticipate legislative and regulatory changes affecting the organization, especially industry-specific issues (e.g., tax-exempt organizations and international non-governmental organizations), employment law, corporate governance, compliance and regulatory affairs.
2. Familiarity with governmental and donor lobbying rules.
3. Advisory support for development and implementation of legal policies and procedures.

Corporate Secretary:

1. Working closely with the Board of Directors and the Chief Financial Officer will staff the Audit and Risk Management Committee.
2. Advise on matters of corporate governance, WRI’s tax-exempt status compliance obligations, and matters of strategic importance to the Board.

Management of External Counsel:

1. Build, coordinate and manage a network of external counsel that can respond to legal issues and regulations impacting WRI’s operations worldwide.
2. Oversee all disputes and litigation, including managing outside counsel representing WRI.

What will you need:

1. Education: Law degree from an ABA accredited law school.
2. Legal Experience: Minimum of 15 years of post-degree legal experience, including experience in a senior in-house counsel role. Legal experience working internationally with a demonstrable track record of handling a wide variety of legal and compliance issues a leading NGO faces in its work around the globe.
3. Eligible to practice law in the District of Columbia or ability to waive in.

Potential Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with cover letter by the date of 1 February 2024. You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

1. Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US.
2. The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
3. A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work.
4. Opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI.
5. Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

About Us: Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Our mission and values: WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.

Our culture: WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment; we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.