Legal Director

About the Organization

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global organization committed to our mission: to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. Since our founding in 2008, we have awarded over $1.8 billion in grants to more than 850 organizations working to advance climate solutions around the world. We helped grow the field of climate philanthropy to where it stands today, establishing infrastructure, global networks, and momentum for continued growth. Through our Global Programs and Services, we equip philanthropy with global knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.

·       Scaling solutions: Our collaborative Global Programs — focused on solution areas including carbon dioxide removal, cooling, industry, transportation, and more — produce results that are bending the greenhouse gas emissions curve. From the U.S. to Europe, China, Brazil, and beyond, we collaborate with a diverse community of funders, NGOs, and climate leaders to accelerate just and equitable climate solutions.

·       Guiding and supporting funders: Our Global Services provide funders with comprehensive resources to assess, build, evolve, and execute high-impact climate-giving strategies. Our Global Intelligence service equips funders and the climate community with climate insights to pinpoint opportunities for impact and philanthropic insights to help identify investment priorities. We facilitate Global Collaborations that enable funders to increase individual and collective impact. Our Global Grantmaking services enable funders to invest in climate solutions around the world. 

·       Fostering collaboration, exploration, and growth: Our collaborative approach and commitment to learning ensures that we continuously explore innovative ideas and emerging opportunities — all with the aim of scaling philanthropy-supported initiatives to help end the climate crisis.

As experts in climate science, public policy, economic and social analysis, and strategic philanthropy, ClimateWorks’ staff understands the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of climate change. We are researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grantmakers who care passionately about our mission. For more information, please visit www.climateworks.org. 

Job Summary

The Legal Director is responsible for internal legal counsel work and leading on enterprise risk management in a dynamic, collaborative, global, mission-based organization. The position resides within the Finance & Administration team and reports to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Essential Tasks

Provide Legal Advice and Representation

●      Provide strategic legal advice and consultation on compliance, governance, employment, intellectual property, and other legal matters.

●      Provide legal representation to ClimateWorks and support staff by providing counsel on a variety of complex issues. Represent ClimateWorks in interactions with individuals and external organizations.

Lead Risk Management

●      Lead a cross-functional Enterprise Risk Management team responsible for the annual survey of the risk landscape and for supporting teams across the organization in identifying risks and designing risk responses and actions.

●      Track risk and compliance inquiries/issues, recommend solutions, and escalate issues as appropriate.

Manage Relationships with Outside Counsel

●      Build and maintain strong relationships with outside counsel, including general counsel (both domestic and country-specific where applicable), employment counsel, and trademark counsel.

●      Work with outside counsel and cross-functional teams on any crisis communications issues that may arise.

●      Collaborate with outside counsel and leaders of the Human Resources team regarding employment law matters, including internal investigations.

Compliance and Training

●      Keep current on new and emerging laws, policy developments, legal trends, and best practices related to compliance programs, with a focus on those relating to tax-exempt organizations.

●      Assist in developing and delivering training on legal issues, including internal policies and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Assist in updating, creating, and leading new training sessions and offer solutions to help staff achieve desired outcomes.

Support Global Operations

●      Support global grantmaking and other global operational activities.

●      Lead on drafting and revising, as needed, cooperative and shared service agreements with key partners.

●      Review and revise, as needed, template documents, legal policies and procedures, and operational policies, in coordination with policy leads and external counsel.

Required Qualifications

●      Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school, with active bar membership.

●      Minimum of ten years’ legal experience in U.S. corporate and/or contract law.

●      Demonstrable legal analytical skills, business acumen and expertise in the following areas:

○      Compliance and rules applicable to non-profit, charitable organizations in the US and in foreign jurisdictions.

○      Enterprise risk management.

○      Employment law.

●      Experience advising senior management of international organizations.

●      Demonstrated ability to communicate legal concepts and analysis effectively to non-lawyers.

Preferred Qualifications

●      Experience serving as in-house legal counsel for an organization, ideally a non-profit organization.

●      Strong project management skills.

Compensation

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location).

Salary Range (Bay Area / NYC): $200,000 - $220,000 annually

Salary Range (Other US): $180,000 - $200,000 annually

***ClimateWorks strives to create an equitable culture of transparency and fairness.***

Location

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as US Flexible. Exceptional candidates can work from the SF office or from other locations, geographic differential applied to compensation based on local cost of labor.

Commitment to Racial and Social Justice

At ClimateWorks Foundation, we are driven by our vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. We aim to foster an inclusive workplace that values diverse lived experiences and emphasizes the voices of marginalized people — especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — who are most vulnerable to climate impacts, and whose voices, ideas, and leadership are crucial to winning the climate fight.

To ensure that we are making meaningful progress, we have made a set of diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments across all dimensions of our work to further our mission and realize our vision. For more information, please visit: Fostering Racial and Social Justice in Pursuit of our Mission

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at ClimateWorks Foundation and as such we are committed to creating a diverse and multi-cultural work environment. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race), ethnicity, religion, color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment.

ClimateWorks Foundation is committed to complying with all laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities, as well as employees’ religious beliefs and practices. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment. ClimateWorks Foundation will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual and/or employees’ religious beliefs and practices, as required by law.

If you require an accommodation, please notify Human Resources. Once ClimateWorks Foundation is aware of the need for an accommodation, it will engage in an interactive process to identify possible accommodations.

Application Process 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To be considered for this position, interested candidates must submit a resume and cover letter. This position will remain open until filled.

Employment at the ClimateWorks Foundation is at-will.

Benefits

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package:

Healthcare Plans:

Multiple options available through Kaiser & UHC

• HMO - 100% coverage for employee and dependents
• POS - Employee pays difference beyond HMO coverage (3 out of 4 POS options are at 100% coverage for employee and dependents)
• Dental –100% coverage for employee and dependents
• Vision – 100% coverage for employee and dependents

Fertility Benefit

• Fertility care through Carrot Fertility. Access to on-demand doctor-approved content, pregnancy support, and virtual chats with medical, legal, and regulatory experts.

Disability Benefit (long and short-term)

Life Insurance (3x base salary up to $750k for employee only)

PTO

• 20 days (1st year)
• 25 days (2nd - 8th year)
• 30 days (9th year)

Holidays

• 11 Observed and 2 floating

401k Plan

• After 6 months of service, CWF automatically contributes 9% of gross earnings per pay period to retirement fund*
• After 6 months of service, CWF matches 100% of employee contributions up to a max of 6% of gross earnings per pay period*