GENERAL COUNSEL

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:

The General Counsel (GC) serves as CARE USA’s principal legal advisor and strategic leader for global legal, and risk functions. As a member of the Global Leadership Team, the GC provides counsel on complex international operations, governance, and regulatory matters, ensuring CARE’s programs and partnerships advance our mission responsibly, ethically, and in full legal compliance.

The GC oversees legal strategy across CARE’s global portfolio, including program implementation, partnerships, donor agreements, intellectual property, data privacy, employment, supply chain, and humanitarian operations and leads enterprise-wide risk management and compliance systems that safeguard the organization’s reputation and assets.

This is a mission-driven, forward-looking leadership role designed for a legal executive who combines deep technical expertise with strong strategic, ethical, and organizational leadership skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Legal Leadership and Strategy

• Serve as CARE USA’s Chief Legal Advisor, providing strategic counsel to the CEO, CFOO, Board of Directors, and Executive Team.
• Guide organizational decision-making to ensure alignment with CARE’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
• Develop and lead a comprehensive global legal strategy that reflects CARE’s risk appetite and compliance obligations across jurisdictions.
• Provide expert legal guidance on a broad range of issues, including U.S. and international nonprofit law, regulatory compliance, governance, transactions, fundraising, sanctions, and anti-terrorism regulations. • Manage relationships with external legal counsel, including both pro bono and paid advisors, to ensure access to specialized expertise.
• Oversee legal aspects of grants, contracts, sub-awards, MOUs, and global partnerships with governments, donors, peer organizations, and private sector entities.
• Advise on complex cross-border transactions, joint ventures, and mergers or realignments within the CARE Confederation and with external parties as needed.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Lead CARE USA’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and compliance frameworks, ensuring the systematic identification, assessment, and mitigation of organizational risks in alignment with CARE’s risk appetite. • Contribute to crisis and issue management deliberations, providing legal insight and strategic guidance during critical organizational moments.
• Collaborate with global functions including Finance, Operations, Safeguarding, IT, HR, and others, to ensure compliance with legal obligations, donor regulations, and global standards for data protection and privacy (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), as well as anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws.
• Oversee the review, development, and implementation of global policies on key legal topics such as ethics, conflicts of interest, sanctions screening, and whistleblower protection.
• Ensure timely and effective resolution and reporting of compliance issues, reinforcing CARE’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Governance and Board Advisory

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the CARE USA Board of Directors and its committees, ensuring sound governance and legal oversight.
• Act as the key liaison to the Audit and Risk Management Committee, providing strategic legal and risk-related guidance.
• Draft, review, and interpret essential governance documents, including bylaws, resolutions, charters, and board policies.
• Ensure full compliance with U.S. nonprofit governance standards and best practices.
• Oversee adherence to CARE International’s global Confederation governance framework and related agreements.
• Support the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities and provide orientation on emerging legal, regulatory, and risk issues.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and mentor a diverse, geographically distributed legal and risk management team, fostering collaboration and professional growth.
• Strengthen CARE’s organizational legal capacity by developing and delivering training, tools, templates, and guidance tailored to Country Offices and regional teams.
• Promote a culture of ethical decision-making, accountability, and shared ownership of risk across all levels of the organization.

Required Qualifications:

- JD - Doctorate of Jurisprudence from an ASA-accredited law school.
- License to practice law in a duly constituted governmental body of any state or territory of the USA or District of Columbia, and not suspended or disbarred.

Professional Experience

- Minimum of 15 years of legal experience, including at least 7 years in a senior leadership or General Counsel role.
- Deep expertise in the nonprofit, international development, and humanitarian sectors, with a strong understanding of U.S. and global regulatory environments.
- Proven track record in risk management, compliance, and governance within complex, multinational organizations.
- Extensive experience advising on cross-border transactions, strategic partnerships, and implementation of donor- and government-funded programs.
- Solid understanding of public policy and governmental relations, with the ability to navigate evolving legal landscapes.
- Strong familiarity with federal grant regulations (e.g., USAID, State Department, UN agencies) and international legal frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Proficiency in one or more foreign languages.
- Prior experience managing or providing leadership within a legal department.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering training sessions and presentations.
- Experience with international travel and working in cross-cultural environments.