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General Counsel
Organization Description:
Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has served as the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, collaborating with the Presidio Trust, partners, donors, and the community to support the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The GGNRA stretches across three Bay Area counties north and south of the Golden Gate Bridge and includes iconic places such as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Lands End, and the Presidio of San Francisco.
The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park sites, local communities, social justice, and climate resilience. Collaborating with partners, our staff are dedicated to enhancing public awareness and providing volunteer and educational opportunities in the parks. We are park builders, caretakers, ambassadors, and educators, all working to connect people to parks in support of our vision Parks for All Forever. Join us.
Branch/Department Description and Position Overview:
Operations has recently been centralized into its own “Branch” of the organization. Our Operations team supports the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and its approximately 300 employees across different work sites (office, home-based, field, warehouse, retail, etc.) throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
As a key member of the Operations team, the General Counsel provides legal counsel services and support in a broad variety of areas across the Parks Conservancy and as designated and assigned by the Chief Operations Officer and Chief Executive Officer: including, but not limited to: (a) 501(c)3 compliance and Board governance (b) federal, state and local, statutory and regulatory interpretation, analysis and guidance; (c) real property leasing and general contracting transactions; (d) administrative law and rule-making and inter-agency partnership agreements; (e) tort claims and litigation; (f) ethics and labor & employment law; (g) environmental compliance and historic preservation; and (h) other miscellaneous legal, policy and administrative matters.
Reports To: Chief Operations Officer
General Counsel Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Provide legal and risk management advice and judgment on a wide range of legal matters related to Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy operations, including but not limited to contract, intellectual property, employment, and tax. Provide counsel regarding compliance with requirements specific to 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
- Work with Parks Conservancy’s staff to develop and negotiate partner agreements with National Park Service (NPS) and Presidio Trust, Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, and other partners, fostering collaborative relationships and ensuring alignment with the organization's mission, vision, values and strategic direction.
- Review and negotiate purchase and sales and service agreements to ensure the organization's legal interests are protected during transactions.
- Work with staff to develop and establish a contracts and agreement database to summarize the terms and conditions of all current and future contracts, providing a central repository and contract templates for easy reference and ensuring compliance and accountability.
- Work with the Executive Management Team to develop a streamlined contracting policy and process that coordinates contracting stakeholders; conduct internal training to help designated staff develop contract review and negotiating skills.
- Advise the Board of Trustees with regards to internal governance policies and bylaws.
- Oversee the handling of intellectual property matters, including trademarks and copyrights, to protect the organization's assets and interests.
- Draft and review Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) to protect the organization's confidential information when engaging with partners, vendors, and other parties.
- Oversee real property leasing and general contracting transactions, reviewing and drafting legal documents as necessary.
- Manage and coordinate third-party counsel when needed for specialized legal needs, overseeing their work, and ensuring it aligns with the organization's goals.
- Manage General Counsel department budget.
- Develop consistency in General Counsel philosophy, processes, and practices.
- Provide legal counsel and guidance on local, state, federal statutory and regulatory matters, interpreting and analyzing relevant laws and regulations.
- Provide legal guidance in administrative law and rule-making processes, ensuring compliance with government regulations and policies.
- Manage tort claims and litigation, representing the organization in legal proceedings, and providing guidance on potential liability issues, sometimes in close coordination with counsel that may be provided by various business partners such as insurance providers. Review all settlement documents and associated documentation for protection of the Parks Conservancy’s interests.
- Provide legal oversight and support in land use, environmental compliance, and compliance with historic preservation, making sure the organization adheres to applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
- Keep current on new and emerging laws, policy developments, and best practices related to compliance programs, with a focus on those relating to tax-exempt organizations.
The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list. The scope of the job may change as necessitated by business/operational demands.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The successful candidate must have the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. These requirements are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform this job:
- Ability to practice discretion and maintain confidentiality.
- Commitment to, and an understanding of, concepts of equity, justice, and inclusion in the workplace and a demonstrated ability to effectively work and collaborate across differences; ability to identify and intervene in problematic dynamics across identity.
- Knowledge and understanding of the ways implicit bias, personal identity, and power and privilege impact individuals, organizations, systems, policies, and structures.
- Ability to operate in ambiguity and rapid change and to identify creative solutions to obstacles.
- Ability to earn influence without authority and naturally seek to support both small projects and large strategic goals.
- Aware of group identities and how they shape life and experiences at work.
- Engaged in building relationships with individuals’ organization-wide through active and empathetic communication of listening, responding, understanding. Model a collegial and involved managerial style with a high level of internal awareness.
- Skilled in customizing communication strategies for optimal understanding in large gatherings, small teams, and individual scenarios. Capable of evaluating and implementing alternative documentation approaches to ensure clarity and accessibility for diverse audiences.
- Strong legal and research skills, including proficiency in nonprofit law, are highly valued. Experience collaborating with federal partners and navigating complex legal frameworks is essential for success in this unique position, where a deep understanding of both nonprofit law and federal regulations is desired.
- Familiarity or willingness to learn legal substantive areas as applied to 501(c)(3) organizations, including governance, contract, employment, and other day-to-day matters to the extent not already conversant.
- Demonstrated strong planning skills, including the ability to anticipate tasks, set priorities, meet deadlines, and function smoothly under concise deadlines and shifting priorities.
- Curiosity, creativity, and initiative with a willingness to accept and take on new challenges.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with staff, Board, donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
- Computer proficient with a comprehensive working knowledge of MS Word and MS Excel.
Education and/or Experience:
Required Qualifications
- Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
- Admission to the Bar of the State of California (preferred), or to the bar of another state and willingness to obtain registered in-house counsel status in California.
Desired Qualifications
- Prior legal or in-house or general counsel experience with non-profit organization(s).
- At least three (3) years of experience in non-profit law and seven (7) years total of legal or regulatory experience in one or more of the following areas of law: non-profit, transactional, contract, real estate, construction, land use, labor & employment, environmental, administrative, or federal or state public law
- Familiarity with rules, regulations and funding instruments of government or public sector agencies, especially federal agencies.
- Ability to work independently with limited supervision, acute attention to detail.
Health and Safety:
It is the goal of the Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. We work to mitigate hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, consistent with state and federal laws. Employees play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and are expected to comply with all applicable health and safety rules.
Based on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Parks Conservancy requires all employees to be vaccinated and to provide proof of such vaccination as a condition of employment.
Physical Requirements and Work Environments:
These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job:
- This position is located at the Parks Conservancy’s headquarters in Fort Mason, San Francisco. Work is performed in an office setting; including a mix of telework and on-site. This position requires at least 3 days per week onsite, either in office or visiting park sites to meet the essential requirements of the position.
- Work is primarily performed sitting and standing.
- Regularly sits or stands at a desk 6-8 hours per day.
- Walking
- Reaching
- Ability to travel to work locations across the San Francisco Bay Area, including Alcatraz, Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge, Lands End, Crissy Field, Presidio, and other outdoor worksites.
Compensation and Benefits:
The salary is $160,000 to $175,000 (Grade 24). Please note that we will be unable to make offers above this range. Benefits include a competitive suite of medical, dental, and vision plans, up to 3 weeks’ paid vacation, one week of personal days, plus holiday and sick days, 403(b) retirement plan, Employer-match Commuter Program, Employee Assistance Program, Employee discounts and more.
Start Date: Spring of 2024
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement, and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
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