Job Title: General Counsel of General Administration
Department: Sierra Club Legal Department
Location: Remote
Reports to: Chief Legal Officer
Supervises: 2 or more direct reports
Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with two labor unions representing more than half of our employees.
Scope: The General Counsel of General Administration provides strategic and operational leadership in governance, regulatory compliance, and legal advisory services across Sierra Club’s 501(c)(3) funded, 501(c)(4), Voter Education, and Electoral programs. This role ensures the organization’s adherence to applicable federal, state, and local laws, while proactively managing regulatory risks and maintaining accountability through robust policies, systems, and training.
Reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer, the General Counsel of Administration and Compliance is a trusted legal advisor to senior leadership, programs, and volunteer leaders. The role includes oversight of all compliance operations, risk mitigation strategies, and decision-making on organizational approvals for high-stakes activities. It also encompasses managing contracts, advising on governance issues, and supervising compliance staff and outside counsel.
This position partners closely with the Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior leaders to ensure compliance and risk management align with Sierra Club’s mission and values, while supporting the design and implementation of new programs that meet evolving regulatory requirements.
\n- Serve as the principal legal advisor to Sierra Club senior leadership, providing strategic counsel on regulatory compliance, governance, and legal services across Sierra Club’s 501(c)(3) funded, 501(c)(4), Voter Education, and Electoral programs.
- Direct and oversee all compliance operations, including developing and enforcing policies, procedures, and controls to ensure compliance with IRS, FEC, and state election regulations.
- Provide broad legal support to programs, campaigns, and Sierra Club entities on regulatory compliance and governance issues, including drafting and negotiating contracts, providing strategy support, and offering risk management guidance.
- Advise on organizational governance, focusing on policy development, compliance and decision-making on high-risk governance matters.
- Lead compliance efforts related to regulatory reporting, including campaign finance, lobbying, and voter education activities.
- Ensure compliance with the Cost Sharing agreement with The Sierra Club Foundation and evaluate policies periodically for continued effectiveness.
- Oversee the program compliance training function, including developing materials and facilitating training for staff and volunteers.
- Supervise compliance staff, including hiring, performance reviews, and professional development.
- Manage relationships with outside counsel and provide oversight for external legal matters related to compliance and regulatory issues.
- Monitor and adapt to regulatory and policy changes, ensuring that Sierra Club programs and activities remain compliant and aligned with new requirements.
- Collaborate with finance and operations teams to ensure effective administration and reporting for restricted funds and compliance-related activities.
- Act as a member of the Office of General Counsel leadership team, providing guidance on team priorities, structure, and activities.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
- A J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school and admission in good standing with the State bar of relevant jurisdiction where located and practicing law.
- At least 15 years of relevant legal and/or regulatory compliance experience with a 501(c) organization or similar in-house (including non-profit) experience.
- Advanced knowledge of IRS regulations and tax laws regarding 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) funds administration and generally accepted accounting principles.
- Strong knowledge of FEC regulations and reporting requirements.
- Demonstrated expertise in preparing campaign finance reports or similar.
- 8+ years’ experience in a managerial role which includes staff management, establishing policy, and policy enforcement.
- Proven ability to manage high-stakes compliance matters, including litigation, governance, and decision-making at the organizational level.
- Demonstrated skill and effectiveness in preparing training and instructional materials and in delivering training programs.
- Effective, clear communicator and creative problem-solver with the ability to connect with people and distill complex subjects. Demonstrated experience providing thoughtful and practical legal advice and business counsel.
- Demonstrated innovation, facilitation, communication, and decision-making skills in the context of a highly decentralized organization.
- Sound judgment and strong legal writing and oral advocacy skills and abilities.
- Significant experience providing thoughtful and practical legal advice and counsel in or to a complex advocacy organization.
- Exceptional strategic thinking and demonstrated success in planning and implementing new strategies and being a thought partner across an organization.
- Experience leading high-performing and multigenerational teams across multiple group identities.
- Experience managing challenging group dynamics in ways that build credibility, trust, collaboration, respect for individual differences, and equitable outcomes across all levels of an organization.
- An understanding and commitment to the Sierra Club’s core values of Anti-racism, Balance, Collaboration, Justice and Transformation.
- A passion and commitment to the Sierra Club mission.
To Apply
The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.
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