JOB DESCRIPTION

Description

Heifer International (“Heifer”) is an equal opportunity employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

About Heifer International

In 1944, Heifer International’s founder, Dan West, began outlining a simple but groundbreaking plan to tackle hunger around the world. West, a farmer from the Midwest and Church of the Brethren member, had recently returned from feeding weary refugees during volunteer service in the Spanish Civil War.
He had seen firsthand that giving people food was a short-term solution, whereas providing them with animals offered a steady supply of nutritious food for an entire family. His philosophy still inspires Heifer’s work today. Partnering with farmers across a range of different livestock and crops, we create unique solutions to local challenges.

Today, Heifer International has operations in 19 countries around the world, working alongside local farmers, business owners and their communities, as they mobilize and envision their futures. Together, we build inclusive, resilient economies, so communities can develop effective ways to end global hunger and poverty in a sustainable way.

To date, we have supported more than 42 million farming families across Africa, Asia and the Americas and in the past five years alone, we have worked alongside 2.7 million families to close the living income gap or set them on a path to doing so. Between now and 2030, we will support an additional 10 million people to reach a living income by scaling up our signature programs. To achieve this, Heifer International relies on its passionate, committed and highly skilled staff.

ROLE FUNCTION

Associate Counsel will provide a full array of legal services needed in an international nonprofit environment (in both English and Spanish) with an emphasis on:
Delivering advice, counsel, and training to Heifer employees on various legal topics
Leading substantive areas of Heifer’s legal work, as assigned
Structuring legal registrations and formations
Drafting and reviewing templates, white papers, grants, contracts, registration documents, formation documents, powers of attorney, and other various legal documents
Review, negotiation and drafting of (a) grants and contracts, and (b) documents related to impact investing, such as loan agreements, promissory notes, etc., and (c) assisting with global employment practices.

Grant & Contract Review (50%)

Review, negotiate, and draft various grants and contracts to be utilized in jurisdictions in which Heifer does business. This includes assisting, advising, and liaising with Heifer Impact Capital.
Independent Contractor Agreements
Grant- and Project-related Agreements
Teaming and Pre-teaming Agreements
Memorandums of Understanding
Confidentiality Agreements
Powers of Attorney
Employment Agreements
License Agreements
Software Agreements
Cooperation Agreements
Endowment Agreements
Professional Services Agreements
Lease Agreements
Charitable Solicitation Agreements
Relationship Agreements
Loan Agreements
Revolving Loan Agreements
Promissory Notes
Novation
Construction Agreements
Termination Letters
Mutual Separation Agreements
Waivers and Releases
Acknowledgments
Agreements regarding Positions of Authority
Agreements addressing Conflicts of Interest
Risk and HR (20%)

Assist and liaise with Heifer’s Risk Management team and Human Resources/People Department (“HR”), as necessary.
Assist in employee investigations
Assist in identifying legal risks to the organization and providing legal strategies to mitigate risk
Provide legal disciplinary advice and recommendations
Monitor whistleblower reports and coordinate in investigation and resolution thereof
Assist in dispute resolution, pre-litigation, and litigation as it relates to employee claims
Assist HR in hiring, promotions, discipline, grievances, disputes, and separations
Coordinate, advise, and assist in necessary layoffs and terminations
Draft and negotiate Mutual Separation agreements across nineteen countries and various U.S. states
Investigate and resolve various labor and employment law-related issues, including distinctions between independent contractors and employees across nineteen countries and various U.S. states
Assist in immigration-related tasks
Review pay, benefits, and tax considerations, across nineteen countries and various U.S. states
Draft and regularly update Employment Agreements across all jurisdictions in which Heifer works
Review and draft policies
Assist in the review and drafting of organization-wide messaging regarding terminations, layoffs, country office closings, etc.
Oversee conflict of interest disclosures and assess the need for intervention
Corporate Governance (15%)

Assist in structuring branch offices and legally separate entities. Provide corporate advice and counsel, concentrating on specific Heifer regions (Americas, Africa, Europe, and/or Asia), as assigned. Supervise other legal assets in connection with certain corporate work, including paralegals and technical writers while liaising with Country Directors, C-Suite Executives, and external legal counsel as necessary.
Corporate advice and counsel
Registrations of branch offices
De-registrations of branch offices
Formation/Organization of affiliates and legally separate entities
Assist in the establishment of relevant governing boards of legally separate entities and affiliates
Dissolution of affiliates
Assist in compliance matters
Maintain global legal framework/graphic
General Legal Operations (10%)

Assist in overseeing and managing legal needs in Heifer’s programs areas (Americas, Africa, Europe, and/or Asia)
Assist in registration and maintenance of intellectual property globally
Provide updates on key legal developments
Assist in dispute resolution, pre-litigation, and litigation of contracts
Monitor local counsel’s efforts on active litigation in Heifer’s program areas
Assist in real estate-related transactions
Assist in state registrations, maintenance, and dispute resolution
Assist in protecting trade secrets
Review internal and external communications
Maintain repository of legal documents
Develop best practices, white papers, and memos on developing legal concerns
Assist in complying with privacy and data protection laws across all jurisdictions in which Heifer does business
Assist in locating, evaluating, engaging, and liaising with international counsel
Assist in tax assessments and disputes
Manage counterterrorism checks and procedures
Review and verify legal invoices from international counsel
Maintain communication with Heifer’s program areas as needed to ensure continued support is given
Assist in creating creative solutions to dynamic legal concerns across all jurisdictions in which Heifer works
May perform other duties as assigned
Organization-Wide Legal training (5%)

Train teams of designated Contract Specialists on grant and contract drafting, review, and negotiation. Provide ongoing advice and counsel to Heifer employees, including Contract Specialists, in matters related to grants and contracts. Supervise other legal assets and resources in connection with grants and contracts review, including paralegals, technical writers, and external legal counsel.
Train, advise, and counsel Contract Specialists, Technical Writers and other staff in matters related to grants and contracts
Create, implement, and conduct other various legal trainings
Maintain and update wide variety of legal templates for use in various jurisdictions in which Heifer works
Assist in Grant compliance in coordination with legal team members
Minimum Requirements:

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.
Three (3) years of job-related experience.
Licensed and in good standing as an attorney in the United States.
Fluency in English and Spanish, particularly in legal matters (this includes speaking, reading, and writing).
Ability to draft, review, negotiate, and manage complex grants and contracts in a dynamic, demanding environment.
Preferred Requirements:

Nonprofit experience highly preferred.
Business-related undergraduate or graduate degree.
General understanding of international law.
Most Critical Proficiencies:

Proficient in writing of all kinds.
Proficient in grant and contract law.
Proficient in structuring and documenting transactions.
Great attention to detail.
Excellent skills in organization, research, and writing.
Strong understanding of laws applicable to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations operating internationally, including but not limited to tax laws and laws related to international grantmaking and anti-terrorism.
Strong understanding of non-profit culture.
Ability to manage administrative matters such as managing calendar, drafting correspondence, and maintaining established electronic filing system.
Essential Job Functions and Physical Demands:

Constant face-to-face, telephonic, and electronic communication with colleagues and attorneys—both in the US and internationally.
Relate to, and communicate professionally and effectively with, a diverse group of individuals from various cultures.
Maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate time zone differences existing in an international organization.
Ability to work in a high-volume environment, perform multiple tasks, and manage consistently competing priorities in a rapidly changing environment.
Work well independently and in teams.
Manage a large number of projects involving numerous parties.
Work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality and discretion.
Produce and present documents in a well-designed and attractive format.
May require constant sitting and moving and working at a computer for extended periods.
Willingness to travel locally and internationally.
Salary Information:
The expected base salary range for this position is 88k to 98k annually. Placement within the range will be based on the experience and competency level of the candidate. Please submit a legal writing sample with your application.

What We Offer:

Heifer International offers a variety of benefits for U.S. based employees working 30 or more hours per week.
Health and wellness benefits including Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Saving Account
Employee assistance program
403(b) retirement plan (match 1% employee to 2% employer up to a maximum of 4% match +3% employer discretionary contribution regardless of employee contribution)
22 vacation days in addition to 12 statutory and discretionary holidays, and 10 sick days per year
Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
Professional development and annual merit increase opportunities
Optional critical illness insurance, legal assistance plan and pet protection
And more!
Heifer International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of disability.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements