General Counsel

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian organization that delivers impartial medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care in over 70 countries.

We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s common mission.

Organization

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian organization that delivers impartial medical care to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care in over 70 countries. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF USA’s strategic goals.

Department

The Executive Department heads the office Management Team and works in conjunction with the Board of Directors to guarantee the overall functioning of MSF-USA and our involvement in the larger MSF movement.

Project

The inaugural General Counsel (GC) is a critical senior leadership position reporting to the Executive Director of MSF USA. Serving as a key strategic partner to the senior management team and as the owner of all legal relationships, the inaugural GC will be responsible for building out the legal counsel role within the organization and the definition of priorities of the role.

Key Job Areas

Key areas of importance:

1. Evaluation of current legal relationships including pro bono engagement and relationships with internal MSF legal entities, development of engagement SOP’s and managing the transition to/from current legal providers. GC will be the clearinghouse for all legal matters and the arbiter of what will be handled internally and what must be brought externally.
2. Establishing a role as a key consultative leader in risk management and internal controls including topical areas of data privacy and information security, reputational risks, complex human resources challenges including in international settings, lobbying and FARA activities, and contract management.
3. Actively participate in management and governance activities including general Board of Directors meetings, the Administrative Committee, the Audit and Risk Committee, the Human Resources Policy group, and the Management Team.
4. Lead internal audit and compliance review (with staff support).
5. Receive and manage (with staff support) whistleblower and behavioral complaints.
6. Build and maintain a central repository of compliance, risk management and legal decisions taken.

Key Competencies

The ideal candidate will have the ability to shape strategy at both departmental and organizational level in line with the MSF USA strategic plan. The candidate will be an active participant in general management, an excellent communicator and will have the ability to provide timely and accurate advice (or to seek out and apply the required input) for broad areas of expertise. The candidate will be able to build trust across the organization as well as to articulate hard limits with applicable law.

Required Experience

• Previous experience in a nonprofit as a general counsel and/or in legal practice in one or more of the areas of data privacy and information security, employment law, lobbying and FARA, risk management, insurances.

• Genuine interest in and commitment to the humanitarian principles of MSF.

• Excellent communication skills in English (written and oral).

Desirable Qualifications

• Previous experience in an international humanitarian organization.

• Demonstrated knowledge of and sensitivity towards international humanitarian aid realities.

• Specialized training in one or more of the following: data privacy and information security, employment law in NY, CA, and/or DC, organizational risk management, lobbying and FARA

• Demonstrated record of accomplishment of effectively leading, accompanying and/or implementing organizational change management efforts.

Travel and work environment

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally occasionally (less than 4 weeks per year).

Please note that relocation assistance and visa sponsorship may be offered for this position.

No phone calls or emails please. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Application Deadline: Open until filled (applications assessed on a rolling basis)

Expected to work in a hybrid work environment with the ability to come into either the New York City, NY office (hub) or spokes (Washington, DC or Bay Area, California) a minimum of 2 times a week.

MSF-USA/Doctors Without Borders is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No employee, or applicant for employment, shall be discriminated against in any term or condition of employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law. We are constantly striving to make our organization anti-racist. Diversity, equity and inclusion are core values. As an employee, you become part of that mission. We expect this same commitment from our staff.

Type

HQ

Pay Class & Contract Type

Regular FT Salaried Exempt

Compensation

Starting salary 180's to moderate 190's (commensurate with experience)

Working Time (Hours Per Week)

35