Senior Legal Counsel

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel

Reports to: Chief Legal Officer

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Senior Legal Counsel will support the Chief Legal Officer and play a crucial role in providing legal advice and support across all aspects of the ministry's worldwide operations. This includes advising on risk, compliance, contracts, intellectual property, and employment law.

ESSENTIAL TO THE POSITION

Must have received Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior and be in full agreement with the Bible Study Fellowship Statement of Faith, Human Sexuality Policy, Core Values and Cultural Commitments.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of legal practices, particularly in a nonprofit or religious context, and will be dedicated to upholding the ministry's Christian values and mission.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advise the ministry on a wide range of legal matters, including contracts, risk, compliance, employment, privacy, data management and intellectual property.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents to protect the ministry's interests.
• Provide legal support and guidance to various departments within the ministry, including ministry development, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Conduct legal research and provide analysis on relevant legal issues and changes in the law.
• Maintain BSF’s privacy policy and terms of use.
• Assist in insurance claims and in the procurement of insurance.
• Assist in the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and risk mitigation.
• Liaison with outside counsel as directed by the Chief Legal Officer.
• Represent the ministry in legal proceedings and negotiations, as needed and as directed by the Chief Legal Officer.
• Support the Chief Legal Officer and other team members to address legal challenges and provide strategic legal advice.
• Monitor and track deadlines, ensuring timely and effective completion of legal tasks.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel and other third parties, as necessary.
• Stay current on legal trends and best practices, particularly those affecting religious organizations and nonprofits.
• Support the ministry's mission and values in all legal work and decision-making.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Legal Officer.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Legal Expertise : The Senior Legal Counsel must have a strong foundation in various areas of law relevant to the organization's operations. This includes corporate law, contract law, employment law, intellectual property law, regulatory compliance, and possibly others depending on the industry.
• Risk Management : Adept at identifying legal risks and developing strategies to mitigate them. This involves foreseeing potential legal issues that could arise from business activities and implementing policies and procedures to minimize legal exposure.
• Business Acumen : Understanding the company's business model, industry dynamics, and strategic objectives is crucial for providing effective legal counsel. Aligns legal advice with the organization's overall goals and contribute to decision-making processes from a legal perspective.
• Communication Skills : Effective communication is essential to convey complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively to various stakeholders, including executives, employees, and external partners. They must also be skilled at negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Ethical Leadership : Upholding the highest ethical standards is paramount. They should serve as a role model for ethical behavior within the organization and ensure that legal advice and actions are in compliance with applicable laws and ethical guidelines. This may involve promoting a culture of integrity and ethical decision-making throughout the company.

SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS, & EXPERIENCE

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed above satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must hold a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and must be active and in good standing with at least one state bar; additional admissions to other state bars may be preferred based on jurisdictional requirements. Minimum of 5 years of legal experience, preference will be given to candidates with experience in nonprofit or religious law.

A comprehensive understanding of legal principles and practices, particularly in areas such as contracts, employment law, and compliance, is essential. Must demonstrate excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills, coupled with outstanding written and verbal communication abilities. Attention to detail is crucial, along with the capacity to manage multiple tasks and priorities efficiently. The ability to work independently while also fostering collaboration within a team environment is important. Familiarity with Christian principles and values is desired, as well as a willingness to align with the faith-based mission and values of the ministry.

Employees may be required to travel as necessary including outside their country. Employees will be required to attend in person employee events as scheduled by BSF. Employees must fulfill the performance standards of this position and comply with policies, guidelines and procedures of BSF, including those set out in the Employee Handbook or otherwise communicated (verbally or in writing) to employees.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Modular office environment
• Sitting for long periods of time
• Possible eyestrain from looking at computer screen for long periods of time

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This position is full-time located in Dallas, TX
• All applicants, regardless of location, must be able to work during the hours of 8-5pm, CST, Monday through Friday
• BSF offers major medical, dental and life insurance as well as a generous vacation policy.