Associate General Counsel

Overview

We are looking for an Associate General Counsel to support legal work across grantmaking, investments, contracts, corporate governance, and operations at the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The role is hybrid and based in Chicago, Illinois. The annual salary will start at $174,800, with a total compensation package that includes base salary, benefits, and other incentives.

Responsibilities

• Grantmaking: serve as primary counsel to multiple grantmaking teams, advise on grant structures, legal due diligence, and compliance with private foundation tax rules; review and draft grant agreements and documentation.
• Investments & impact investments: review, draft and negotiate documentation for the Foundation’s investment portfolio, advise on PRI and MRI transactions from term sheet through closing and ongoing compliance.
• Contracts: draft, review and negotiate consulting, technology, data privacy, licensing, real property, vendor agreements and other broad types of contracts.
• Legal systems and operations: contribute to development of templates, policies and playbooks to support consistency and risk management; participate in cross‑functional working groups and support knowledge‑management infrastructure.
• Corporate governance & affiliate matters: assist with Board and Committee materials, minutes, resolutions, consents; serve as counsel or officer to affiliated entities as assigned; support regulatory filings.
• Staff training and legal education: design and deliver legal training and translate complex legal analysis into clear guidance for non‑lawyer audiences.
• External engagement: represent the Foundation at conferences, professional committees and peer networks; bring emerging legal developments back to the team.
• Strategic legal leadership: develop consistent legal frameworks and department‑wide practices; advise on complex legal and risk questions where precedent may be limited.

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor from an accredited institution with a record of strong academic and professional achievement.
• Current admission to the Illinois State Bar, or eligibility for immediate admission to the Illinois Bar for in‑house counsel.
• Minimum five years of experience as a practicing lawyer in a firm, organization or government.

Preferred

• Prior in‑house experience, ideally with a not‑for‑profit organization.
• Knowledge of private foundation tax law, nonprofit governance, and/or philanthropic sector regulation.
• Experience with investment and/or impact investment deals, including equity and debt structures.
• Familiarity with international grantmaking compliance, cross‑border contracting, and OFAC/ATF requirements.
• Experience advising on data privacy, technology agreements, and/or AI governance matters.
• Experience negotiating and drafting contracts, legal memoranda, investment documents and other agreements.
• Experience designing legal systems, templates, and cross‑functional processes.

Competencies

• Manage a broad range of multiple projects, clients and issues simultaneously.
• Respond timely to multiple requests with differing priorities and react to new ideas and changing strategies.
• Think strategically, be solution oriented and exercise independent judgment while aligning with department colleagues.
• Write and speak clearly and concisely, summarize complex information and identify, assess and resolve legal and business problems.
• Balance risk management with innovation in a fast‑moving legal environment.
• Build and maintain positive, collaborative relationships internally; find consensus among diverse perspectives.
• Demonstrate high integrity, discretion and professional judgment.

Benefits & Compensation

The role offers an annual salary starting at $174,800, along with a generous base compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that emphasizes health, well‑being and life support.

Work Environment & Reasonable Accommodations

The position is hybrid and based in Chicago, Illinois. The work environment is an office setting. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job and during the interview process.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.