Vice President of Legal Affairs and Compliance

Job Description

Job Description

General Purpose of the Job:

The Vice President of Legal Affairs and Compliance is a senior executive leader responsible for overseeing all legal, regulatory, and risk management functions, combining nonprofit governance with expertise in government contracts, Medicaid, and healthcare law across Children’s Rescue Fund. This senior leadership role serves as a key advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership ensuring the organization operates with the highest standards of compliance, governance, and legal integrity,, while negotiating contracts, managing risk, and handling complex regulatory issues. The incumbent will be singularly [direct hands-on] responsible for all legal matters for the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Enterprise Legal Strategy & Risk Oversight

• Lead the organization’s legal and compliance strategy across all programs and sites
• Identify, assess, and mitigate enterprise-wide risks (operational, regulatory, reputational)
• Advise executive leadership on high-impact decisions, including expansion, partnerships, and crisis response

• Establish a proactive legal framework that supports growth while minimizing exposure

Regulatory & Compliance Leadership

• Ensure full compliance with NYC DHS, NYS OTDA, HUD, OMH, and all applicable oversight entities
• Oversee agency-wide compliance infrastructure, including audits, inspections, and corrective action plans
• Standardize compliance practices across shelters and supportive housing programs
• Build systems that shift compliance from reactive → predictive and performance-driven

• Government liaison: Acts as the primary contact with government regulators and external agencies. Advises on proposed legislation and regulations related to human and social services.

• Contract management: Draft, review, and negotiate agreements with government entities, vendors, and partners. Work in collaboration with compliance with all contract terms.

Contracts, Funding & Strategic Partnerships

• Provide executive oversight of:
  • Government contracts (DHS, city/state funding streams)
  • Vendor and service agreements
  • Strategic partnerships and MOUs
• Support negotiation of high-value, high-risk agreements
• Ensure legal alignment with CRF’s financial and operational goals

Legal Operations & External Counsel Management

• Oversee all legal matters including litigation, claims, investigations, and disputes
• Manage and direct outside legal counsel to ensure cost-effective and strategic representation
• Establish internal legal protocols and documentation standards
• Provide executive oversight of contract lifecycle management

Labor & Employment Law Leadership

• Oversee legal strategy related to workforce management across all sites
• Advise on complex employee relations, investigations, and risk exposure
• Partner with HR leadership to ensure compliant, equitable, and consistent practices
• Mitigate risk related to union, labor law, and workplace claims

Governance & Board Engagement

• Serve as legal advisor to the Board of Directors and Board Committees
• Ensure adherence to bylaws, governance policies, and fiduciary responsibilities
• Lead development and review of governance frameworks and policies
• Support board-level decision-making on risk, compliance, and strategic initiatives

Leadership & Organizational Impact

• Build and lead the Legal/Compliance function (team, structure, priorities)
• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical practice
• Train leadership and program teams on legal and compliance standards
• Serve as a visible executive presence across the organization

Departmental Leadership

• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with other departments, such as finance, human resources, and program teams, to ensure all operations are legally sound.
• Staff training: Develop and deliver legal and compliance training to staff on relevant topics, such as regulatory changes, data privacy (HIPAA), and risk management.

Position Parameters [other measurable factors]:

• Decision-making responsibilities:
  • Provides strategic legal advice to leadership and the board, evaluating risks and weighing multiple factors in complex legal matters, and ensuring all organizational decisions align with legal requirements, ethical standards, and the nonprofit's mission and values.
  • Guide the organization through potential disputes and litigation, requiring a combination of legal expertise, strategic thinking, and strong judgment to balance risks and opportunities.
• Problem solving responsibility:
  • Anticipates issues, evaluating risks, developing proactive solutions, balancing competing priorities, and creatively applying legal expertise to advance the organization's mission and strategic goals.
  • Evaluates multiple inputs and potential impacts of decisions or courses of action to make well-reasoned recommendations that consider core values, risk, and organizational impact.
  • Demonstrates the ability to balance competing needs, negotiates with various internal and external stakeholders, and facilitates complex legal and organizational challenges.
• Working relationships and contacts:
  • Provides strategic legal guidance on organizational priorities, risk management, partnerships, and long-term planning.
  • Advises on corporate governance, oversees compliance with nonprofit laws and regulations (like 501(c)(3) status) and helps with strategic planning efforts.
  • Helps departments understand their legal obligations, reviews services for regulatory compliance, and provide advice on various legal matters affecting their operations.
  • Collaborates on employment law matters, including policies, employee relations, disciplinary actions, and compliance with labor laws.
  • Offers legal advice on investment management, investment policy compliance, and the legal aspects of financial and fundraising activities.
  • Manages relationships with outside legal counsel, negotiates contracts, and handles disputes and litigation on behalf of the organization.
  • Communicates effectively with diverse groups, including community partners, volunteers, and government bodies, to advocate for the organization's interests.
• Impact/importance of function:
  • The Legal Counsel is crucial for mitigating risk, navigating regulations, managing legal budgets, and fostering a culture of compliance and ethical behavior, making them a vital part of the executive leadership team.
  • Protects the nonprofit from legal challenges, financial penalties, and reputational damage by proactively addressing compliance issues and legal risks.
  • Acts as a key member of the executive team, providing strategic legal insights that support the organization's long-term objectives and growth.
  • Manages legal expenditures effectively and helps the nonprofit make informed decisions about legal and business strategies.
  • Fosters a strong ethical culture by developing and enforcing policies that promote integrity and accountability.

Position Requirements and Minimum Qualifications:

• Licenses, certifications, degrees, and job-related knowledge:
  1. A Bachelor’s degree in law, political science, business administration or other related field from an accredited college or university.
  2. Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and a member in good standing with the State Bar of New York with an active license.
  3. Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a senior management legal counsel role.
  4. Experience in 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit law.
  5. Service as Legal Counsel of an NGO [Non-Governmental Organization] is strongly preferred.
  6. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in a start-up non-profit environment.
  7. Expertise in labor and employment law, regulatory compliance, risk management, litigation, and strategic planning.
  8. Significant legal experience, including nonprofit governance, government contracting (particularly with social services agencies – DHS, HUD), and healthcare law, with familiarity with Medicaid.
• Job-related skills, including language, mathematical, and reasoning (analytical) skills:
  1. Exceptional communication, negotiation, and analytical skills. The ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and effectively explain complex legal issues to both legal and non-legal audiences.
• Intellectual, creative, and/or communication abilities:
  1. High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
  2. Stays current with evolving nonprofit laws and regulations, ensuring the organization adheres to all applicable statutes.
  3. Full comprehension of the influences of the external environment on the organization.
  4. Ability to anticipate legal issues or risks and propose effective solutions.
  5. Ability to think and act calmly in emergency situations.
  6. Ability to work with a team.
  7. Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
  8. Strong organizational skills with ability to manage tasks efficiently.
  9. Excellent time management skills with ability to prioritize assignments.
  10. Excellent analytical, evaluative, and human service management skills.
  11. Excellent written and oral communication, organizational, supervisory, and leadership skills.
  12. Must have incredible initiative, the ability to work well under pressure, and the ability to be flexible and work both independently and as part of a team to complete complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
  13. Must be adept and comfortable with crisis management.
  14. Ability to work effectively with a wide range of community-based providers.
  15. Knowledge of community health services, social service support agencies and networks.
  16. Familiarity with DHS and OTDA social service documentation policies and procedures.
  17. Critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills as well as resourcefulness.
  18. High level of computer proficiency in Word, Excel, and the ability to learn new technologies and databases.
• Other Requirements [including physical demands]:
  1. Contributes to the overall success of the organization by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor or designee, and being able to pivot with ever-changing priorities and newly added job-related responsibilities that arise based on business changes, needs, and demands.
  2. May be required to work long hours and a varied schedule.
  3. Travelling throughout various locations in the New York City area, or domestic, for meetings, events, or site visits will be required.
  4. Lifting and moving objects weighing up to 30 pounds several times a week.
  5. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EEO Statement – Children’s Rescue Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination without regard to race, color, religion, sex [including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation], national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, veteran/military status, or any other non-merit based factors and other characteristic protected by law.

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