Senior Assistant General Counsel, Impact Investments

About Us Social Finance is a national nonprofit and registered investment adviser (SF Advisors, LLC). We work with the public, private, and social sectors to create partnerships and investments that measurably improve lives. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized over $500 million in new investments designed to help people and communities realize improved outcomes in workforce and economic mobility, health, and housing. We are driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and the conviction that we can create the most meaningful and measurable change in our communities when governments and markets work together. Our organization is built upon five core values: people, performance, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion. Our work spans four areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. Our Impact-first Investment team designs, launches, and manages investments that provide solutions for effectively deploying impact capital across a range of social outcomes. Our Workforce and Education Investments team designs, launches and manages financial solutions focused on addressing workforce challenges, including skills acquisition and training access. Our Advisory team partners with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven programs for advancing social impact. And through the Social Finance Institute, we aim to build the field and change systems through actionable research, communities of practice, and educational outreach. Application review will begin on June 8, 2026, and continue on a rolling basis. The Opportunity We are seeking an experienced Senior Assistant General Counsel to join our five-person legal team, reporting to the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Social Finance does highly innovative work that is often without legal precedent; as a result, the legal work requires more creativity and project team collaboration than most in-house roles. The legal team prides itself on being strategic partners and friendly collaborators to teams across the organization. Social Finance operates across fund structures, regulatory frameworks, government partnerships, and transactional work simultaneously. Our legal team covers all of it. This is a broad, hands-on role for a lawyer who excels in a dynamic environment, manages complexity with ease, and demonstrates the initiative and judgment to advance work independently. You will work across both legal and compliance functions. The role includes at least some corporate generalist components, but top candidates will have a foundation in fund formation or management, transactional work and financial regulation. The successful candidate will bring not only rigor and attention to detail but also the creativity and flexibility to navigate ambiguity and help design practical solutions. Depending on experience, this role may oversee one or more attorneys and/or paralegals. Key Responsibilities Your largest responsibilities will depend on your unique background and strengths, however the scope of responsibilities include: Advise deal teams from initial structuring to drafting and negotiation of final financing and outcome-contingent agreements; oversee external counsel in discussion and negotiation with project stakeholders (within private, nonprofit and public sectors); contribute to deal document negotiations. Serve as thought leader to deal teams throughout entire deal lifecycle, including on key contract terms and best practices for achieving impact via contracting Collaborate with internal and external counsel to develop credit facility agreements, asset purchase agreements, and ancillary financial agreements Draft and execute entity formation agreements for impact investment special purpose vehicles which may include trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies or other corporate forms Advise on investment fund development, structuring and legal implementation; oversee drafting and negotiation of fund documentation with key stakeholders. Collaborate with internal and external counsel to develop private placement memoranda and support finance structuring Support capital raises; lead investor agreement drafting and negotiation Conduct legal due diligence on prospective investments, develop and draft investment agreements Advise, support or or oversee corporate governance and entity management for nonprofit parent and 20+ subsidiaries and affiliates, including board and committee support, preparation of board materials, maintenance of corporate records, data security and organizational policies, insurance coverage, annual reports, tax and regulatory filings, and preservation of tax-exempt status Support management of the organization’s RIA compliance program and build a culture of compliance across the organization, including policies and procedures, annual testing, Form ADV updates, marketing review, training, vendor oversight, and regulatory filings Contribute to a positive culture by maintaining relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, understanding stakeholder needs, and remaining accessible and responsive to those needs; maintain and improve compliance and governance processes, designing systems that are efficient, reliable, and audit-ready Collaborate with other members of the Legal team on fund and investment work, with opportunities for selective exposure and growth Other Organizational Matters In addition to impact investing transactional work, and corporate and compliance management, the Senior Assistant General Counsel will work with the Legal team to help oversee any other legal matters which may arise, with special emphasis on risk management and compliance more generally for governing Social Finance, its affiliates and subsidiaries. The Senior Assistant General Counsel will also be an active participant in the growth and development of a quickly evolving organization and will have opportunities to participate in and lead broad, non-legal organizational priorities and community activities. Qualifications We are looking for an entrepreneurial lawyer who has the flexibility and aptitude to take on additional duties as organizational priorities evolve. Candidate must have: J.D.; license to practice law in a U.S. jurisdiction Minimum of 8 years relevant experience with more strongly preferred; title and salary will be commensurate with experience While this requisition is largely calibrated at the Senior Assistant General Counsel level, we may level differently, including at Assistant General Counsel, depending on a candidate’s experience and growth trajectory Relevant experience working at a major law firm or equivalent in-house experience ideally with some mix of (i) meaningful exposure to fund structures and governance, (ii) corporate transactional work including capital markets, investment funds, project finance, securities, structured finance, private equity, or public finance law, or (iii) investment adviser or regulatory compliance Comfort quickly getting up to speed in unfamiliar areas of law. No prior knowledge or experience with nonprofit law, nonprofit governance or managing regulatory compliance program is required (though we would consider this experience a strong plus). This role is a great match if you have: Excellent communication skills; ability to translate new, complex, or unclear concepts to unfamiliar and non-legal audiences. You are comfortable comparing and communicating the likelihood of different risks. You flag and quantify risks rather than prohibit them, and communicate clearly about the degree of uncertainty and where that uncertainty stems from Strong interpersonal skills; including an ability to identify, build and maintain relationships within the Legal team and across our organization more broadly Commitment to excellence and accuracy, with an ability to manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously, constructively express contrary points of view and seek consensus among strong, independent thinkers Demonstrated interest and knowledge of key issues in effective nonprofit management, social interventions, and/or impact investing (e.g., academic coursework, consulting projects, volunteer work, etc.) Comfort operating in gray areas and contributing creative, practical solutions in a fast-moving environment Capacity to work in an independent and solutions-oriented way while contributing to team projects, as appropriate Sense of humor, integrity and flexibility to regularly incorporate the feedback of others into work processes Commitment to enhancing a team culture of inclusion, belonging and equity. Benefits At Social Finance, we strive to deliver a benefits program that will enhance our overall value proposition to employees. Our current benefit offerings include: Comprehensive health care coverage: medical, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; access to Blue Cross Blue Shield Wellness Program “AHealthyMe Rewards” and more Retirement savings plan with employer contribution Short-term, long-term and life insurance policies Commuter benefits and cell phone reimbursements Hybrid work model (in office a minimum of two days per week and on an ad-hoc basis as needed) Dedicated budgets for team building and employee recognition Annual budget for external professional development opportunities Mentorship and onboarding programs Collaborative and energizing workspaces in downtown Boston, MA; San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX; Washington, D.C. and New York, NY Paid vacation and paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year) Paid parental leave A truly stellar team of high performing, values-driven and fun (!) professionals Salary This role utilizes a level-based lockstep entry band compensation model for purposes of equity and transparency - we strive for everyone coming in at a given level to be paid equitably. For this position, the starting base salary is $165,000-195,000. Depending on experience; during the interview process, we will take into account a candidate's full work experience and may adjust the job title, and commensurate starting salary band, as appropriate. At this level, employees typically receive a $5,000 salary increase annually and are eligible to participate in our firmwide annual bonus program. Bonuses are typically between 5-10%, though bonuses are not guaranteed and are dependent on both organizational and individual performance. Note: No cover letter required. Review of applications will begin immediately. No phone calls, please. Applicants must be permanently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Please note that, at this time, to be in-person at a Social Finance office, client location or Social Finance-sponsored event, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including receiving a booster shot. Social Finance, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, military status, status as a protected veteran, genetic information or any other legally protected status. Social Finance is committed to providing an accessible and supportive work environment to ensure individuals are able to contribute at their best. We will discuss and provide reasonable accommodations to those in the recruiting process who need them. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. 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