Assistant General Counsel

Position Overview

Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel is responsible for a range of legal services at The Rockefeller Foundation and RF Catalytic Capital Inc. (RFCC), including working with the Legal team on grants and other program-related legal work, and overall corporate legal and compliance matters.

Pay Range: $140,000 - $210,900. This represents the present low and high end of the Foundation’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to experience.

Work Schedule: This role is on a hybrid work schedule, and required to be in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Reviewing (and in appropriate cases negotiating and structuring) grants and other program-related work for compliance with regulations governing the Foundation and RFCC as tax-exempt entities
• Reviewing (and in appropriate cases negotiating and structuring) contracts entered into by the Foundation and RFCC and their amendments and extensions
• Under the guidance of the Deputy General Counsel, partnering with internal Foundation teams to provide strategic counsel on risk, structuring, and documentation in order to advance work in line with the Foundation’s mission
• Supporting the development and utilization of Foundation policies, processes, and systems to ensure work is in line with best practices, efficient, and compliant
• Supporting the development of and providing training for staff on a range of compliance issues related to grants, contracts, conflicts of interest, and best practices
• Conducting legal due diligence on vendors, grantees, donors, and external partners
• Managing outside counsel relationships and directing legal work to outside counsel
• Coordinating with regional offices, local counsel, and other professional service providers on local issues affecting regional offices and RFCC projects
• Providing other legal services and working on special projects as requested by the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and Associate General Counsels

Education, Experience, and Skills

• Four to seven years of law practice, some of it preferably with or for tax-exempt organizations
• Law degree 
• Admission in good standing to the Bar in New York State
• Experience with one or more of the following is strongly preferred: tax rules applicable to private foundations and public charities; international compliance; and/or contract negotiation

Qualifications and Competencies

• Balances Stakeholders: Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders
• Cultivates Innovation: Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful
• Develops Talent: Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals
• Manages Complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems
• Values Differences: Recognizes the value of different perspectives and commits to inclusion, equity, and diversity in every aspect of work

About The Rockefeller Foundation

The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at http://rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.

The Rockefeller Foundation offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes health insurance programs, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment, a generous 401K, parental leave, and various forms of paid time off, all to help our employees feel energized, cared for, and engaged.

As an organization, we focus on six values to advance our culture and continue our success. We are dedicated to being Transparent, Optimistic, Accountable, Collaborative, Trusted, and Equitable. We operate from a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything that we do. It is not only the right thing to do – we could not make an impact without the diverse perspectives and experiences of our team members. We expect all employees at the Foundation to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices. 

The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, liability for service in the United States Armed Forces, or any other protected status. 

The Rockefeller Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.