General Counsel & Sr. Director Risk Management

The Bowery Mission is a Christian, faith-based organization committed since the 1870s to serving people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and poverty. The Bowery Mission meets essential needs and creates transformative communities with men, women, children, and families in New York so that we can together overcome homelessness and poverty and flourish. 

As a key member of The Bowery Mission's Senior Leadership, the General Counsel serves as the Senior Director of Risk Management. The General Counsel is the primary point of contact for all legal and risk-related matters at The Bowery Mission and acts as a strategic thought partner to the ELT and the Board. The General Counsel exercises discretion and confidentiality, thinks critically, and supports all efforts in service of the organization. The General Counsel assesses and identifies potential risks affecting the organization's reputation, safety, security, and financial viability, develops an overall risk management strategy, and implements policies, processes, procedures, and controls to ensure the organization is fully prepared to address potential liabilities. In doing so, the General Counsel provides guidance and counsel on all planned and conceptual strategic initiatives and collaborates with each function on any new initiatives or changes to organizational policy.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Legal Leadership, Compliance, and Governance Oversight 

• Provide legal counsel to the CEO, ELT and Board on governance, compliance and corporate policies.
• Ensures compliance with corporate governance laws and best practices.
• Attend continuing legal education courses, seminars, and other training opportunities to stay current with bar requirements and pertinent legal developments. Communicate updates as needed both internally and externally.
• Represent the organization in legal matters, including interactions with law enforcement and regulatory bodies.

Legal Review, Risk Management, and Counsel Oversight

• Oversee risk management strategy, ensuring the organization's reputation, safety and financial viability.
• Communicate risk management priorities and make appropriate recommendations.
• Conduct risk assessments, staff training and crisis management planning.

Insurance Program Management 

• Review and negotiate all contracts and managing projects related to the organization’s insurance coverage, including annual insurance procurement and attainment, management of claims from notice to conclusion, and identifying potential gaps in coverage.

Investigations and Cross-Departmental Legal Support

• Lead and/or support all whistleblower investigation efforts as well as other internal matters requiring investigation as necessary.
• Addresses multi-departmental frequent questions arising in the normal course of business and conduct.
• Support Human Resources in legal policy reviews.

Requirements:

• Embrace's the organization’s Statement of Faith.
• J.D. degree, licensed to practice law in the State of New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
• 10+ years’ experience as GC in non-profit environment, corporate in-house or multi-departmental law firm with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Expertise in nonprofit law, governance and risk management.  
• At all times remain in good standing with the Bar Association where the GC practices law and is admitted.
• Always adhere to the rules of professional conduct.
• Adhere to the professional and ethical expectations of an attorney, as an officer of the court and representative of the organization.
• Ability to exercise excellent judgement and confidentiality with sensitive matters.

Preferred: 

• Familiarity with Technology data protection trends, including the use of AI and other innovations.
• Knowledge in multiple type of agreements, including philanthropic grants, third-party vendor, government contracts, and others.
• Religious liberties issues impacting religious organizations.

Salary commensurate with relevant education & experience: $185,000-$200,000 annually. 

The Bowery Mission takes the health & safety of our staff, guests, clients, and volunteers very seriously, and especially as it relates to the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to the number of applications, we receive, we are only able to respond to qualified candidates who are selected for interviews. We sincerely appreciate all candidates for their interest in The Bowery Mission.