Associate General Counsel - AERDF

Your Opportunity  

The AERDFShared Services team is seeking a seasoned Associate General Counsel who will oversee AERDF’s legal function and build out our risk and contract management capacity.


Specifically, you will be responsible for setting AERDF’s legal strategy, in coordination with our Executive Team (CEO & COO) and overseeing the Legal function. As well as managing our external counsel, developing and maintaining our legal tools, and acting as legal counsel, providing legal guidance and services across our organization.


Additionally, you will work with each AERDF team to problem-solve around unique partnership structures  that uphold equity and maintain high standards of data privacy and security.  Fundamentally, you will engage with a wide variety of contract types including: school district MOUs, research and development contracts, data sharing agreements, grants, and amendments. As our key legal negotiator and thoughtful strategic counsel, you will facilitate contracts to drive results, while prudently mitigating risk and pursuing compliance excellence. AERDF executes  500-1000 contracts per year. 


If you have expertise in managing complex contracts and proficiency in intellectual property and data privacy, this is the role for you! You will join the Operations Department, a fun, passionate, and dedicated group of people focused on enriching our mission to create inclusive and transformative education research and development. We work remotely from anywhere in the U.S. and you will report to the Chief Operating Officer. 


Finally, in partnership with the COO, you will also play a critical leadership role in AERDF enterprise risk management. 


Success Core Competencies You Possess: Collaborative problem solving, flexibility, influencing others toward shared outcomes; empowering others; negotiation; clear communication



Your Role Responsibilities

• Serve as strategic leader of the legal function
  • Provide guidance and direction on all legal aspects of contracts, contract life cycle and risk management
  • Set and implement AERDF’s legal policies and tools consistent with federal and state laws, and AERDF ethical R&D practices  
  • Liaise with and manage AERDF’s external counsel, including but not limited to areas of  intellectual property and data/privacy, to resolve legal matters
  • Educate the organization and drive alignment across the entire organization on legal matters. Ensure that everyone understands the implications of legal and regulatory requirements. Provide training and guidance to promote compliance and minimizing legal risks.   

• As the legal expert, you will support AERDF programs and contracting team with the contract life cycle (RFPs, investment memos, contracts and agreements, close outs):
  • Provide training and specific contracting advice to assist new Program Executive Directors with program contracting strategy formulation
  • Support Team Investment Operations and Program Executive Directors in
    • Formulating proposal solicitation and acquisition strategy
    • Drafting RFP language and format, including Model Contract
    • Providing advice and assistance during the actual review and evaluation process
    • Advising regarding conflicts of interest
    • Negotiating and awarding all R&D contracts
    • Providing advice and assistance regarding contract administration and closeout
  • Provide expertise and assistance regarding the contracting-related workflows of the Contract Life Cycle Management process
  • Negotiate contracts on behalf of AERDF with external parties as needed
  • Develop and update internal clause library

• Support AERDF’s Ethics and Privacy Counsel to develop and lead AERDF’s ethics and privacy program including policies, resources, practices and day-to-day project management of the privacy program. 

• Co-lead Enterprise Risk Management Framework and Process, in partnership with our COO,  including creating and maintaining risk registry and mitigation. As needed, liaise with the Audit and Risk Committee in these areas.

What You Will Bring 

Skills, Mindsets & Qualifications 

• Juris Doctor degree or equivalent experience in legal practice 
• Minimum 7 years of experience advising companies on legal affairs, in particular in contracts, managing deadlines, and supervising a team
• Knowledge of legal policies, regulations, and best practices in intellectual property, privacy and security, and FERPA compliance and experience negotiating Intellectual Property and Data Privacy and Protection in contracts
• Proven experience leading a team of internal or external attorneys and managing complex legal workstreams
• Demonstrated Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills, with ability to be a strong collaborator and partner, and ability to influence others through common goals
• Capacity to develop strong relationships with all staff, based on trust, respect, effective communication, and common goals
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, virtual, start-up environment amid ambiguity and to leverage creative thinking and resourcefulness
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills to effectively educate and inform stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and self-work

Preferred Experience & Skills:

1. Admitted to practice law in CA
2. Experience being an in-house counsel
3. Substantial Research and Development Contract negotiation experience -- preferably  with one of the following organizations: DARPA, ARPA-E or other ARPAs, Government Research Labs, Universities
4. Experience supporting RFPs, evaluating SOWs and contracts that are research based (e.g., typically universities), technology and development (e.g., software, tech) related, and evaluation focused
5. Experience in corporate governance (especially with Audit and Risk Committees) 
6. Experience working in school district, non-profit environment, or equivalent field

Compensation


We offer a competitive compensation package including base salary and comprehensive benefits. AERDF is a remote and flexible work environment and our base compensation levels vary depending on location, experience, and qualifications.


The starting salary offer range for this Level 5 Role is $141,000 - $203,000, based on location.


We are deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. People of all backgrounds and identities, particularly those with the lived experience of the students and communities we serve, are encouraged to apply.  Please do not hesitate to apply even if you do not meet all of the qualifications.



Our Organization 


The Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF) is a national nonprofit initiative that supports ambitious Inclusive R&D programs designed to tackle intractable teaching and learning challenges that disproportionately affect Black and Latino students and students of all races experiencing poverty. We identify program teams and compelling leaders with ambitious goals for improving student learning. Program Teams build on existing evidence from learning science to design multi-year Inclusive R&D programs to translate fundamental insights into more useful practices, approaches and tools. These teams are supported by Shared Service Teams aid in distributing insight, resources, and advice on how Program Teams might best grow.