This General Counsel position is the chief legal advisor and head of the legal department for all companies within Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA), reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the senior leadership team. The role involves strategic advising, risk management, compliance, contract management, litigation oversight, corporate governance, and department leadership.
Responsibilities
Act as a key partner to the CEO, senior leadership team, and board of directors, helping align legal choices with overall business goals
Find, evaluate, and lower legal and regulatory risks to protect the company's assets and reputation
Ensure the organizations follow all local, state, and federal business laws, industry rules, and ethical codes
Write, review, and negotiate major commercial contracts, agreements, and partnerships
Handle legal disputes, direct internal investigations, and oversee outside law firms when the company faces a lawsuit or crisis
Guide leadership on corporate policies, board relations, and major corporate events including partnerships with other insurers for coverages not offered by NIA
Manage the in-house legal team, assign tasks, and control legal spending
Provide legal and risk assessment of business partnering opportunities
Ensure that all organization activities and operations are carried out in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and laws governing business and insurance operations
Provide legal counsel and guidance to the board of directors, senior leadership team and management on all legal matters relevant to a large nonprofit institution, including real estate transactions, contracts and grants, tax matters, worker's compensation, liability and insurance matters, intellectual property, and other laws and regulations
Combine creative thinking with depth knowledge of the P&C insurance industry as well as the alternative market structures such as pools, captives, risk retention groups, etc. business generally and the NIA insurance business specifically
Anticipate and identify legal issues and counsel officers of the institution and management to develop legal strategies and solutions, often in situations of great political, public relations, or financial risk or significance, and with limited time for assessing alternatives
Review, research, interpret, and prepare both written and oral opinions on a wide variety of legal issues
Draft, review, and approve policies and procedures, regulations, bylaws, and other legal documents
Review contracts, leases, and other legal documents; research legal issues and recommends revisions as necessary
Represent or oversee the representation of the institution and management in judicial and administrative proceedings, and in negotiations with state agencies
Millions of jobs, with real people getting hired every day
200,000+
New jobs added daily
7,000,000+
Verified job listings
1,000,000+
Tailored applications submitted
Design, establish, and maintain an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the organization's goals and objectives; oversees recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of unit staff
Develop and manage annual budgets for the unit and performs periodic cost and productivity analyses
Select and retain outside counsel, as required, to obtain legal opinions or to handle claims and litigation against NIA member companies
Supervise legal work of other attorneys, paralegals, and outside counsel; consults on difficult or sensitive issues
Provide training to employees, brokers, and members on various legal issues through seminars and meetings
Support innovation in the product line through participation in the Product Development Committee
Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest developments in nonprofit and insurance law and in other related areas
In collaboration with the Risk Department, review limits and coverage for corporate insurance policies purchased by NIA
Support the Underwriting team by reviewing the indemnification language of contracts to assist underwriters in assessing insurance appetite
Research and provide direction on the copyright and trademarking of all intellectual property including but not limited to logos, policy forms, and other publications
Manage the Corporate Contracts Management policy, and ensure all documents, communication, and follow-up are maintained in electronic files
Manage, oversee, and report to CEO and boards of directions all lawsuits against the NIA group of companies
Collaborate with the Risk Department on Department of Insurance complaints
Provide guidance on federal and state legislative and regulatory affairs strategies and tactics
Participate with and support CEO in legislative initiatives
Develop in depth knowledge of regulatory affairs and committees for industry associations and apply that knowledge in support of the business generally and the legislative affairs efforts specifically
Requirements
10+ years of insurance and/or financial operations experience, some experience with alternative insurance preferred
Current bar membership in California
Ability to assimilate and understand a mass of information from a variety of sources in the organization
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
Superior oral and written communications skills
Effective management of relationships with external agencies in multiple markets
Hands-on and proactive management style
Able to execute models and forecasts
Able to build alignment for initiatives and programs
Willing mentor to peers and others in areas of expertise
Appropriate tenure in legal, risk management, insurance operations, actuarial or other appropriate disciplines
Exceptional ability to influence and motivate others through other than direct reporting relationships
Ability to develop and deliver presentations
Demonstrated ability to successfully manage a corporate or centralized institutional legal office
Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management
Knowledge of the insurance business and the nonprofit sector sufficient to provide competent legal advice and counsel to senior management and board of directors on a wide range of legal and policy issues
Knowledge of the range of applicable laws and regulations which impact on all facets of nonprofit policy and operations
Ability to analyze and interpret issues and to prepare legal opinions
Ability to communicate and interact with officials at all levels of government
Ability to supervise and train employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments
Fluency in Microsoft WORD, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
B.S./B.A. and JD required
Nice to have:
M.B.A. in business or finance is highly preferred
Related industry course work and designations are a plus, including but not limited to: CPA, CPCU, ARM or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst Certification)
Benefits
401(k)
Dental insurance
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
Paid time off
Vision insurance
About the Company
Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA) is the nation’s leading property and casualty (P&C) insurer exclusively serving nonprofit organizations. Founded in 1989 in Santa Cruz, CA, all of the companies in NIA are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, providing long-term sustainability of the nonprofit sector. NIA has one of the best customer retention rates in the industry and has a well-established track record as an innovator in corporate social responsibility (CSR), specialized coverages, members services, and employee engagement.