This General Counsel role is a strategic and commercially minded position, serving as a trusted advisor to the President & CEO, Board of Directors, and executive leadership team. The successful candidate will lead the Legal Department, direct enterprise legal strategy, and oversee the Compliance team, protecting the organization's integrity and reputation while advancing its mission and business objectives.
Responsibilities
Serve as chief legal counsel and trusted senior advisor to the President & CEO, Board of Directors, executive leadership, and AKC affiliates, providing clear counsel on enterprise strategy, governance, reputation, and emerging risk
Lead, develop, and manage the Legal department, including legal staff, department operations, budget, external counsel, vendors, service standards, succession of their team, and professional development
Direct the Compliance team responsible for AKC dog show rules compliance, including Compliance Support, Inspections & Investigations, conducting investigations, Board and committee reporting, and fair, consistent, and timely administration of disciplinary processes
Participate in Board, committee, Delegate, Audit Committee, Retirement Plans Committee, and Appeals Committee matters as legal advisor
Oversee litigation, arbitration, subpoenas, governmental inquiries, compliance disciplinary proceedings, Trial Boards, Appeal Trial Boards, and litigation-prevention and claims-reduction strategies
Direct commercial legal services and contract lifecycle management, including prioritization, drafting, negotiation, review, delegation, technology, and continuous improvement for a high volume of agreements
Advise on employment law, conflicts of interest, whistleblower matters, ERISA and benefit-plan issues, ADA accommodation requests involving event participants, data privacy, cybersecurity, technology agreements, intellectual property, media, and new ventures
Oversee AKC and affiliate insurance programs, including liability, property, casualty, workers
Monitor relevant federal, state, and local legal developments and establish appropriate legal policies, guidance, education, and controls to support compliance with applicable governmental requirements
Build strong cross-functional relationships and translate complex legal and rule-compliance matters into practical options that balance protection of AKC with mission delivery, business priorities, and stakeholder needs
Requirements
Executive presence and demonstrated ability to advise a President & CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership team on complex and sensitive matters
Strategic and commercially minded legal judgment, with the ability to balance legal risk, mission, reputation, operational realities, and organizational opportunity
Demonstrated leadership of attorneys and other legal professionals, including performance management, coaching, workflow prioritization, succession, and talent development
Millions of jobs, with real people getting hired every day
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Experience overseeing operational compliance, investigations, inspections, disciplinary, or rules-enforcement function; ability to ensure fairness, consistency, due process, and timely case administration
Deep knowledge of corporate governance, commercial and business law, litigation, arbitration, employment law, contracts, insurance, and enterprise risk management
Ability to interpret and apply bylaws, rules, policies, and procedures and to communicate guidance clearly to Board members, leaders, staff, participants, clubs, judges, and other stakeholders
Excellent drafting, negotiation, advocacy, presentation, organizational, and written and verbal communication skills
Experience selecting, directing, and evaluating outside counsel, vendors, legal technology, and department budgets
High integrity, discretion, sound judgment, independence, collaboration, and commitment to objective and consistent decision-making
Doctorate or better in Law or related field
Nice to have:
Extensive knowledge of AKC rules and programs and knowledge of the sport of purebred dogs
Proficiency with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, HighQ, or comparable legal operations and collaboration platforms
Experience with Not for Profit
Important Details
Work arrangement: hybrid
About the Company
The American Kennel Club seeks a strategic, commercially minded General Counsel.
The American Kennel Club is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its Registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function.
