Chief General Counsel - Color of Change

ABOUT COLOR OF CHANGE

Color Of Change is the nation's largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by millions of members, we campaign on issues of criminal justice, economic justice, voter freedom, big tech, and culture change, and work to move decision-makers in corporations and governments to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org to learn more.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Chief General Counsel (CGC) is Color Of Change’s principal legal authority and trusted strategic advisor to the President & CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors.

This is a builder role. The CGC will design and lead the organization’s legal function from the ground up, establishing the legal infrastructure that protects Color Of Change’s advocacy, people, funding, and public integrity.

The CGC owns enterprise legal strategy across governance, compliance, labor, risk management, grants, contracts, and outside counsel, while serving as a core thought partner in high-stakes advocacy and organizational decision-making.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Legal Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Serve as principal legal advisor to the President & CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board.
• Translate complex legal risk into clear, practical guidance that enables bold, values-driven action.
• Advise on legal implications of advocacy campaigns, corporate accountability efforts, organizational growth, and strategic partnerships.
• Act as a thought partner in moments of crisis.

Governance & Organizational Compliance

• Oversee legal compliance across affiliated 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities.
• Advise on nonprofit corporate governance, board policies, fiduciary obligations, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including lobbying and political activity regulations.
• Lead Form 990 governance review and charitable registration oversight.

Grant & Funder Compliance

• Advise on legal and compliance requirements tied to restricted and unrestricted funding.
• Partner with Finance and Development teams to ensure adherence to grant terms, reporting obligations, and use-of-funds requirements.
• Prepare the organization for audits, funder diligence, and regulatory reviews.
• Design internal controls and compliance systems to support philanthropic stewardship.

Employment & Labor Law

• Provide strategic counsel on employment law, investigations, workplace policies, and personnel matters.
• Partner with People & Culture leadership on labor relations, union engagement, and collective bargaining.
• Balance legal protection with equity-centered people practices.

Contracts & Transactions

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements, including vendor and consulting agreements, partnerships and sponsorships, data and technology agreements, and fiscal sponsorships and campaign collaborations.
• Establish enterprise contract standards and review workflows and approval thresholds.

Outside Counsel & Legal Operations

• Build and manage a high-performing external counsel network.
• Determine which work remains outsourced versus internalized.
• Oversee legal budgets and ensure cost-effective, high-quality legal support.
• Implement legal operations systems that scale with organizational growth.

Risk Management & Crisis Response

• Proactively identify and mitigate legal, regulatory, and operational risk.
• Design enterprise risk management frameworks.
• Lead legal response during crises or investigations.
• Conduct post-crisis governance and systems review.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of senior legal experience, ideally as General Counsel or Deputy GC.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as the primary legal authority within complex, mission-driven organizations.
• Deep experience in nonprofit governance, advocacy environments, or regulated sectors.
• Strong background in employment and labor law preferred.
• Exceptional judgment, discretion, and executive communication skills.
• Commitment to racial justice and the mission of Color Of Change.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS & WORKING STYLE

The Chief General Counsel is a strategic leader and trusted advisor. This role requires strong legal judgment, executive presence, and the ability to operate effectively in complex, high-stakes environments.

The ideal candidate is:

• Strategic and systems-oriented, with a builder mindset and ability to design scalable legal infrastructure.
• Calm and decisive under pressure, providing steady guidance during crises.
• An executive-level communicator, comfortable advising senior leaders and Boards.
• A practical, mission-aligned risk advisor, balancing legal compliance with advocacy urgency.
• Collaborative and cross-functional, partnering effectively across Finance, Development, People & Culture, Communications, and Campaigns.
• Ethical and values-driven, bringing integrity, discretion, and a deep commitment to racial justice.
• Comfortable with ambiguity, able to make sound decisions in fast-moving, evolving environments.

In this role, the Chief General Counsel serves as a strategic guardian, protecting the organization while enabling bold, responsible action.

REPORTING STRUCTURE & TEAM CONTEXT

• Reports to: President & CEO
• Executive Role: Member of the Executive Leadership Team
• Team Context: Serves as the organization’s principal legal authority and leads the legal function across all affiliated entities. This role does not sit within a single department, but operates as an enterprise-wide executive partner.
• Collaborates closely with: Executive Leadership Team; Board of Directors; Finance; Development; People & Culture; Campaigns; Communications; Operations; and external partners, including outside counsel, funders, auditors, and regulatory bodies.

MORE INFORMATION

• Location: Remote (U.S.); preference for candidates based in or near metropolitan areas for periodic in-person leadership and Board engagements in New York City
• Employment Status: Exempt, Full-Time
• Classification: Executive Leadership (Non-Bargaining Unit)
• Direct Reports: None initially; role will determine future legal staffing and structure
• Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, core business hours with flexibility required to support executive responsibilities, urgent matters, and time-sensitive advocacy work

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Compensation for this role is $200,000–$225,000 base, commensurate with experience and competitive with General Counsel positions at national nonprofit and civil rights organizations.

Color Of Change offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; 401(k) retirement plan; generous paid time off; paid holidays; and paid family leave.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Color Of Change operates in a remote environment with team members across the United States. You will collaborate regularly with colleagues via video, email, and chat. This position requires working core hours Monday-Friday on a laptop for most of the work day and additional time as required by job duties. You may be asked to travel to the New York office for occasional in-person meetings or team coordination.

Color Of Change is an equal-opportunity employer. Color Of Change prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or any other basis prohibited by law.

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