Associate General Counsel

Organization

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (“Helmsley”) is a global philanthropy driven by a vision of building better futures for people by increasing access to healthcare, advancing new research and ideas, and improving the quality of everyday life. Helmsley strives to make a meaningful impact in its focus areas, matching its significant financial assets with a rigorous and results-oriented approach. Helmsley is committed to close and productive partnerships with its grantees, as well as with other funders and impact players in government, academia, and the private sector who share its interests and goals. Above all, Helmsley endeavors to be forward-thinking in every aspect of its work and will take risks that others cannot or will not take when the risk/reward trade-off warrants.

Since 2008, when Helmsley began its active grantmaking, it has committed more than $4.5 billion. For more information on Helmsley, please visit .

Position Summary

The Associate General Counsel will be a key part of a collaborative legal team that supports Helmsley’s philanthropic work and will focus on Helmsley’s contractual arrangements with third parties, including program-related investments and grant making in health-related endeavors and on intellectual property issues. The position includes ongoing work as well as short and long-term projects such as policy development, and research and analysis.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Review, negotiate, and draft agreements, including but not limited to complex grantmaking and program-related investments (PRIs) involving intellectual property rights.
• Advise on intellectual property issues with respect to grants and PRIs, including detailed review of patent status.
• Troubleshoot issues with staff and assist in finding and implementing effective legal solutions and monitor as needed.
• Assist in developing and delivering training on legal issues.
• Represent Helmsley effectively internally and externally, including with outside counsel.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Helmsley to develop and support trust-wide initiatives and to advance Helmsley’s overall impact.
• Support and improve Helmsley’s internal processes and systems and implement and communicate changes.
• Special projects and other duties, as assigned.

Desired Qualifications

• Minimum 7-10 years of transactional intellectual property and/or commercial law experience at a major law firm, government agency, and/or in-house, preferably engaged in advice related to biomedical research and/or tech transfer responsibilities.
• J.D. from an accredited institution; admission to the New York bar is strongly preferred or eligibility to sit for the New York bar exam.
• Demonstrated expertise in several of the core areas of work listed below:
  • Intellectual property, content management, and licensing.
  • Negotiation and drafting of loans, investment deals, and/or program-related investments.
  • Corporate transactional experience, including conducting due diligence, both corporate and IP, for transactions and providing legal support for monitoring of investments.
  • Knowledge regarding tax and other laws applicable to tax exempt organizations including those specific to private foundations.
  • Contract review and contract management and related vendor and risk management review.
  • Policy development and legal advice and support with implementation and training on core organizational policies, including regarding data security and privacy, procurement, and investments.
• Experience advising nonprofit organizations.
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to understand complex and nuanced legal concepts and analysis and explain such topics to non-lawyers and create practical processes, guidance, and training.
• Demonstrated excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• Impeccable integrity and excellent judgment as reflected in a professional record of successfully providing counsel to clients.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate information needed by others as projects and situations develop; manage multiple demands, and organize time and resources effectively.
• Strong teamwork and client-service skills; solution-oriented and able to incorporate user feedback as needed.
• Presentation and training skills.
• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to work through challenging complex situations.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Interacts well with all in a courteous, culturally sensitive, and tactful manner.
• Administratively self-sufficient with demonstrated skill with Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

Salary, Health, Well-being, and Living Our Mission

Helmsley is dedicated to creating stronger, healthier futures for communities in the U.S. and around the world. Helmsley colleagues are intelligent, creative, forward thinking, and strongly committed to working productively with each other and with our grantee partners. Each was drawn to Helmsley by the same opportunity: to help build this young organization into a leading global charitable institution that will drive meaningful and measurable positive change in lives throughout the U.S. and around the world for years to come.

Helmsley is committed to offering competitive and equitable compensation commensurate with experience. The targeted starting salary range for this position is $280,000-$320,000.

Comprehensive benefits currently offered to employees (subject to change) include:

• Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision for employees and their families
• Generous 401(k) employer contribution
• Hybrid work schedule (up to two remote days a week)
• 23+ paid vacation and sick days
• 13+ paid holidays
• End of year office closure
• Summer Fridays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Personal and team professional development opportunities

Application Information

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume (in Word or PDF format) to the posting listed on the Helmsley Career Page. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact [email protected].

The position is based at Helmsley’s main office in New York City. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

All persons hired must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Helmsley will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Except when working remotely as permitted by Helmsley’s temporary hybrid work policy, the ability to work and collaborate in person with colleagues at Helmsley’s office is an essential function of this job.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required for the position. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Helmsley provides equal employment and promotional opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established under law.