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Legal Counsel
American Rivers
Legal
Washington, DC, USA
USD 120,063-146,696 / year
Posted on Nov 12, 2025
JOB TITLE: Legal Counsel
POSITION CLASSIFICATION: Senior Director
SALARY BAND: A and B
REPORTS TO: General Counsel
LOCATION: Washington, DC Area (Preferred)
About American Rivers
American Rivers is championing a national effort to protect and restore all rivers, from remote mountain streams to urban waterways. Healthy rivers provide people and nature with clean, abundant water and natural habitat. For 50 years, American Rivers staff, supporters, and partners have shared a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers℠.
The beauty of rivers is that they connect all people and communities – including within our organization. The life experiences, knowledge, innovation, and talent that different people bring to our work provides perspectives, experiences, and competencies which are critical to our effectiveness in protecting wild rivers, restoring damaged rivers, and conserving clean water for people and nature.
JOB SUMMARY
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Legal Counsel for American Rivers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, and a potential third tax-exempt or advocacy affiliate. As a critical member of the legal team, this in-house attorney will be responsible for ensuring that the organization complies with all relevant laws and regulations, providing legal advice to management, and protecting the organization’s interests in various business matters. This role involves creation and management of preemptive risk tools and policies and advising and supporting the organization in legal disputes and negotiations. In collaboration with the General Counsel, the Legal Counsel shall proactively address the unique legal and governance challenges inherent in a multi-affiliate structure, ensuring each entity operates within the scope of its exempt purpose, while leveraging permissible collaboration to advance shared mission goals.
This role requires a proactive approach to risk management, excellent communication skills, and the ability to handle a broad range of legal matters relevant to the organization’s operations.
The successful candidate will have a collaborative mindset with excellent communication skills and the proven ability to work across departments and with external partners.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Committing to American Rivers core values.
- Delivering accurate, timely legal counsel to executives and management on a broad range of topics — including contracts, employment, partnerships, corporate finance, and compliance — with particular emphasis on the legal intricacies that involve or impact the 501(c)(3) and 501 (c)(4) tax-exempt organizations and any additional affiliates by ensuring strict adherence to permissible collaborations, financial separations, and reporting obligations unique to each entity type
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a variety of legal documents including inter-organizational agreements, memoranda of understanding, and shared service contracts to ensure full regulatory compliance
- Leading legal review on all joint projects, advocacy campaigns, fundraising efforts, and resource-sharing arrangements to ensure that program expenses, staff roles, and communications are properly allocated and documented to prevent impermissible subsidization or commingling of activities between affiliates
- Developing and implementing internal governance policies, and regularly monitoring compliance with these policies and applicable laws
- Conducting research and evaluating legal risks related to organizational decisions and operations, and offering proactive solutions and pathways to minimize exposure in areas such as corporate, political, and employment matters
- Monitoring and facilitating mission-related litigation, working with conservation staff, the board committee, declarants, and outside counsel
- Supporting the General Counsel in guiding the organization through third-party disputes and internal litigation, as necessary
- Executing ongoing management of transactional risk, vendor performance, project-life bonding and insurance
- Assisting with the preparation, review, and management of programmatic project documents, including contracts, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and bid evaluations, to ensure compliance with organizational standards, governmental compliance, and project goals.
- Keeping abreast of changes in local, state, and federal laws and regulations, and integrating relevant updates into the organization’s operations
- Advising the board and staff on conflict-of-interest policies, ensuring transparency through proper disclosure, recusal procedures, and alignment with the organization's fiduciary responsibilities
- Supporting the protection of intellectual property, including trademarks and copyrights
- Providing legal guidance and training to ensure organizational compliance with data privacy laws and regulations. Developing and maintaining privacy policies, managing privacy risks, and leading incident response efforts
- Coordinating and managing relationships with external counsel and regulatory authorities, as needed
- Assisting with General Counsel with preparations for board and committee meetings for all organizations
- Assisting in training and mentoring Legal Interns
- Completing additional duties as assigned by the General Counsel
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Juris Doctor (JD) licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
- 5+ years of experience as a practicing attorney, preferably with a law firm, the government, or with the nonprofit or public sector with respect to organizations described in Sections 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 527 of the Internal Revenue Code
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain complex legal concepts to non-lawyers
- High ethical standards, sound judgment, and strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with management and other departments
- Ability to troubleshoot and solve problems independently and able to manage multiple projects and priorities
- Experience working with or supporting a General Counsel’s office or legal department is highly valued
- Knowledge of federal regulatory compliance (OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance and Federal Election Commission regulations) and/or construction law is preferred
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and Slack. Knowledge of Intacct and project management software is a plus
Candidates who are unsure if they meet all minimum qualifications or who have transferable skills and experience beyond the conservation sector are encouraged to apply.
LOCATION HYBRID with access to our Washington, DC headquarters. Other occasional regional and national travel to meetings and training may be required.
COMPENSATION
American Rivers offers marketable compensation that reflects the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate. The salary range for this position is $120,063 -$146,696, annually, depending on experience and qualifications. We provide a comprehensive Total Rewards package to our full-time, regular employees, including:
- Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, long-term and short-term disability, and life insurance.
- Financial Security: After one year of service, American Rivers begins contributing a 3% employer contribution. There is no vesting schedule for employer contributions as employees are 100% vested upon participation.
- Time Off: Four weeks of paid leave, eleven paid holidays, three floating holidays, and sick leave.
At American Rivers, we are committed to supporting our employee’s well-being, professional growth, and financial security, ensuring they can thrive both at work and in life.
COMMUNITY AND OPPORTUNITY
- At American Rivers, our core values drive everything we do – we Lead with Collaboration and Trust, Infuse Equity and Justice, Deliver Results, and Ensure Staff and Volunteers Thrive. We are committed to fostering a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to make a difference.
- Our culture prioritizes work-life thriving through Focus Fridays (no internal meetings), professional development opportunities, a home office stipend and our comprehensive leave policies, including sabbatical leave (every seven years) and paid parental leave (six weeks w/ one year of service).
- We also ensure leadership stays connected to staff needs through an internal advisory group, fostering open communication and continuous improvement.
- At American Rivers, our people are our strength, and we are dedicated to building a thriving, inclusive workplace where everyone can grow and contribute to our mission.
American Rivers is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request reasonable accommodation, please contact the Human Resources department at 202-243-7040 or recruitment@americanrivers.org. Please note that one week’s advance notice is preferred.
Applicant must be legally allowed to work as an employee in the United States. American Rivers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Candidates of all personal and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Posting will close on Friday, December 12, 2025