Chief Legal & Compliance Officer

Chief Legal & Compliance Officer

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Chief Legal & Compliance Officer (CLCO) will oversee all legal, regulatory, contractual compliance, and risk management functions, serving as a key advisor to the CEO and ensuring the organization operates with the highest ethical and compliance standards. The CLCO will advise on a wide range of day-to-day organizational, programmatic and transactional matters, including legal issues related to employment, 501(c)(3)/nonprofit law compliance, board governance, real estate, contracts, procurement and other matters.  The CLCO will directly manage AAPCI’s Quality Assurance department.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

• Lead the organization’s legal and compliance strategy across all programs and sites
• Manage and direct outside legal counsels to ensure cost-effective and strategic representation
• Establish internal legal protocols and documentation standards
• Act as the primary contact on legal matters with government regulators and agencies. Oversee legal and compliance reports to government agencies
• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements with government agencies, vendors, and partners, and oversee compliance with those agreements
• Advise executive leadership on compliance with federal and New York State laws and regulations governing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and risk management
• Manage litigation, administrative actions, subpoenas, and any other claims or internal or external investigations when they arise, including coordinating with insurance-assigned counsels and other outside counsels and insurance providers
• Coordinate with the Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO), senior management, and external counsel (in consultation with the CHRO), regarding internal employee issues, investigations, legal developments, and employment matters to ensure compliance with relevant employment law
• In collaboration with the CHRO, manage, track, and coordinate organizational responses to any internal complaints, including complaints of discrimination, harassment, retaliation or whistleblower complaints submitted directly or through a third-party mechanism
• Oversee legal strategy related to workforce management across all sites
• Advise on complex employee relations, investigations, and risk exposure, and mitigate risk related to workplace claims
• Partner with HR leadership to ensure compliant, equitable, and consistent practices
• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical practices
• Provide legal and compliance oversight on internal and external audits, including but not limited to the audit of AAPCI’s financial statements and its 403(b) programs
• Ensure cost-effective and adequate insurance coverage, negotiating and liaising with insurance brokers and providers, managing renewals and audits, and tracking claims
• Oversee and coordinate incident review and workplace safety working groups, ensuring regular collection and discussion of, and corrective action planning for, incidents affecting both clients and staff
• Oversee the delivery by HR, Quality Assurance, IT or other departments of legal and compliance trainings to staff, management and/or Board members on relevant topics, such as procurement, regulatory changes, cybersecurity and data privacy, Board fiduciary duties and conflicts of interest, risk management, programmatic compliance, including tracking attendance and completion  
• Serve as a visible executive presence across the organization
• Work closely with IT (including on cybersecurity and data privacy natters), Finance, HR, Programs and other departments to ensure all operations are legally sound

PROGRAMS

• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws.
• Ensure compliance with oversight agency requirements, primarily NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS)/Department of Social Services (DSS)/Human Resources Administration (HRA), NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (NYS OTDA), and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (US HUD), DOHMH), applicable to AAPCI’s provision of social services, and supportive and transitional housing
• Oversee all litigation, claims, investigations, and disputes 
• Build and lead the Legal/Compliance function (team, structure, priorities) with a mind towards proactive measures to improve programming and ensure compliance
• Manage and develop systems that shift compliance from reactive to predictive and performance-driven
• Provide executive oversight of government contracts (DHS, city/state funding streams), vendor and service agreements, strategic partnerships and MOUs (including contracts with commercial hotels), and contract lifecycle management
• Oversee and ensure compliance with applicable NYC and other government procurement rules, including rules regarding subcontractor approvals (e.g., 65-As)
• Manage and provide direction to the Quality Assurance Department and oversee compliance efforts within the Department to ensure compliance with agency requirements and audits, as well as training
• Work with division heads to create audit tools, data dashboards, and audit reporting tools to share across various stakeholders

FINANCE

• Support negotiation of high-value, high-risk agreements
• Ensure legal alignment with AAPCI’s financial and operational goals
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, subcontracts, property leases and purchase agreements
• Provide tax code-compliant gift acknowledgment receipts to donors and ensure compliance with laws governing charitable solicitation, including the filing of the annual NYS CHAR500
• Assist with legal aspect of annual reporting to the IRS on Form 990.

REPORTING TO THE BOARD

• Serve as legal advisor to the Board of Directors and Board Committees
• Ensure adherence to bylaws, governance policies, state law fiduciary responsibilities, and any oversight agency requirements for Board members 
• Prepare Board meeting agendas, resolutions, minutes, and other materials, acting as corporate secretary
• Lead development and review of governance frameworks and policies
• Support board-level decision-making on risk, compliance, and strategic initiatives

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and member in good standing with the New York State Bar
• Minimum of 5 years’ legal experience, ideally including some experience working within, or representing, not-for-profit organizations
• The successful candidate will have deep legal experience managing employment law matters, and government contracts (i.e., extensive experience working with NYC DHS/HRA/DSS, DOHMH)
• Legal experience in one or more of the following additional areas highly preferred: Nonprofit Law (New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law and the federal laws governing 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations); Real Estate; Affordable Housing; Transitional and Supportive Housing; Commercial Contracts; Litigation.

REQUIRED SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent legal research, attention to detail with strong responsiveness, organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to convey complex ideas verbally and in writing
• High integrity/professional ethics, strong work ethic and ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously with enthusiasm and attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to garner trust and confidently provide sound advice to the board of directors, management, and employees throughout the organization;
• Experience and judgment to know when to focus on details, big picture, or both
• Self-awareness, high emotional intelligence and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all teams consistent with AAPCI culture.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and analytical skills
• Stays current with evolving nonprofit laws and regulations, ensuring the organization adheres to same
• Understanding of and interest in homelessness and housing issues in NYC.
• Ability to anticipate legal issues or risks and propose effective solutions
• Ability to work well under pressure, and to think and act calmly in high pressure situations (including, from time to time, emergencies, e.g., crisis management)
• Approaches the role with enthusiasm and takes initiative; a natural project manager and problem-solver
• Ability to work in teams and display respect for all team members
• Excellent time and task management skills with ability to prioritize assignments
• Excellent written and oral communication, organizational, supervisory, and leadership skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team to complete complex projects in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of community services, social service support agencies and networks
• Familiarity with DHS and other funding agency documentation policies and procedures
• High level of computer proficiency in Word, Excel, and the ability to learn new technologies and databases

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. 
• Must be able to travel and visit the organization’s facilities as needed.