Deputy General Counsel

Society of American Foresters.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Green Diamond is seeking an experienced Deputy General Counsel in the Seattle area to lead a hands-on legal team. You will provide advice across real property, corporate affairs, and commercial matters, while coordinating with executives and outside counsel.

The role emphasizes independent judgment, risk assessment, and practical business-focused recommendations, with preferred familiarity in timberlands and natural resources law.

Qualifications

• JD or LL.M. with active license in at least one operating state.
• 10+ years of progressive legal experience in real property or business transactions.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial and real property agreements.
• Ability to review land records, titles, and property descriptions.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and guidance to leadership on diverse business matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts involving real property and corporate matters.
• Advise on real property transactions, due diligence, and land issues.
• Support governance with the Board and affiliates; regulatory compliance oversight.
• Collaborate with HR and outside counsel on employment and benefits matters.
• Manage claims, investigations, and litigation with outside counsel.
• Oversee environmental, natural resource, data privacy, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with outside counsel and manage legal expenses; lead direct reports.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Risk assessment

Legal strategy

Leadership

Communication

Independent work

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

LL.M.

Tools

Legal matter management systems

Contract management systems

Land records management systems

Job description

As Deputy General Counsel, you'll work closely with the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Affairs and other members of the legal team, providing legal advice and support across Green Diamond's operations and affiliated businesses. This is a hands-on, managerial role with a broad range of legal responsibilities, including real property, commercial transactions, corporate governance, employment law, regulatory compliance, and litigation oversight.

You'll have the opportunity to work as part of a collaborative in-house legal team on complex legal matters, collaborate with people across the Company, and gain a deep understanding of our business and operations. Experience with timberlands and natural resources law would be particularly valuable in this role.

We're looking for an experienced attorney who can work independently, exercise sound judgment, and provide practical legal advice that considers both the risks and the needs of the business. You'll work directly with Company leaders on a variety of matters, often balancing competing priorities and helping navigate legal issues that don't always have straightforward answers. Strong communication skills, initiative, and the ability to build productive working relationships will be important to your success.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Provide legal advice and guidance to Company leadership and operations on a broad range of business and legal matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents involving real property, commercial transactions, and corporate matters.
• Advise on real property transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, title review, due diligence, easements, access rights, and other land-related issues.
• Support corporate governance activities, including matters involving the Board of Directors, affiliates, business structures, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Human Resources, business leaders and outside counsel on employment law, employee relations, and benefits-related matters.
• Manage claims, investigations, and litigation in coordination with outside counsel.
• Provide guidance on environmental and natural resource regulations, data privacy, cybersecurity, and other regulatory compliance matters.
• Coordinate with outside counsel, managing legal matters and associated expenses.
• Manage and lead direct reports.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree.
• Active license to practice law in at least one state where Green Diamond operates, in good standing.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive legal experience, with a strong background in real property and business transactions, or related practice areas.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on complex commercial and real property agreements.
• Ability to review and analyze land records, title documents, legal descriptions, and property ownership, boundary, and access issues.
• Strong legal judgment and the ability to assess risk and provide practical, strategic, business-focused recommendations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across the organization.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with legal matter, contract, document, or land records management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active license to practice law in California, Washington, and/or Oregon, with admission in California strongly preferred. Legal practice experience involving timberlands, forestry, natural resources, or land management, including related transactions and regulatory matters.
• Prior in-house counsel experience, particularly in the forest products, natural resources, or other land-based industries.
• Experience supervising legal professionals and supporting team development.
• Experience with corporate governance, employment law, and litigation management.
• Additional graduate education in natural resources management, real property, business, or a related field.

The preferred candidate will be based in the Seattle, WA area and work in our corporate office at least two days per week. We will also consider qualified candidates located in Oregon or Northern California who are able to travel to Company offices and operations as needed.