Director, Legal and Risk Operations

Milken Institute International

Santa Monica (CA)

Hybrid

USD 120,000 - 210,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Family Leave

Fertility Support

Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

FSAs

Job summary

The Milken Institute in Santa Monica, CA seeks a Director of Legal and Risk Operations to oversee contract lifecycle management, compliance screening, and AI governance within a nonprofit, international framework.

Responsibilities include drafting and negotiating a wide range of agreements, implementing governance policies, and coordinating risk assessment across domestic and international programs. The role blends legal operations with strategic risk oversight.

Qualifications

JD preferred but not required; equivalent experience as a high-functioning, operations director in a nonprofit, international NGO, or regulated corporate environment will be considered.
5-8+ years of experience in operations, contract management, compliance, or governance.
Experience working with international programs, grants, or donor-funded initiatives strongly preferred.
Strong drafting, organizational, and analytical skills.
Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in a mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of agreements including sponsor/donor, vendor, grant and foundation funding, MOUs, consulting, NDAs, and international partnerships.
Oversee full contract lifecycle from intake to renewal, including risk review and approvals.
Manage the contract management system as repository and workflow tool across the Institute.
Conduct sanctions and risk/compliance checks for foreign transactions and cross-border funding.
Coordinate due diligence for donors, grantees, award winners, partners, escalating risks to the General Counsel.

Skills

Contract drafting

Policy drafting

Cross-functional collaboration

Discretion and confidentiality

Analytical skills

Operations management

Contract management

Compliance

Governance

Education

J.D. preferred

Job description

Director, Legal and Risk Operations

Full-time Regular Santa Monica, CA, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1607

Salary Range: $120,000.00 To $210,000.00 Annually

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.

The Milken Institute’s events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event.

About the Position

The Director, Legal and Risk Operations works with the Institute’s General Counsel in managing the organization’s legal, compliance, and risk management functions in a complex nonprofit environment. This role is designed for a seasoned professional with substantial experience in contract management, internal policy development and project management. The position plays a critical role in ensuring legal integrity and risk mitigation across domestic and international operations, grant-funded activities, and partnerships with governmental and foreign entities.

Responsibilities

Contract Lifecycle Management

Working with internal stakeholders such as business development, Events, and pillar-based teams, draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of agreements, including sponsor and donor agreements, vendor contracts, grant and foundation funding agreements, MOUs, consulting agreements, NDAs, and international partnership agreements.
Oversee the full contract lifecycle, including intake, risk review, approvals, execution, tracking, and renewal.
Manage the Luminance Contract Management System as a repository and workflow tool for contracts management across the Institute.
Maintain contract templates and clause libraries aligned with nonprofit regulatory requirements and donor restrictions.

Sanctions, International Compliance & Risk Screening

Conduct sanctions and risk/compliance checks for transactions involving foreign entities, international partners, and cross-border funding.
Coordinate due diligence processes on donors, grantees, award winners, partners and others, escalating potential risks to the General Counsel as appropriate.

Policy Development & Organizational Governance

Assist the General Counsel in drafting, updating, and implementing organizational policies, including:
Employee Handbook and HR policies
Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interest policies
Whistleblower and ethics reporting procedures
Data protection and records management policies
AI governance and responsible-use policies
Develop and maintain internal procedures to operationalize legal and compliance requirements across departments.
Support policy dissemination, training materials, and internal communications related to legal compliance.

AI Risk & Emerging Technology Governance

Support the design and implementation of an AI Risk Assessment and Governance Framework, including:
Risk identification and mitigation procedures
Alignment with ethical standards, donor expectations, and data protection requirements
Review protocols for AI-enabled tools used in programmatic, fundraising, or administrative contexts
Monitor emerging legal and regulatory developments relevant to nonprofit use of AI and data analytics.

Board, Committee & Governance Support

Manage agendas, briefing materials, minutes, and follow-up actions for the organization’s Risk Committee and related governance bodies.
Track legal and compliance action items and support reporting to senior leadership and the Board.
Assist with governance documentation, including charters, resolutions, and policy approvals.

Litigation & Employment Matter Support

Assist the General Counsel and outside counsel with litigation and dispute management, including document collection, discovery coordination, and matter tracking.
Support HR in responding to employment disputes, internal investigations, and regulatory inquiries.
Legal Operations & Cross-Functional Support
Serve as a liaison to program, finance, development, HR, and IT teams to ensure legal and risk considerations are integrated into operational decision-making.
Support audits, donor reviews, and compliance reporting related to legal and risk matters.
Duties as assigned.

Qualifications

JD preferred but not required; equivalent experience as a high-functioning, operations director in a nonprofit, international NGO, or regulated corporate environment will be considered.
5-8+ years of experience in operations, contract management, compliance, or governance.
Experience working with international programs, grants, or donor-funded initiatives strongly preferred.
Strong drafting, organizational, and analytical skills.
Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in a mission-driven environment.
Contract lifecycle management: drafting and analysis
Policy drafting and implementation
Cross-functional collaboration
Discretion and confidentiality

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment on a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to the Santa Monica office location (Tuesday - Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion.

This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. Domestic travel is possible. Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world.

Note

The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

Our Culture

The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.