Legal Counsel (Fractional)

Jobgether; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 276,000 - 413,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Technology stipend for work equipment

Monthly AI tools budget

Fully remote work

Flexible hours

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Jobgether, on behalf of a partner nonprofit, seeks a fractional General Counsel in the United States to provide strategic legal guidance across nonprofit governance, contracts, employment law, immigration, and cross-border compliance. Fully remote, about 20–24 hours per week with potential to expand the portfolio.

You will balance legal risk with organizational objectives, advising senior leadership and scalable processes while supporting projects addressing global health, animal welfare, and AI

Qualifications

• Authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction where you intend to work; US bar admission strongly preferred.
• At least five years of legal practice, ideally in nonprofit law, contracts, employment, regulatory compliance, or GC responsibilities.
• Strong understanding of US nonprofit structures, 501(c)(3) requirements, fiscal sponsorship, and governance.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex agreements including grants, service, and IP agreements.

Responsibilities

• Advise on nonprofit governance and 501(c)(3) requirements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contractor, service, grant, and other agreements.
• Support employment, immigration, and multi-jurisdiction workforce matters.
• Structure and negotiate fiscal sponsorship and grant agreements; address IP and spin-offs.
• Advise on regulatory compliance including FARA exposure and GDPR across activities.
• Guide projects through formation as independent nonprofits and asset transfers.
• Provide practical risk-based legal advice and coordinate external counsel when needed.
• Partner with leadership to build scalable legal processes and enable growth.

Skills

Nonprofit law

Contract drafting

Regulatory compliance

Employment law

Immigration compliance

FARA awareness

Leadership communication

Education

J.D. or equivalent

Job description

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Legal Counsel (Fractional) based in the United States.Join a mission-driven research and implementation nonprofit working across global health, animal welfare, and global catastrophic risk reduction, including AI safety.In this fractional General Counsel role, you will provide strategic legal guidance to a growing organization and a diverse portfolio of independent, high-impact projects.You will advise on nonprofit governance, fiscal sponsorship, contracts, employment law, immigration, and cross-border regulatory compliance.Your expertise will help projects navigate complex legal questions, establish appropriate structures, and prepare for independent operations.Working closely with senior leadership, you will balance legal risk, operational speed, and organizational objectives in a rapidly evolving environment.This is an opportunity to shape legal processes, support innovative initiatives, and make a meaningful contribution to organizations addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges.The role is fully remote, initially requiring approximately 20-24 hours per week, with potential to expand as the project portfolio grows.

Accountabilities

• Nonprofit Governance and Legal Advisory: Advise on nonprofit law, charitable activity boundaries, governance, and the legal requirements associated with operating a US 501(c)(3) organization and supporting independent projects through Model A fiscal sponsorship.
• Contract Drafting and Negotiation: Draft, review, and negotiate contractor agreements, service agreements, grant agreements, and other commercial and operational contracts, ensuring terms reflect organizational priorities and appropriate risk allocation.
• Employment Law and Immigration: Support compliant employment practices across multiple jurisdictions, advise on workforce-related legal matters, and assist with visa sponsorship and immigration compliance.
• Fiscal Sponsorship and Grant Management: Structure and negotiate agreements with funders, grant recipients, and sponsored projects, including provisions covering intellectual property ownership, transfers, project independence, and future spin-offs.
• Regulatory Compliance: Assess and advise on Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) exposure, GDPR obligations across UK and EU activities, and emerging AI regulations that may affect research, partnerships, and operations.
• Entity Formation and Project Spin-Offs: Guide projects through the transition to independent nonprofit status, including entity formation, tax-exemption applications, governance arrangements, and asset transfers.
• Risk Assessment and Legal Triage: Provide timely, practical legal advice on complex or ambiguous questions, clearly communicating potential risks, likelihood, and recommended actions. Identify when specialist external counsel is needed and coordinate escalations efficiently.
• Strategic Partnership: Work closely with executive leadership and operational teams to establish scalable legal processes, support organizational growth, and enable informed decisions without unnecessary administrative delays.

Requirements

• Legal Qualifications: Authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction where you intend to work, with US bar admission strongly preferred and required for most opportunities in the broader hiring ecosystem.
• Professional Experience: Generally, at least five years of legal practice experience is preferred, particularly in nonprofit law, commercial contracts, employment law, regulatory compliance, or general counsel responsibilities.
• Nonprofit and Fiscal Sponsorship Expertise: Strong understanding of US nonprofit structures, 501(c)(3) requirements, charitable activity restrictions, fiscal sponsorship arrangements, and organizational governance.
• Contracting and Negotiation Skills: Demonstrated ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements, including grant, service, employment, and intellectual property agreements.
• Employment and Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with multi-jurisdiction employment practices, immigration compliance, data protection requirements, and relevant regulatory frameworks. Experience assessing FARA exposure or emerging AI-related legal obligations is an advantage.
• Practical Legal Judgment: Ability to assess risk proportionately, develop clear recommendations, and balance legal compliance with operational realities. Comfortable working in evolving legal environments where established precedents may be limited.
• Communication and Collaboration: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to non-legal stakeholders and build effective relationships with senior leaders and operational teams.
• Autonomy and Adaptability: Able to work independently, manage competing priorities, deliver timely advice, and operate effectively in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment.
• Preferred Background: Experience advising research organizations, technology-focused nonprofits, AI safety initiatives, internationally operating organizations, or projects preparing to become independent entities is beneficial.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: Independent contractor rate of $200-$300 per hour, or a full-time-equivalent gross annual salary range of $220,000-$300,000, prorated for fractional hours. Compensation depends on relevant experience, role level, and the applicable salary framework.
• Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully remote position with approximately 20-24 hours per week and flexibility in working hours and location. Candidates based in the United States or United Kingdom are preferred, with flexibility for other locations, particularly within UTC-5 to UTC+2.
• Potential for Growth: Opportunity to expand working hours as organizational needs and the portfolio of supported projects grow.
• Employment Flexibility: Open to either an employee or independent contractor arrangement, with the employee structure preferred.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Benefits vary by country, employment arrangement, and working hours, with an emphasis on equitable, high-quality support.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Vacation allowance, applicable statutory leave, and organization-wide mid-year and end-of-year breaks.
• Professional Development: Access to workshops, training, and dedicated work time for professional and personal growth.
• Technology and AI Support: Technology stipend for work-related equipment and a monthly AI tools budget equivalent to US$40.
• Collaborative Culture: Work with a supportive leadership team, low administrative bureaucracy, virtual coworking opportunities, and a peer support program for new employees.
• Work-Life Balance: A respectful, caring working environment that values autonomy, collaboration, and sustainable working practices.
• Meaningful Impact: Help strengthen the legal foundations of organizations working on global health, animal welfare, AI safety, and other important global challenges.