SVP Chief Legal Officer

Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona; Peoria (AZ); On-site; USD 250,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Plans

Dental Plans

Vision Plan

401K Plan

Job summary

Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona is seeking a Chief Legal Officer to serve as the senior legal advisor to the CEO and ELT. The role leads all legal, compliance, governance, risk, and regulatory affairs across the organization and its entities.

The CLO will drive strategy, manage outside counsel, and oversee mergers, acquisitions, and complex transactions while ensuring ethical, compliant operations and strong governance practices.

Qualifications

• Must have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and be a member in good standing of the Arizona Bar.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible legal experience in corporate and private practice.
• General Counsel/ chief legal officer experience and M&A exposure.
• Experience with governance, compliance, risk management, and regulatory matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide enterprise-wide leadership for legal, compliance, governance, risk management, and regulatory affairs.
• Lead multiple boards and committee governance practices; manage outside counsel and budgets.
• Develop and execute a legal strategy that aligns with growth and operational objectives.
• Oversee mergers, acquisitions, structuring, and post-merger integrations.
• Advise on contracts, real estate, financing, and corporate transactions.

Skills

Executive presence

Boards interaction

Strategic business counsel

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

2626 W Beryl Ave Phoenix Arizona, 85021,

Position Description:

Serves as the Company's chief legal advisor and strategic business partner to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and multiple Boards of Directors. Provides enterprise-wide leadership for all legal, compliance, governance, risk management, regulatory, litigation, employment, commercial, contract law, real estate law, trademark, M&A, and corporate matters. This executive develops and executes a legal strategy that supports growth, protects corporate assets, mitigates risk, and enables operational excellence. As a key member of the ELT, the CLO balances legal risk with business objectives, ensuring the organization operates with integrity, compliance, and sound governance while supporting strategic initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, expansion efforts, and stakeholder interests. Establishes the vision, priorities, operating model, and strategic direction of the organization's legal function.

Plans and directs all aspects of the Company’s and affiliated entities for Legal and Compliance and ensures protection of its legal and regulatory rights and interests. Responsible for identifying and analyzing legal issues, drafting key documents, presenting clear recommendations, and managing the work/budget of outside counsel, as needed. Oversees organizational integrations and post-merger transformation, while developing and scaling legal and compliance infrastructure during periods of significant growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, and ethical business conduct.
• Lead governance practices and advise multiple Boards of Directors and committee chairs on policies, fiduciary responsibilities, governance obligations, and mandatory corporate record-keeping and compliance.
• Support board meetings, resolutions, governance documentation, and strategic transactions.
• Advise on legal/compliance aspects of the organization’s financing, including assessing and advising on current and future business structures and legal entities.
• Prepare and assist with negotiation of business contracts, leases, and consulting agreements, and administer other legal matters relating to real estate acquisition, development, and financing of transactions and projects, as needed.
• Oversight of insurance claims, risk transfer mechanisms, and legal reserves.
• Monitors and consults on corporate compliance matters, including mandatory outside reporting, audits, and reviews.
• Responsible for leading corporate strategic and tactical legal and compliance initiatives.
• Lead legal strategy for significant incidents, including serious injuries, fraud, cyber events, regulatory inquiries, media-sensitive matters, and reputational crises.
• Represents GCNA in litigation and all legal proceedings. Acts as agent of organization in various transactions.
• Owns the legal and compliance budget, outside-counsel spend, legal reserves, matter portfolio, risk dashboard, and periodic reporting to the CEO, ELT, and Board committees.
• Anticipates legal, regulatory, and business risks that may affect organizational performance and reputation; counsels and/or trains staff on compliance and changes in the law, project/transactional issues and disputes.
• Develop succession plans, cross-training, knowledge-management practices, and continuity plans for the legal and compliance function.
• Responsible for performance management (coaching, discipline, performance improvement plans, and annual reviews), staffing, compensation, and development of Team Members.
• Models Goodwill Core Values – Trust, Collaboration, Engagement, Ownership, and Innovation.
• Plays critical role in driving company culture change efforts and change management processes.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Skills):

• Must have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and be a member in good standing of the Arizona Bar.
• Extensive and progressively responsible legal experience, 15+ years, as a practicing lawyer in a corporate environment and in private practice at a prestigious “Big Law” firm.
• Significant experience serving as General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, or Deputy General Counsel.
• In depth experience interpreting and advising on California law is strongly preferred.
• Experience in a multi-entity, highly regulated, mission-driven, nonprofit, social enterprise, or similarly complex environment.
• Experience with change management and organizational effectiveness.
• M&A and corporate development experience strongly preferred.
• Experience interacting with Boards of Directors and executive leadership teams.
• Must have compliance expertise and strategic business counseling in areas impacting all business units.
• Must have extensive knowledge of business management and best practices, and a clear and comprehensive understanding of legal matters such as finance, real estate, corporate governance, employment law, litigation management/dispute resolution, contracts, and compliance.
• Strong M&A experience with demonstrated success in multiple mergers required.
• Must possess strong executive presence with demonstrated persuasiveness and persistence in reinforcing the goals of the organization.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of contacts, including outside attorneys, senior management, and business associates.
• Valid drivers' license and clean MVR.
• Ability to speak and read English proficiently.
• Ability to pass a background check and drug screen, where applicable for position.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

You will be eligible for a comprehensive Total Rewards package, 1st of the month following 60 days of employment that includes the following:

• 3 Medical Plans.
• Employer Funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
• 3 Dental Plans.
• Vision Plan.
• 401K Traditional and Roth Plans.
• Employer Paid Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Paid Time Off; Sick and Vacation.
• Paid Holidays.

These are just a few highlights of our key benefit offerings!

Become a valued member of an organization where good work meets community impact. Our mission is: Empowering Individuals, Strengthening Families, and Building Stronger Communities. Goodwill provides no-cost career development, training, and education services to help individuals build a better life for themselves and their families. Our core values are Trust, Collaboration, Engagement, Ownership, and Innovation. Everything we accomplish as a team is centered around these core values. Together, we create an inclusive and welcoming environment for each other. With stores conveniently located near you, you can work for a company where team strength and success are valued and encouraged. Join our team and gain opportunities for job growth at Goodwill and beyond.

Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified individuals seeking employment are considered without regard to race (including traits associated with race, e.g., hairstyles), color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, military status, age, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state and local fair employment practice laws.

Individuals with a disability may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or state or local laws. Please contact Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona at 1-833-624-0920 option 6 or [e-mail] if you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For questions about your application or employment with Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, please contact our Candidate Support Line at 1-833-624-0920, option 5.