Mellon Foundation 

Associate General Counsel 

The Mellon Foundation (“Foundation”) believes that the arts and humanities are where we express our complex humanity, and we believe that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom to be found there. Through our grants, we seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive. The Foundation makes grants in four core program areas - Higher Learning, Arts and Culture, Public Knowledge, and Humanities in Place - and through its signature Presidential Initiatives. The Foundation seeks an experienced Associate General Counsel for our legal team.  

Position Summary: 

We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and trusted Associate General Counsel to join our legal team. Reporting to the Senior Associate General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel will serve as an integral part of the legal function and across the Foundation, supporting governance, contractual, compliance, regulatory, and policy matters. This position will serve our legal team’s clients – the Foundation staff and the Board of Trustees– by providing sound practical legal advice, guidance and support on statutory and regulatory requirements, emerging issues, and best practices for the philanthropic and not-for-profit sector.   

Position Description:  

The Associate General Counsel position is a generalist role that requires intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, and experience working across a broad range of legal disciplines to provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice. 

Responsibilities may include, but will not be limited to the following:  

• Negotiating, reviewing, drafting, and interpreting contracts.
• Assisting in the development of Foundation policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Advising clients – Foundation staff and Trustees – on a broad range of legal issues including exempt organization, tax, intellectual property, contract, and grant matters.
• Supporting board governance work.
• Supporting a culture of legal and regulatory compliance.
• Executing practical and balanced risk mitigation plans grounded in best practice with guidance from the Chief Legal Officer and Senior Associate General Counsel.
• Anticipating and thoughtfully managing legal issues, considering legal risk, reputational impact, and mission objectives.
• Building relationships and facilitating collaborations with Foundation staff at all levels.
• Independently exercising judgment on complex legal matters.  
  

Qualifications: 

This essential role offers the opportunity to enhance the legal function at a prominent, complex foundation dedicated to the arts, humanities, and social justice. Experience working across the types of issues seen in a not-for-profit legal practice is ideal, including compliance, governance, commercial contracts, transactions and financings, tax, construction and real estate law, not-for-profit law, employment law, insurance law, licensing, pre-litigation and litigation counseling/management, privacy and data privacy, intellectual property, first amendment, higher education, human resources, and philanthropy.  

While experience in many aspects of the job description is ideal, we value adaptability and an eagerness to learn and grow. If you are excited about this opportunity and believe you can contribute to our team, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every requirement listed. 

Additional qualifications and key attributes:

• A J.D. and at least 7+ years of legal experience, with significant law firm experience preferred. 
• A solutions-oriented, agile thinker who can present and consider alternative approaches to achieve the Foundation’s objectives.
• Demonstrated business acumen in working to achieve the Foundation’s goals.
• Experience across a range of legal areas and willingness to learn and develop expertise in new areas. Experience supporting the secretary function or advising on board governance a plus.   
• A thoughtful approach to risk management. 
• Ability to adapt to change and think outside the box. 
• Sound judgment and ability to collaborate with staff at all levels.
• Excellent communicator through clear and effective oral and written communication with exceptional attention to detail. 
• Works independently, as well as collaboratively, leads projects, and meets deadlines.
• Analytical thinker with strong interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to handle multiple and often complex tasks effectively and efficiently. 
• Appreciation for a friendly and collegial work environment.
• Impeccable integrity, ethics, and professionalism.

Mellon Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Mellon offers a generous total reward package that includes base salary and a comprehensive benefits program, as well as an excellent working environment. Mellon is committed to providing compensation that is competitive and equitable within the philanthropic sector. The estimated annual salary range for this role is $275,000-$325,000. The amount of pay offered will be determined by several factors, including but not limited to qualifications, unique skills, credentials, or experience that is expected to impact the candidate’s contribution to the role. We will also consider market data as well as the Foundation’s internal pay equity framework. 

The Mellon Foundation is committed to access and inclusion for our applicants. If you have accessibility requests to support your participation in the hiring process, please let us know at your earliest convenience.

Please note that Mellon maintains a hybrid work schedule, with three days per week in person at the Foundation’s Manhattan offices.   

Candidates should apply by submitting a cover letter describing fit for the position and a resume by January 31, 2025.  Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.   

The Foundation will consider each complete application carefully but only contact those individuals it believes are most qualified for the position.