Recognized as one of the top 50 nonprofit organizations to work for in the USA

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Location: Hybrid/Remote

Salary Range: $200,000 - $220,000 Final offer amount depends on multiple factors such as candidates experience and expertise, geographic location, total compensation, and market data.

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

CDP is an equal employment opportunity employer seeking diversity in qualified applicants for employment. We welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodation in order to participate fully in our recruitment process by sending a message to the recruiter connected to the role. They may be contacted directly by responding to any message you receive through our system after applying.

Who we are
At CDP, we are on a mission to solve our planet’s biggest environmental challenges: climate change, water scarcity and deforestation. We believe you can’t manage what you don’t measure – so we run the world’s largest environmental disclosure system. For the past two decades, our team has worked tirelessly to create a thriving economy that works for people and planet in the long term – we accomplish this by engaging the global actors who wield the greatest influence in driving environmental change: companies, cities, governments, and the capital markets.
CDP’s cascading global impact is powered by our tight-knit team of smart, savvy, curious and committed individuals, who share a common passion for creating a sustainable future. It is our people who make our work possible. And we provide our people with a working environment that empowers each individual to reach their full potential: one that is committed to equity; one that provides equal access for growth and development; and one that supports each individual throughout the full employee life cycle.

The role
CDP is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Chief Legal Officer to lead our legal team and provide expert guidance on a wide range of legal matters. Reporting to the CFO, the Chief Legal Officer will play a pivotal role in ensuring CDP's compliance with relevant laws and regulations, managing legal risks, and supporting our mission-driven initiatives globally.

Who you are

• Minimum of 15 years experience as a practicing attorney in the United States, preferably with inhouse experience.
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the American bar association.
• Extensive knowledge of the ESG / Climate space, preferably in a small organization with growth aspirations.
• Experience of working with a global commercial sales organization, ideally with experience working with the APAC region.
• Experience in the software and/or SaaS industry.
• Intellectual property (IP) experience.
• Experience of working with global not-for-profit legal entities such as registered UK charities, German gGmbH and US 501C3.
• Proven ability to lead and manage a legal team effectively, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to team members within a global, multicultural and diverse environment, while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Ability to think strategically and develop innovative legal strategies that align with the organization's goals and objectives, while also anticipating and addressing potential legal challenges and risks.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders, including senior management, board members, and other departments, as well as external partners, clients, regulators, and legal counsel.
• Someone at ease in a changing organization and sector and able to excel by operating with a sense of urgency while remaining flexible, open-minded and adaptable.
• An appreciation of CDP’s values.
• Commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards and promoting a culture of integrity, transparency, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements throughout the organization.
• Must reside and be eligible to work in USA without employer sponsorship. We cannot sponsor for this role.

Your day-to-day

Legal Strategy and Compliance:
• Anticipate legal and regulatory scrutiny and proactively develop creative solutions to achieve Organization goals
• Develop and implement legal strategies aligned with CDP's mission and objectives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards across all aspects of CDP's operations.

Corporate Governance and Ethics:
• Provide guidance and support on corporate governance matters, including board governance, ethics, and conflicts of interest.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to promote ethical conduct and compliance throughout the organization.
• Oversee and govern interaction with external stakeholders such as the UK Charities Commission
• Ensure that CDP’s leadership is effectively advised on changes to statute and case law, making sure that data and evidence is at the heart of the CDP’s governance and effective decision-making.

Contract Management:
• Oversee the drafting, review, and negotiation of contracts, agreements, and legal documents.
• Ensure that contracts and agreements reflect CDP's interests and comply with legal requirements.

Risk Management:
• Identify and assess legal risks associated with CDP's activities and operations.
• Develop and implement risk management strategies to mitigate legal liabilities and safeguard the organization's interests.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution:
• Manage and oversee legal disputes and litigation involving CDP.
• Collaborate with external legal counsel as necessary to represent CDP's interests in legal proceedings.

International Law and Advocacy:
• Stay abreast of international legal developments relevant to CDP's work.
• Provide legal guidance and support for advocacy efforts, partnerships, and international initiatives.

Team Management:
• Create leadership and succession plans for the legal function
• Empower team to serve as trusted
• Organization advisers and proactively help the
• Organization develop solutions
• Shape organizational culture, set tone at the top

The perks
• Generous PTO. Tackling the world’s biggest environmental challenges is no easy feat – we offer a generous 20 days of annual leave to keep our employees energized.
• Paid holidays. We recognize 15 paid holidays, including winter break, and pay homage to our diversity by offering one additional floating holiday of your choice for religious or cultural celebrations, per year.
• Learning and career growth. We are committed to the growth and development of each individual team member. We offer continuous learning opportunities and training for personal development.
• Future planning: We know it is important to plan for the future. We provide our employees with both a non-contributory 401K, and an optional additional contributory 401K. We also offer life insurance.
• Commuter benefit: We cover the costs of bike share memberships to make commuting a little easier.
• Fun. We take our work seriously, but we don’t take ourselves (too) seriously. We regularly take time out for fun and festivities, from all-staff retreats, to happy hours, to summer outings and an end-of-year holiday celebration!
• Sabbaticals: Employees are eligible for sabbaticals once they have worked for three continuous years at CDP NA.

Before you apply
We’ll only use the information you provide to process your application. For more details on how we use your information, see our applicant’s privacy notice. By uploading your CV and covering letter, you are permitting CDP to use the information you have provided for recruitment purposes. 

How to apply
Please upload your CV in the application form along with a covering letter as an additional document setting out how you meet the required skills and experience or key responsibilities, which should be no more than two pages. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.