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Open Position

Legal and Governance Paralegal

Title: Legal and Governance Paralegal
Location: 444 Madison Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY (must have ability to be in-person)
Reports to: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Status: Full time, exempt 
How to apply: Please click here. Application reviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

The Doris Duke Foundation (DDF) supports the well-being of people and the planet for a more creative, equitable and sustainable future. We operate five national grantmaking programs—in the performing arts, the environment, medical research, child and family well-being, and mutual understanding between communities—as well as Duke Farms and Shangri La, two centers that serve the public directly. DDF’s activities are guided by the will of Doris Duke, who endowed the foundation with financial assets that currently total above $2 billion.

POSITION
The Doris Duke Foundation seeks a legal and governance paralegal to support the general counsel and corporate secretary in administering the legal affairs of the foundation, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and supporting board governance matters. In this role, the legal and governance paralegal will provide overall organization and management to the legal department, including working on special projects and other operational support for the legal function of the foundation. The legal and governance paralegal will also provide administrative support for committee and board items. Additionally, the legal and governance paralegal will serve as a resource for questions, follow-up and process management.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Assist with development and management of contract templates and the contract process across all locations of the foundation and has specified approval authority.
  • Liaise with colleagues at Duke Farms and Shangri La to provide support on legal and compliance matters.
  • Draft, review and revise standard contracts.
  • Draft, review and revise policies and ensure that policies are up to date and compliant with the relevant laws.
  • Draft meeting minutes, resolutions, templates and other governance documents.
  • Assist with the facilitation of board and committee meeting logistics.
  • Leverage technology in place (e.g., Diligent) and explore other systems to support the legal, compliance and governance work of the foundation.
  • Develop processes to streamline the legal and governance functions of the foundation.
  • Assist with employee training, education and assistance in the areas of paper and electronic records and file management.
  • Assist human resources with policy training and implementation.
  • Assist with new hire and annual disclosure process of the board and staff.
  • Administrative duties may include department organization, scheduling meetings, managing calendars and other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate.
  • 5+ years of experience as a paralegal or similar function.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills and interpersonal skills.
  • A practical approach with a can-do attitude.
  • High attention to detail.
  • Ability to draft institutional policies and procedures, bylaws, resolutions, contracts, position statements and legal responses.
  • Ability to perform legal research on legal matters.
  • Ability to supervise investigations, analyze information and draw conclusions.
  • General knowledge of the laws and regulations affecting private foundations, employers, grantmakers, property managers, museum operators and the business of running all the foundations in a compliant environment.
  • General knowledge of employment laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
  • Ability to anticipate legal concerns and articulate practical actions for compliance.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and creativity in identifying solutions, even in unreceptive situations.
  • Strong business knowledge and understanding of the processes of well-managed organizations.

CHARACTERISTICS
The successful candidate should be:

  • Highly motivated by the opportunity to drive impact.
  • Strategic, disciplined and ethical.
  • Organized, flexible, intelligent and pragmatic.
  • Able to organize and prioritize multiple projects and use initiative and judgment to accomplish timely results.
  • Collaborative and a consensus builder.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

  • Report to the general counsel and corporate secretary.
  • Work closely with the executive assistant to the president and board liaison on matters relating to board governance.
  • Have considerable interaction with the human resources department, including on matters related to policies and compliance.
  • Have considerable interaction with the New York Office operations team, grants team and management across the foundation.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

  • Anticipated salary range is $78,000-$98,000, and the final offer will depend on experience.
  • Industry-leading benefits.

HOW TO APPLY
Please click here. Application reviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

OUR VALUES
The following values underpin everything we do in pursuit of our mission across the Doris Duke Foundation:

Integrity: We must be honest and ethical in all that we undertake. As a private foundation, we are accountable to the many stakeholders affected by our work.

Excellence: We will insist on the highest standards of performance in fulfilling our mission, will ground our work in best practices and will make decisions based on the best available information.

Openness and Imagination: We will be a listening and learning organization that is responsive to ideas and opinions from a variety of sources. We value imagination and creativity, the ability to think in new ways about the work we do and how we do it.

Collaboration: We value a collaborative and supportive environment in which to advance our mission and objectives. Creating a working environment that promotes trust, honesty and respect within our organization is as important as earning the trust and respect of our colleagues and peers in the fields in which we work.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We believe in the essential value that a diverse set of perspectives, experiences and abilities brings to the table. Our commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice is an ongoing, active engagement reflected in our funding areas, grantees, museums, centers, board and staff. At the core of our work is a dedication to serving and learning from organizations and individuals addressing inequities and working toward a more just, healthy and inclusive society. (Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and how we incorporate this value into our work.)

The Doris Duke Foundation is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in its work and workplace culture. We provide equal opportunity for employees and applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law; and we strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, orientations and communities to apply.