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XQ Institute · 1 week ago

Senior Legal Counsel

Oakland, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

$225K/yr - $255K/yr

7+ years exp

XQ Institute is the nation's leading organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in life. The Senior Legal Counsel will integrate legal strategy and support into programs, partnerships, and operations, ensuring that the organization's mission-driven initiatives are backed by strong legal frameworks that balance compliance with innovation.

AssociationEducationNon Profit

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain a legal and reputational risk management framework, including proactive guidance, policies, and training to build organizational capacity

Establish and update legal templates, practices, and policies that balance compliance with flexibility to accelerate execution without compromising accountability

Work with outside counsel to define and implement intellectual property and licensing strategies that safeguard XQ's assets and brand while enabling strategic collaboration and adoption

Shape legal strategies for programs, products, partnerships, and governance to ensure initiatives launch with clear expectations, protections, and measurable outcomes

Advise and issue spot to ensure all organization operations and activities comply with non-profit status

Protect XQ's intellectual property and ensure compliance with data privacy laws while enabling content sharing aligned with "making in the open" principles

Represent legal perspective in cross-functional transformation initiatives such as AI/OSS governance and California workplace requirements

Drive continuous legal education and knowledge sharing across the organization to enable confident decision-making

Ensure timely legal review of all contracts and grants in support of operational and programmatic goals

Implement cost-effective contracting strategies, pushing decisions to the right level and right-sizing legal documentation

Design flexible partnership structures (e.g., IP co-development) that support innovation and transformation at scale

Oversee cost-effective legal operations, including legal technology adoption, reporting, and strategic use of outside counsel

Manage the legal team's development and performance to ensure responsive, high-quality legal support

Streamline contract and grant processes through cross-functional alignment that accelerates agreements while maintaining protections

Achieve predictable and efficient outside counsel spend, including scope control and delegation, with a target of double-digit reductions

Partner with Finance, HR, and IT to integrate legal processes with operational and financial systems, reducing risk and increasing efficiency

Advise on HR and Workplace legal compliance

Collaborate with vendors and partners to resolve conflicts efficiently while preserving relationships and reputation

Support leadership team with aligned nonprofit policies and practices that protect XQ and its partners

Work with programmatic and product teams to embed legal considerations early, enabling impactful launches with built-in risk management

Partner with senior leadership on Board governance matters to ensure transparent credibility and fiduciary effectiveness

Qualification

J.D. degreeNonprofit law expertiseContractsGrantsIntellectual propertyRisk managementLegal operationsLeadership skillsCommunication skillsCollaboration skills