Associate General Counsel

Job Description

The Walton Family Foundation (WFF) is seeking a skilled legal professional to join the team as an Associate General Counsel, reporting to the General Counsel.

What you will do
This is a newly created position for an attorney with at least 7 years of experience who has a commitment to working in the nonprofit sector. Ideally, you will have a working knowledge of the legal rules that apply to tax-exempt organizations but can also be or become a strong generalist.

You will be responsible for providing representation and counsel to the foundation on a broad range of U.S. and international legal matters that include advising on contracts, grants, business operations, organizational policies, governance, and regulatory compliance, as well as providing staff training with respect to these areas.

More specifically, you will:

• Advise staff on laws applicable to private foundations, public charities and social welfare organizations, including IRS lobbying, self-dealing and campaign intervention rules
• Advise on legal issues and review and negotiate agreements and other documents related to domestic and international grant making
• Prepare, review and negotiate contracts, licenses, leases and other legal documents with foundation vendors, grantees and others
• Advise on structuring foundation program-related investments and draft, review and negotiate investment documentation
• Develop and conduct educational opportunities for foundation staff on legal and related matters.
• Provide support for corporate governance activities as directed by the general counsel, such as drafting resolutions and preparing board reports.
• Conduct legal research as needed
• Assist and advise as requested on special projects throughout the Foundation

Knowledge, skills & abilities needed to support your success

Characteristics that we look for:
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal. Demonstrated ability to think strategically while delivering customized solutions to specific programs and departments
• Effective team member who is collaborative and empathetic An ambassador with the ability to give and receive feedback graciously
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects
• Superior organizational integrity, professional discretion and ability to handle highly sensitive or confidential matters
• Ability to perform at a high level in fast-paced environment and meet tight deadlines



About the Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. The children and grandchildren of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving K-12 education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. In 2018, the foundation awarded more than $595 million in grants in support of these initiatives. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Walton Enterprises

Walton Enterprises (WEI) is a family office serving the personal and financial needs of multiple generations of the Walton family. Guided by Sam Walton’s values, WEI’s mission is to enable all family members to reach their personal, philanthropic, and business aspirations.

As the family’s wealth grows and a new generation takes on more meaningful roles, WEI is expanding the scope, depth and sophistication of its services, which include wealth management, legal, accounting, tax, risk management/insurance, technology, HR, construction, facilities management, as well as oversight of external resources and services for family members and their related entities. This is an exciting time to be part of this world class team.

The Walton Family Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status of protected veteran, among other things or status as a qualified individual with a disability.

Basic Qualifications

Basic qualifications you are required to have:
• Law degree from an accredited law school
• License to practice law in at least one state
• 7 or more years of US law firm and/or in-house experience (or equivalent) with general corporate or exempt organization experience
• Contract drafting and negotiating skills

Preferred Requirements:
• Experience working in the exempt organizations field strongly preferred
• Expertise in one of the following preferred: K-12 Education, Environment or Urban Planning and Economic Development
• Familiarity with grant making