About CEI
The Competitive Enterprise Institute is a non-profit public policy organization dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty. We believe economic freedom is essential for entrepreneurship, innovation, and prosperity to flourish. CEI pursues a full-service approach to advancing public policy, which includes conducting original scholarly research, active communications campaigns, direct advocacy with policymakers, and litigation. Founded in 1984, CEI has grown into an effective advocate for freedom on a wide range of critical policy issues, including technology, telecommunications, free market environmentalism, employment policy, business and finance, health care, and consumer products regulation. CEI’s law and litigation program is integrated into other policy campaigns and has won key successes through challenges to regulation, statutes, and executive authority.
About the General Counsel Opening
CEI seeks a General Counsel to oversee the law and litigation team, as well as develop new issue projects within CEI’s core issue areas and advocate for public policy proposals.
The General Counsel will work from CEI’s Washington, DC office 4 days per week and be permitted to work remotely 1 day per week. The remote day may be of your choosing and should be regular (the same day each week).
Travel will be minimal for this position (approximately 10%).
Primary Responsibilities
- Lead the law and litigation team in many areas of non-profit and policy legal work including litigation, legal research and opinions, contract review, investigations, and corporate governance
- Craft and reviewing legal strategy
- Draft agreements, briefs, and legislation on behalf of CEI
- Develop materials for non-legal audiences such as congressional staff, media and the general public
- Manage and support CEI’s law and litigation team members with regards to their work and positions
- Advise senior managers on new laws, existing laws and legal rights that would affect the operations of the organization
- Oversee the legal matters of the organization, including acting as the organization’s legal representative
- Maintain knowledge of the company’s legal documents and operations
- Keep a record of all legal documents and proceedings for the organization
- Communicate with outside counsel
- Advise staff on laws applicable to private foundations, public charities including donor advised funds, and social welfare organizations, including IRS lobbying, self-dealing and campaign intervention rules
- Provide legal counsel on policy and advocacy activities, including providing advice regarding grantmaking structures, reviewing grant materials and reports, and advising on policy-related communications when needed
- Provide representation and counsel on a broad range of nonprofit legal matters that include advising on contracts, grants, business operations, organizational policies, investments governance, and regulatory compliance, as well as occasionally providing staff training with respect to these areas
- Provide support for corporate governance activities
- Develop and maintain a strong relationship with personnel to serve as a trusted resource for legal issues
Qualifications
- Seven+ years of related experience in non-profit law, including areas of expertise like tax-exempt organizations, fundraising regulation and governance
- Commitment to working in the nonprofit sector
- JD and current license to practice law in Washington, DC
- Working knowledge of the legal rules that apply to tax-exempt organizations, specifically private foundations or the policy think tank environment and the rules for permissible 501(c)(3) activity
- Policy experience is a plus
- Ability to develop and advocate public policy proposals and develop materials for non-legal audiences such as congressional staff, media, and the general public
- Proven record of working well with a diverse group of people
- Philosophical alignment with CEI’s mission, values and vision
Characteristics
If you believe that this position may be a good fit, these words will describe you:
- Communicator. You have excellent oral communication, writing, and editing abilities. Any type of strong writing skills will be considered, but legislative and/or public affairs experience provides added benefit
- Detail Oriented. You are relentless about accuracy and value good writing style
- Team Player. You demonstrate a cheerful willingness to work with, not just alongside, colleagues who bring various skills, experiences, and perspectives to CEI’s mission
- Open-minded. You are eager to learn new things and couple that to an open attitude toward the mundane nature of some research or administrative tasks
- Respectful. You can disagree agreeably
- Self-starter. You are eager to jump into project management. You know when to ask for help, but once trained, you don’t need handholding. You’re comfortable receiving increasing autonomy to manage your own work and important processes.
- Multi-Tasker. You thrive in an environment that demands multi-tasking
- Focused. You are able to focus on specific tasks for as long as necessary to completion. While skilled at multi-tasking, you know how to avoid being distracted. You drive yourself to get the job done right and on time
- Curious and Policy-Minded. You like public policy and are excited about complex policy ideas and enjoy distilling them in ways that are both factually accurate and interesting to external audiences
- Deadline Driven. Making the trains run on time and meeting deadlines are simply part of your DNA
- You easily maintain a positive, flexible attitude as needs or priorities shift
The projected annual salary range for this role is $120,000-$230,000, contingent upon the specific skills and experience of the selected candidate.
Application Instructions
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:
- Cover letter including:
- An introductory paragraph describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to CEI’s mission and how you came to those beliefs. Be sure to include at least one specific issue, case, or policy area that resonates with you.
- Salary requirements
- Resume
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link:
https://talentmarket.org/candidates/apply-for-your-dream-job/
Questions can be directed to Claire Kittle Dixon, Executive Director of Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: [email protected].
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.
