The Carlisle Group has been retained to search for a Vice President of People & Culture. Our client was established in 1997. They are a nonprofit organization and a unique home and community-based network that provides individualized and non-traditional services and care to the highest risk individuals and families with social, emotional, mental health and behavioral challenges. This organization has been a mainstay in the Central New York Community for over 25 years. They operate out of 13 locations in 6 counties and have 600+ employees. The organization’s vision is to keep families together. Their mission is to empower individuals and families.
Corporate Counsel Summary:
Our client is seeking a Corporate Counsel to serve as its senior in-house legal leader. This role provides proactive, strategic legal guidance across the organization, with primary responsibility for contract review, lease and real estate matters, and enterprise-level risk management.
This position works closely with executive leadership, finance, operations, HR, and program leadership to ensure the organization’s growth, partnerships, and service delivery are supported by sound legal strategy.
The Corporate Counsel will translate complex legal risk into practical operational guidance and help leadership make informed, forward-looking decisions.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Oversee review, drafting, and negotiation of contracts across government, vendor, partnership, grant, consulting, and service agreements.
- Collaborate with leadership and review policies and procedures as they relate to legal compliance and risk.
- Identify legal and financial exposure, advising leadership on liability, indemnification, insurance, termination, and operational alignment.
- Partner closely with Finance to ensure contractual commitments reflect financial and operational realities.
- Lead legal oversight of commercial leases, site expansions, relocations, acquisitions, and capital projects.
- Conduct due diligence in regard to capital projects, community partner collaborations, governmental agency regulations, and other new project matters.
- Coordinate with external real estate counsel as needed.
- Provide ongoing legal counsel to executive leadership and the board.
- Advise on new programs, social enterprise initiatives, and geographic expansion.
- Monitor and assess regulatory and compliance risks affecting operations and governance.
- Identify and mitigate organization-wide legal risks through policy development and internal controls.
- Support outside counsel and Human Resources on employment-related matters.
- Oversee litigation management and outside counsel relationships.
- Align insurance coverage with overall risk profile.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with executive leadership, finance, HR, operations, and program teams.
- Build internal legal literacy and governance processes to strengthen decision-making and risk awareness.
Requirements/Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) from accredited law school.
- Licensed and in good standing to practice law in New York State.
- Minimum 5+ years of relevant legal experience.
- Significant experience in:
- Contract drafting and negotiation.
- Commercial lease review.
- Regulatory compliance.
- Strong ability to translate legal language into practical operational guidance.
- Experience advising senior leadership or non-profit boards.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in nonprofit or human services environments.
- Familiarity with New York State government contracts.
- Experience supporting multi-site or multi-entity organizations.
- Background in real estate transactions or commercial leasing.
- Exposure to social enterprise or subsidiary structures.
Language Ability
- Ability to read and interpret reports, funding guidelines, and media correspondence. Strong writing and editing skills. Ability to speak effectively before stakeholders, partners, and media outlets.
Reasoning Ability
- Strategic thinker with operational grounding. Comfortable balancing risk tolerance with mission urgency. Strong negotiation skills. High emotional intelligence and collaborative leadership style. Decisive but pragmatic. Able to work independently without large internal legal infrastructure.
Computer Skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and Word Document Processing.
Certificates and Licenses
- Valid driver’s license. Ability to attend off-site meetings and events as required.
Work Environment
- Office-based with occasional travel.
Physical Demands
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, reach with arms, talk, or hear. Occasional standing, walking, or event-related activity is expected.
Salary
$111,000-$139,000/yr.
The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all potential geographic locations. The final offer will be determined based on the candidate's primary work location, experience, and specific skills. Benefits are subject to the terms of the specific plan documents.
