Description:

Position Summary:
The new General Counsel at the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) will manage all legal and compliance matters for WHS. The General Counsel will have the ability to create and shape an in-house legal department for WHS. This role is part-time on a variable hours basis depending on workload and is expected to average no less than 50 percent time annually. With the vision, energy, and enthusiasm that the position requires, the successful candidate will demonstrate intellectual range to lead teams, strengthen strategic planning, and implement annual objectives that serve the Society's mission as well as national and international reputation.

This role will provide general legal and strategic advice to WHS's management, team members, and Board of Curators, handle, directly or working with outside counsel as needed, an interesting variety of legal matters for WHS, provide corporate governance and compliance advice to the senior management, and develop effective risk management strategies for the organization. The role will report directly to WHS's Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO and will be a member of the Director's Office and the senior leadership team. This role will be responsible for managing outside counsel. The position is headquartered in Madison with remote work possible as and when appropriate. Under general supervision of the CEO, this position also provides a variety of legal services, through counsel to the Senior Leadership Team.

Salary Information:
Part-time position on a variable hours basis (expected no less than 50 percent time on average annually), $50.00 - $56.00 per hour. This classification is in schedule and class 09-75.

Please note this is a Limited Term Employment position so it does not include paid time off or benefits upon hire.

Job Details:

This role is part-time on a variable hours basis depending on workload and is expected to average no less than 50 percent time annually.
A criminal background check will be conducted by WHS prior to an offer of employment to determine if the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job.
Wisconsin residency is required for Limited Term Employment positions.
WHS does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States.
Certain positions within WHS may allow remote/work from home flexibility for a portion of their work schedule, depending on the needs of the position and the work unit. This topic and any remote work flexibility that may be available will be discussed in more detail in the interview process.

Qualifications:

Five years of law firm, in-house, or government legal experience.
Strong general corporate law background and ability to easily identify issues in other areas of the law generally applicable to organizations similar to WHS
Experience reviewing grant agreements and cooperative agreements with governmental entities preferred
Experience in handling labor and employment and intellectual property matters preferred
Knowledge of federal and state laws affecting nonprofit organizations and laws related to fundraising are all considered a plus
Previous experience advising a Board of Directors a plus
Ability to work well with officials at all levels of government
Excellent written and verbal communications and interpersonal skills, including consensus building
Excellent strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills
Ability to work well independently and collaboratively with people at all levels within the organization

Special Qualifications
Applicants must be licensed to practice law in Wisconsin by the State Bar of Wisconsin

How to Apply:
Apply online! To apply, click “Apply for Job” to start the application process. Then, you will access your existing account or to create a new account if you don't have an account. Once you are logged in, click “Apply for Job.” Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications for your application and what should be included in these materials, click here.

Submitted materials will be evaluated and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the hiring process.

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce.

Questions can be directed to dawn.garcia@wisconsinhistory.org or (608) 264-6670

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance.

Deadline to Apply:
Application materials will be evaluated as received, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.