Legal and Compliance Operations

h3Purpose of the role /h3pThe Legal and Compliance Operations Consultant supports the Chief Operating Officer on the legal and compliance needs of the organization. This is an execution-focused role: the person is assigned varied legal and compliance tasks connected to GFNE's work and carries each through to completion with precision and reliable follow-up. This role requires the ability to coordinate, organize, and execute across a global organization, and to work closely with external counsel where specialist input is required. /ph3Scope of work /h3pThe central function of this role is to provide direct, ongoing support to the Chief Operating Officer across GFNE's legal and compliance needs. The work is varied and largely responsive: the Consultant takes on assigned tasks as they arise, prioritized by the COO, and carries each through to completion with careful, consistent follow-up. These tasks fall across the areas below. /ph3US and Swiss nonprofit compliance /h3ulliTrack and maintain GFNE's compliance obligations across entities, keeping a live view of filing dates, renewals, and regulatory deadlines. /liliSupport adherence to US 501(c)(3) requirements, including the boundaries around political activity and lobbying, and coordinate the administration of related disclosures. /liliCoordinate statutory and regulatory filings across both jurisdictions, routing matters to counsel and finance where specialist input is needed. /liliSupport the compliance and governance requirements of GFNE's entities. /liliTrack compliance requirements early and coordinate the timely executions of various compliance needs. /liliSupport GFNE's data protection and privacy obligations at a coordinating level, working with counsel on GDPR and equivalent requirements, with particular relevance for the European entity, and flag privacy considerations that surface in day‑to‑day operations. /liliPrepare and organize documentation for audits and regulatory information requests. /li /ulh3International grantmaking compliance /h3ulliSupport the compliance checks around GFNE's international grantmaking, coordinating grantee due diligence with counsel and finance, including sanctions and watchlist screening. /liliHelp administer expenditure responsibility and equivalency determination processes where grants require them, maintaining the supporting records and tracking reporting deadlines. /liliPrepare and organize documentation for grant due diligence and funder information requests. /li /ulh3Board and governance support /h3ulliPrepare board and committee materials, coordinate meetings logistics, and produce accurate minutes and resolutions. /liliMaintain the governance calendar, tracking meeting cadence, committee cycles, and statutory deadlines such as the Form 990 and Swiss or European equivalents. /liliAdminister the conflict of interest and disclosure processes, including collecting, tracking, and safely maintaining declarations. /liliAct as custodian of GFNE's governing documents, keeping bylaws and board‑approved policies current, version controlled, and properly filed. /li /ulh3Legal coordination and cross‑functional support /h3ulliServe as the coordination point between GFNE and its external legal counsel in the US, Europe, and any other region where the organization operates. /liliScope and brief legal questions clearly, gather the background counsel needs, and track matters through to resolution. /liliHelp identify and engage counsel in new jurisdictions as GFNE's footprint grows. /li /ulh3Nature of the engagement /h3pThis is a consultancy of approximately 80 hours per month, structured as a blend of ongoing availability and defined monthly deliverables. Work is assigned and prioritized by the Chief Operating Officer. The role suits someone who is self‑directed and highly organized, and who is comfortable moving across a varied set of tasks and shifting priorities within a remote, globally distributed team. /ph3Required skills and experience /h3ulliAround 7 or more years of relevant experience across a blend of nonprofit compliance, paralegal, and legal operations work. /liliA legal qualification is not required, but would be an added advantage. /liliDemonstrated experience in the nonprofit or philanthropy sector. (Essential.) /liliComfort working within a remote, globally distributed team across multiple time zones. (Essential.) /liliStrong communication, coordination, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work smoothly across teams and regions. (Essential.) /liliA strong learning ethos and the acumen to navigate US and Swiss nonprofit and philanthropic environments. Direct familiarity with US 501(c)(3) and European nonprofit frameworks is an advantage, not a requirement. /liliExceptional attention to detail, with a disciplined approach to follow-up and follow-through. This is an execution‑heavy role, and dependability on the detail is central to it. /liliSelf‑directed and well organized, able to manage varied tasks wit