General Counsel

THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM

The Chicago History Museum is Chicago's oldest cultural institution. It was founded as the Chicago Historical Society in 1856 and incorporated in 1857 by an act of the state legislature. The Museum is now located at 1601 N. Clark Street in Lincoln Park, its third location since its founding. A major museum and research center for Chicago and U.S. history, the Museum strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, publications, special events, and programming, the Museum connects people to Chicago's history and to each other. To share Chicago stories, the Museum collects and preserves millions of artifacts, documents, images, and other items that are relevant to the city's history. Thousands of school groups from Chicago and the surrounding area visit annually. The Abakanowicz Research Center serves thousands each year, from schoolchildren working on Chicago Metro History Day projects to PhD students writing dissertations to filmmakers researching documentaries.

THE ROLE: GENERAL COUNSEL ON A PART–TIME (VARIABLE HOURS) BASIS:

The Museum seeks in–house legal counsel to manage all legal and compliance matters for the Museum. The Museum's General Counsel will have the ability to create and shape the legal department for the Museum. This role is part–time on a variable hours basis depending on work load, and is expected to average no less than 50% time annually.

This role will provide general legal and strategic advice to the Chicago History Museum's management, team members, and Board of Trustees, handle, directly or working with outside counsel as needed, an interesting variety of legal matters for the Museum, provide corporate governance and compliance advice to the Board and senior management, and develop effective risk management strategies for the Museum. The role will report directly to the Museum's President and will be a member of the senior leadership team. This role will have responsibility for managing outside counsel and supervising law school student interns. The position is located in Chicago with remote work possible as and when appropriate.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as a key advisor to senior management and Board

• Provide legal, strategic, compliance and risk management advice to management, team members, and Board

• Review, draft, analyze, negotiate, and finalize agreements including those related to day–to–day contract matters, grant agreements, licensing agreements and transactional matters

• Provide legal counsel on employment–related matters, including employee disputes, internal investigations, and policy review, development, implementation and training, with the support of external labor and employment counsel as needed

• Provide legal review and advice on all intellectual property matters, seeking support of external IP counsel as needed

• Provide legal advice related to the Museum's extensive collection of objects, costumes, documents, photographs and digital materials

• Provide legal review of marketing materials, grant applications, and other related matters

• Review, analyze, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local governmental rules and regulations applicable to the Museum

• Work closely with other Museum team members to draft, review, implement and provide training on organizational policies and procedures

• Handle all corporate governance matters for the Board and Museum including attending Board and appropriate Board Committee meetings, advising on Board compliance with governance obligations, addressing conflicts of interest, providing advice on draft Board and Committee meeting minutes, and drafting Board resolutions and other appropriate documents related to the Board's activities

• Provide legal review and counsel for insurance–related matters including review of and compliance with applicable insurance policies and providing legal support for insurance–related claims, seeking support of external insurance counsel as needed

• Handle, directly or with the support of outside counsel, all other legal, regulatory and compliance matters including privacy, tax, estates and trusts, real estate, state and local registrations, and legal claims and investigative matters

• Work closely with the Museum President and other members of the senior leadership team to advance the Museum's strategic and organizational priorities consistent with the Museum's mission, vision, and values

• Supervise legal interns and engage and manage outside counsel as needed

DESIRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• 5 years+ of law firm, in–house, or government legal experience, with some experience in an in–house non–profit setting preferred

• Strong general corporate law background and ability to easily identify issues in other areas of the law generally applicable to organizations similar to the Museum

• Experience reviewing grant agreements and cooperative agreements with governmental entities preferred

• Experience handling labor and employment and intellectual property matters preferred

• Museum law experience a plus

• Knowledge of federal and state laws affecting nonprofit organizations and laws related to fundraising or taxation 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

• Strong organization skills, attention to detail, proven ability to meet multiple deadlines and appropriately prioritize competing demands

• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively with people at all levels within the organization

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a complex, multicultural environment

EDUCATION/LICENSURE:

• JD from an ABA accredited law school

• Valid license to practice law in the State of Illinois

• Member in good standing of the Illinois State Bar

COMPENSATION:

Part time position on a variable hours basis (expected no less than 50% time on average annually), compensated at a rate of between $75.00 and $125.00 per hour, depending on experience level.

EEOC STATEMENT:

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.