MacArthur Foundation
MF

Associate General Counsel

MacArthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
Hybrid
Full-time
$175k - $175k
1mo ago

Apt Insight

In this role, you will serve as a strategic legal advisor and embedded partner across the MacArthur Foundation's grantmaking, investment, and operational teams. Reporting to the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and working alongside the Deputy General Counsel, you will shape legal frameworks from the early stages of program design, evaluate and document risk management across integrated portfolios, and help build foundational legal infrastructure for the entire organization.

Is This a Good Match for You?

Fact Focus95Conscientiousness83Logic Focus88Analytical Nature75Detail Orientation90
The graph above shows a positive alignment between your profile and the role of this job. Your working style and professional priorities appear compatible with their organizational approach, which provides useful context when evaluating opportunities here.Beyond the specific role you're considering, understanding the company itself helps you make a better decision. Our analysis factors in elements like culture, management style, and organizational stability—things that significantly impact day-to-day satisfaction but are hard to glean from a job description alone. The graph above summarizes how this job stacks up against your stated preferences.
Unlock your full match with Apt ProStart with the AI-powered career test to unlock your personal career mentor, full company insights, and a personalized job board designed around your goals.

Responsibilities

Serve as primary legal counsel to multiple grantmaking teams by advising on legal due diligence, grant structuring, and compliance with private foundation tax regulations and international requirements.
Review, draft, and negotiate legal documentation for both traditional investments and impact investments, including partnership agreements, subscription documents, side letters, and PRI/MRI transactions.
Draft and negotiate a wide array of operational and commercial agreements spanning consulting, technology, data privacy, intellectual property licensing, and real estate.
Develop standardized templates, operational policies, playbooks, and knowledge-management systems to support consistent risk management across the legal department.
Assist with corporate governance matters, including preparing board and committee resolutions, managing affiliate documentation, and supporting regulatory filings.
Design and deliver tailored legal training to foundation staff to translate complex regulatory frameworks into actionable guidance.
Represent the foundation externally at professional conferences, industry working groups, and peer networks to monitor emerging legal trends.

Qualifications

You must hold a Juris Doctor from an accredited law school with a strong academic and professional track record.
You need an active admission to the Illinois State Bar, eligibility for immediate admission as registered in-house counsel, or the willingness and ability to sit for the Illinois Bar exam.
You must bring at least five years of experience practicing law within a law firm, corporation, nonprofit, or government agency.
You need proven capability in drafting and negotiating complex contracts, assessing organizational risk, and communicating legal concepts clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
Nice to Have
Prior in-house legal experience, particularly within a private foundation, grantmaking institution, or nonprofit organization.
Subject-matter expertise in private foundation tax law, charitable governance, cross-border grantmaking compliance, or OFAC regulations.
Hands-on experience structuring and closing debt or equity investments, program-related investments (PRIs), or mission-related investments (MRIs).
Familiarity with data privacy, artificial intelligence governance, and technology licensing agreements.

Work Environment

Operates under a hybrid work arrangement based out of the foundation's Chicago, Illinois office.
Involves a standard 40-hour work week within a professional office setting.
Requires regular cross-functional collaboration with program officers, executive leadership, investment professionals, and external legal counsel.
Reasonable accommodations are supported for both the interview process and ongoing workplace performance.

Benefits & Perks

Starting annual base salary of $174,800 paired with a comprehensive total compensation structure.
Full benefits package supporting health, life, and personal well-being.
Direct exposure to complex, high-impact legal work across global philanthropy, impact investing, and modern governance.
Opportunities for professional growth through external network representation, committee leadership, and ongoing legal education.