Overall Function

The American Chemical Society Office of the General Counsel provides Commercial, Ethics & Compliance, IP, Privacy, Employment, Governance and other legal support across the entire portfolio of ACS entities and mission operations around the world. As a team, we are strategic legal partners that strive to anticipate, support and advance the ACS business operations, its mission and membership, and the work of its people around the world. We are a small, experienced group of professionals with a reputation for quality, collegiality, and a commitment to each teammate's development and success.

The Sr Specialist, Legal Operations will report to the General Counsel and working closely with other members of the legal team to provide essential substantive and programmatic support for the OGC. This role will also collaborate on ACS governance matters and legal record keeping functions, and provide administrative support to the GC.

Key Responsibilities

• As a member of the OGC team, we share responsibility for:
  • Upholding ACS's core values and behavioral competencies;
  • Realizing ACS's commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and respect in all areas of its mission and operation;
  • Operating from a position of trust; and
  • Succeeding together.
• As an individual contributor, the role is expected to:
  • Support the GC and collaborate with other legal teammates generally to advance the work of the OGC;
  • Conduct legal research;
  • Assist Ethics & Compliance and Business Operations legal teams to advance training events that advance awareness of relevant global standards, laws and regulations, and ACS policies;
  • Support privacy program development and implementation;
  • Support contracting processes;
  • Collaborate with other OCG staff and the Office of the Secretary to advance society governance in conjunction with the OCG;
  • Develop and employ best practices and technology solutions to catalog operational legal documents, information resources, contract management, legal invoices, etc;
  • Help maintain global legal operations internal and external points of contact (eg. assist in monitoring and management of Legal, Privacy and other OGC inboxes; help manage outside counsel invoices; help coordinate filings and communication with government offices; etc);
  • Collect and handle sensitive information related to conflict-of-interest certifications, due diligence and other sensitive matters;
  • Provide administrative assistance and support to the General Counsel.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of experience primarily in corporate paralegal, legal operations or similar role(s);
• Bachelor's degree with paralegal certificate or equivalent work experience;
• Solutions oriented with the ability assess requirements and priorities, and effectively manage expectations;
• Demonstrated proficiency with common office technology;
• Solid organizational skills and attention to detail required;
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to interact with poise and diplomacy;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise discretion and work in a highly diverse environment.
• Contract preparation and basic negotiation skills a plus;
• Experience or interest in privacy program management a plus;
• Multi-national non-profit experience a major plus; and
• Optimism, patience, and a sense of humor.

Location: DC (with hybrid days-in-office option)

EEO/Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran