Senior Director / Vice President, Deputy General Counsel - National Office (Remote)

Company: YMCA
Location: Schiller Park
Posted on: March 17, 2026

Job Description:

We are The Y, an association that values and is made stronger by its diverse people. Job Description The Senior Director / Vice President, Deputy General Counsel is a senior legal advisor responsible for managing Y-USA’s litigation portfolio, providing enterprise legal guidance, negotiating complex contracts, and overseeing the effective engagement of outside counsel. This role exists to protect Y-USA from legal, financial, fiduciary, and reputational risk by applying experienced legal judgment early, consistently, and at scale across a complex nonprofit and federated environment. The role extends the capacity of the CLO by independently managing sophisticated legal matters while escalating issues that carry enterprise-level or Board-level risk. This position emphasizes early risk identification, litigation strategy, and enterprise-level legal judgment to enable proactive, efficient legal decision-making. YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) embraces a remote-first working environment which means most employees work remotely from a home office within the continental United States. We offer a full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, defined benefit plan (retirement savings), defined contribution plan (403(b) plan, life and disability insurances, technology stipend, and generous paid time off, all in a work from anywhere within the continental U.S. workplace. Qualifications A successful candidate will possess a majority of the following professional and personal attributes and competencies: Juris Doctor or equivalent legal training.Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. Minimum of 12 years of experience required Deep functional expertise and functional thought leadership Oversees a department or function Highly strategic and operational decision-making authority Mid- to long-term strategic planning for department or functional area Internal and external communications, executive level, high influence on department vision and strategy Management-level autonomy; no daily supervision from manager; goal achievement is typically accomplished through performance of direct and/or indirect reports Strong background in employment law, contracts, and nonprofit or regulated environments. Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment on high-risk, sensitive matters. Executive presence and comfort advising senior leadership Essential Functions Litigation Management and Risk Mitigation Manage Y-USA’s litigation docket, including employment, tort, contract, and other civil matters. Serve as the primary internal lead on litigation strategy, posture, motion practice, discovery coordination, and resolution. Apply disciplined judgment regarding jurisdictional challenges, early dismissal strategies, settlement posture, and escalation thresholds. Coordinate insurance alignment, notice obligations, and claims strategy in partnership with Finance and Risk. Prepare concise, executive-ready briefings on litigation exposure, trends, and outcomes, focused on risk and impact rather than procedural detail. Conduct portfolio-level analysis of litigation trends to identify systemic risk drivers and recommend preventive or corrective action. Enterprise Risk Triage and Early Intervention Serve as a front-line legal risk assessor, providing early triage of emerging disputes, workforce issues, and operational risks before they escalate into litigation, regulatory scrutiny, or reputational harm. Advise on when matters should be resolved early, escalated, or formally litigated, consistent with Y-USA’s risk tolerance and enterprise priorities. Legal Advisory and Enterprise Counsel Provide legal guidance to executive leadership and business teams on operational, employment, governance, and risk-related matters. Advise on sensitive personnel issues, internal disputes, and escalated workplace matters in coordination with HR and Compliance. Stay abreast of nonprofit legal developments affecting governance, tax-exempt status, employment, fiduciary duties, and regulatory exposure. Identify emerging legal risks and escalate appropriately to the CLO. Contract Negotiation and Legal Transactions Lead negotiation of complex, high-risk contracts, including: Strategic vendor and services agreements Employment and executive separation agreements Technology, data, and SaaS agreements Sponsorship, partnership, and licensing arrangements Design and apply contract risk standards related to indemnification, limitation of liability, insurance, termination rights, and dispute resolution. Establish escalation thresholds for non-standard or high-risk contract terms and advise when deviations require executive or Board awareness. Support and guide contract intake and review processes without owning operational workflows. Technology, Data, and Emerging Legal Risk Oversight Provide legal oversight and risk analysis related to emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, automated decision-making systems, and data-driven platforms. Assess contractual, liability, governance, and regulatory implications of technology adoption in coordination with Privacy, Compliance, IT, and business stakeholders. Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting technology use and advise leadership on associated legal exposure. Outside Counsel Oversight and Spend Discipline Select, manage, and oversee outside counsel across litigation and specialized legal matters. Control legal spend through disciplined scope management, budgeting, and performance oversight. Promote effective use of alternative fee arrangements where appropriate. Ensure outside counsel advice is practical, aligned with Y-USA’s risk posture, and defensible in regulatory or litigation contexts. Executive and Board Legal Readiness Support the CLO in preparing executive leadership and the Board for high-impact legal issues. Contribute to scenario planning for potential legal, regulatory, or litigation events with enterprise-wide implications. Internal Leadership and Collaboration Partner closely with the CLO, CCPO, HR, Finance, IT, and operational leaders. Mentor legal staff and contribute to the development of internal legal capabilities. Support continuous improvement of OGC processes, playbooks, and institutional knowledge.

Keywords: YMCA, Elkhart , Senior Director / Vice President, Deputy General Counsel - National Office (Remote), Legal , Schiller Park, Indiana