Partner, Legal (General Counsel)

Core responsibilities:

• Lead contracts and grants management systems, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating agreements with contractors, vendors, funders, and partners
• Serve as key advisor on employment and people matters across a multi-state workforce, monitoring legal developments and strengthening policies
• Advance priority initiatives to strengthen legal and risk infrastructure, conducting research and analysis to support decision-making
• Support nonprofit governance and compliance, maintaining bylaws, board governance, and regulatory filings
• Develop and oversee insurance strategy and risk management systems to ensure long-term organizational resilience

This role helps shape the legal architecture for an organization that helps communities redesign schools so every young person can thrive in a rapidly changing world, ensuring that educational innovation is built on strong, resilient legal foundations.

Required qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school and active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• 10+ years of legal experience combining law firm training with in-house work in nonprofit or education sectors
• Experience drafting and negotiating contracts, including navigating IP and licensing
• Familiarity with employment law, government regulations, and compliance requirements
• Experience translating complex legal concepts into clear, practical guidance for non-legal teams
• Awareness of technology, data privacy (including FERPA), and AI considerations in legal contexts

Compensation and culture highlights:

• Fully remote/virtual team with flexible location
• Willingness to travel occasionally (2-4 times per year)
• Full-time employee position
• Thoughtful, people-centered hiring experience
• Mission-driven, forward-looking team environment

Transcend is a national nonprofit that helps communities reimagine and redesign schools so every young person can thrive in a rapidly changing world. They partner with school and system leaders to build capacity for bold, lasting change and have worked with nearly 500 schools and 200 districts serving over 225,000 students.