General Counsel

Are you passionate about contributing to a strong mission to serve the local adult immigrant community by providing advisement to senior leadership on a range of legal matters and policies If so then Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School (CRIPCS) has the perfect opportunity for you.

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School (CRIPCS) is an adult charter school that delivers high-quality education career training and supportive services that enable adult immigrants to realize their dreams while strengthening our community and economy. When you join the team at CRIPCS you become part of a unique performance-driven organization where students are the center of our work and excellence permeates.

The mission of Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School is to deliver high-quality education career training and supportive services that enable adult immigrants to realize their dreams while strengthening our community and economy.

Our organizations values guide our behavior:

• Integrity
• Respect
• Perseverance
• Compassion
• Inclusivity
• Collaboration

General Counsel

Position Summary

Carlos Rosario is seeking a seasoned and relationship-oriented General Counsel (GC) to serve as the schools chief legal advisor and a key member of the senior leadership team. The General Counsel provides practical strategic advice across a wide range of legal governance and compliance matters while partnering closely with the CEO Board of Trustees and senior leaders. The GC oversees all legal affairs ensures compliance with federal state and local regulations and provides guidance on employment and labor issues contracts and risk partnership with the CEO and Board the GC also monitors and interprets policy developments in the District of Columbia that impact CRIPCS and its students including adult education immigration and charter regulation and helps to strengthen relationships with DC government agencies and policymakers. The ideal candidate is a mission-driven strategic and human-centered legal leader who thrives in collaborative environments. They combine strong legal expertise with sound judgment cultural humility and a relational approach offering counsel that is both legally rigorous and grounded in CRIPCSs commitment to equity inclusion and community. This position can be structured as full-time or part-time (minimum 30 hours/week) depending on the selected candidates background and capacity. Candidates must be based in or near Washington DC with a hybrid schedule (three days per week on-site) to foster accessibility and trust with staff and students.

Responsibilities:

Governance & Board Support (25%)

Serve as chief legal advisor to the Board of Trustees and CEO on corporate governance compliance and nonprofit law.

Partner with the Director of Executive Administration to plan and support Board and committee meetings ensuring effective preparation documentation and follow-up.

Serve as staff liaison to the Governance & Nominating and Executive Committees providing counsel on bylaws policies and board recruitment.

Maintain all organizational governance documents and ensure compliance with charter and regulatory requirements.

Employment Law Employee Relations & Culture (20%)

Advise on employment law workplace policies investigations and employee relations matters partnering closely with Human Resources.

Provide sound counsel on employee relations particularly in a shifting charter school landscape.

Offer strategic input on culture climate and inclusion-related matters ensuring alignment with CRIPCSs equity-centered values.

Compliance Risk Management & Contracts (20%)

Ensure compliance with CRIPCSs charter agreement and all applicable local state and federal laws and regulations.

Assist with contract negotiation and review including vendor real estate technology and service agreements.

Identify and mitigate organizational risks; manage outside counsel when specialized expertise is needed.

Review and assess internal contract procurement and insurance activities to ensure institutional accountability.

Policy Advocacy & External Affairs (15%)

Monitor and interpret DC and federal policy developments impacting adult education immigration and charter operations.

Forecast federal and local policy developments assessing their implications for CRIPCSs operations workforce and mission and proactively advise leadership to inform strategic planning.

Partner with the CEO and CAO to engage with DC agencies (e.g. DC Council OSSE DC PCSB) and represent CRIPCSs interests.

Draft or review policy briefs public comments and testimony as appropriate.

Assist in fostering relationships with peer organizations and external partners to advance CRIPCSs mission and amplify its impact.

Strategic Partnership & Advisory (10%)

Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team contributing to strategic decision-making.

Translate complex legal concepts into accessible actionable guidance for non-attorneys.

Provide sound judgment discretion and clear communication across all areas of the organization.

Leadership & Values Alignment (10%)

Model CRIPCSs values and contribute to a positive collaborative organizational culture.

Maintain the highest ethical standards confidentiality and professionalism.

Mentor and support staff in understanding legal and ethical considerations in their work.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Juris Doctor (JD) and admission to the DC Bar or eligibility for admission upon hire.
• Minimum 1015 years of progressively responsible legal experience including in-house or advisory roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in employment law governance compliance and contracts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate legal information for non-lawyers.
• Proven ability to build trust and credibility across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Deep commitment to CRIPCSs core values and Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and ability to model those values in relationships with colleagues and partners.
• Must be able to provide proof of completed COVID-19 vaccination.
• To ensure that you understand the schools commitment to our work and the expectations of all school community members in advancing Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging work. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
• 
  

Preferred:

Experience in a nonprofit education or charter school environment.

Familiarity with DCs regulatory ecosystem (DC Council OSSE DC PCSB etc.).

Understanding of immigration law and employment sponsorship processes.

Spanish language (or other language) proficiency or demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multilingual environment. Our Commitment to the General Counsel:

Flexible structure: full-time or part-time (minimum 30 hours/week) with benefits eligibility at 30 hours/week.

Hybrid work schedule with an expectation of three days on-site per week aligned with campus operations.

Comprehensive health benefits and retirement match (up to 6% of base salary).

46 total days of time off annually (combination of vacation holidays sick and personal time).

Deep investment in professional development including leadership coaching continuing legal education (CLE) and sector conferences.

Competitive salary range

$200000$225000 per year commensurate with experience.

Even if you dont feel that all of the requested qualifications arent your current strengths we still welcome you to apply. We invite all candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply.

How to Apply: Carlos Rosario is partnering with She Rose Solutions to find the next General Counsel. Please use this link to submit your application and direct all questions to She Rose Solutions will review all applicants and upon qualification contact you to determine next steps.

Thisposition will be open until filled.