XQ Institute
Senior Legal Counsel
XQ Institute is the nation's leading organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in life. We work in communities nationwide, with individual schools and entire school systems, to help them dream big about what high school could be, turn their innovative ideas into action, and create more rigorous and equitable schools.
The XQ Senior Legal Counsel powers and protects the organization by integrating legal strategy and support into programs, partnerships, and operations. XQ Senior Legal Counsel reduces risk, accelerates confident execution, and builds scalable, cost‑effective systems that enable trusted collaboration with partners and informed decision‑making. This senior leader will ensure XQ's mission‑driven initiatives are supported by strong legal frameworks that balance compliance with innovation.
Compensation Base salary: $225,000 – $255,000 per year.
Benefits This is a full‑time, exempt role with a generous benefits package, including health coverage, retirement plans, and paid time off.
Location Oakland, CA (onsite 5 days per week).
Key Responsibilities
Define Legal Strategy & Risk Management
Develop and maintain a legal and reputational risk management framework, including proactive guidance, policies, and training to build organizational capacity
Establish and update legal templates, practices, and policies that balance compliance with flexibility to accelerate execution without compromising accountability
Work with outside counsel to define and implement intellectual property and licensing strategies that safeguard XQ's assets and brand while enabling strategic collaboration and adoption
Shape legal strategies for programs, products, partnerships, and governance to ensure initiatives launch with clear expectations, protections, and measurable outcomes
Lead & Drive Legal Leadership and Transformation
Advise and ensure all organization operations and activities comply with nonprofit status
Protect XQ's intellectual property and ensure compliance with data privacy laws while enabling content sharing aligned with "making in the open" principles
Represent legal perspective in cross‑functional transformation initiatives such as AI/OSS governance and California workplace requirements
Drive continuous legal education and knowledge sharing across the organization to enable confident decision‑making
Ensure timely legal review of all contracts and grants in support of operational and programmatic goals
Implement cost‑effective contracting strategies, pushing decisions to the right level and right‑sizing legal documentation
Design flexible partnership structures (e.g., IP co‑development) that support innovation and transformation at scale
Manage Legal Operations & Team Performance
Oversee cost‑effective legal operations, including legal technology adoption, reporting, and strategic use of outside counsel
Manage the legal team's development and performance to ensure responsive, high‑quality legal support
Streamline contract and grant processes through cross‑functional alignment that accelerates agreements while maintaining protections
Achieve predictable and efficient outside counsel spend, including scope control and delegation, with a target of double‑digit reductions
Collaborate Cross‑functionally
Partner with Finance, HR, and IT to integrate legal processes with operational and financial systems, reducing risk and increasing efficiency
Advise on HR and workplace legal compliance
Collaborate with vendors and partners to resolve conflicts efficiently while preserving relationships and reputation
Support leadership team with aligned nonprofit policies and practices that protect XQ and its partners
Work with programmatic and product teams to embed legal considerations early, enabling impactful launches with built‑in risk management
Partner with senior leadership on board governance matters to ensure transparent credibility and fiduciary effectiveness
Qualifications
J.D. degree and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar, preferably CA, NY or DC
7+ years legal experience, preferably 3‑5 years in‑house or with a law firm practice serving non‑profit clients
Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit law, contracts including grants, intellectual property, compliance and general operations and risk management
Proven ability to integrate organizational strategy with legal operations to enable mission‑driven execution
Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams and outside counsel including legal budget
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence at the executive level
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The XQ Senior Legal Counsel powers and protects the organization by integrating legal strategy and support into programs, partnerships, and operations. XQ Senior Legal Counsel reduces risk, accelerates confident execution, and builds scalable, cost‑effective systems that enable trusted collaboration with partners and informed decision‑making. This senior leader will ensure XQ's mission‑driven initiatives are supported by strong legal frameworks that balance compliance with innovation.
Compensation Base salary: $225,000 – $255,000 per year.
Benefits This is a full‑time, exempt role with a generous benefits package, including health coverage, retirement plans, and paid time off.
Location Oakland, CA (onsite 5 days per week).
Key Responsibilities
Define Legal Strategy & Risk Management
Develop and maintain a legal and reputational risk management framework, including proactive guidance, policies, and training to build organizational capacity
Establish and update legal templates, practices, and policies that balance compliance with flexibility to accelerate execution without compromising accountability
Work with outside counsel to define and implement intellectual property and licensing strategies that safeguard XQ's assets and brand while enabling strategic collaboration and adoption
Shape legal strategies for programs, products, partnerships, and governance to ensure initiatives launch with clear expectations, protections, and measurable outcomes
Lead & Drive Legal Leadership and Transformation
Advise and ensure all organization operations and activities comply with nonprofit status
Protect XQ's intellectual property and ensure compliance with data privacy laws while enabling content sharing aligned with "making in the open" principles
Represent legal perspective in cross‑functional transformation initiatives such as AI/OSS governance and California workplace requirements
Drive continuous legal education and knowledge sharing across the organization to enable confident decision‑making
Ensure timely legal review of all contracts and grants in support of operational and programmatic goals
Implement cost‑effective contracting strategies, pushing decisions to the right level and right‑sizing legal documentation
Design flexible partnership structures (e.g., IP co‑development) that support innovation and transformation at scale
Manage Legal Operations & Team Performance
Oversee cost‑effective legal operations, including legal technology adoption, reporting, and strategic use of outside counsel
Manage the legal team's development and performance to ensure responsive, high‑quality legal support
Streamline contract and grant processes through cross‑functional alignment that accelerates agreements while maintaining protections
Achieve predictable and efficient outside counsel spend, including scope control and delegation, with a target of double‑digit reductions
Collaborate Cross‑functionally
Partner with Finance, HR, and IT to integrate legal processes with operational and financial systems, reducing risk and increasing efficiency
Advise on HR and workplace legal compliance
Collaborate with vendors and partners to resolve conflicts efficiently while preserving relationships and reputation
Support leadership team with aligned nonprofit policies and practices that protect XQ and its partners
Work with programmatic and product teams to embed legal considerations early, enabling impactful launches with built‑in risk management
Partner with senior leadership on board governance matters to ensure transparent credibility and fiduciary effectiveness
Qualifications
J.D. degree and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar, preferably CA, NY or DC
7+ years legal experience, preferably 3‑5 years in‑house or with a law firm practice serving non‑profit clients
Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit law, contracts including grants, intellectual property, compliance and general operations and risk management
Proven ability to integrate organizational strategy with legal operations to enable mission‑driven execution
Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams and outside counsel including legal budget
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence at the executive level
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