Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel

Location: Remote USA; Washington DC Metro Area Strongly Preferred

Job Type: Full-Time

 

About NGO-ISAC

NGO-ISAC is a pioneering organization focused on enhancing the cybersecurity posture of non-governmental organizations worldwide but aimed primarily at US based NGOs. We provide a community for the sharing of threat intelligence, best practices, and collaborative defense strategies against cyber threats. Our mission is to boost cybersecurity maturity in NGOs through strategic intelligence, best practices, and immersive education, fostering a resilient and collaborative security culture.
From human rights organizations to environmental groups to healthcare nonprofits, we're the cybersecurity backbone that keeps civil society functioning in an increasingly digital world.

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The Role

This dual executive role combines operational leadership with legal oversight and community assistance, reporting directly to the CEO. The Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel (COO-GC) will drive operational excellence across all organizational functions while ensuring legal compliance, risk management, and strategic legal guidance to support organizational growth and objectives.

This role will also work with our member community especially in its mutual aid functions. The COO-GC will provide guidance to our 400+ member organizations. They will provide directions on policies, processes and procedures to help these organizations mature their governance, risk and compliance (GRC) programs.

We are a startup NGO trying to protect the most vital sector of our economy. We want a COO-GC who can:
 

• Work quickly and effectively on their own or with a small team

• Has a bias towards action

• Is a self-starter

• Has worked in startup environments before

• Has experience being the "Swiss Army knife" executive in a small organization

• Gets energized by directly helping mission-driven organizations succeed

 

Responsibilities
Operational Leadership (COO Functions)

• Develop, maintain, and drive execution of  operational strategies aligned with NGO-ISACs mission, vision, and growth

• Oversee day-to-day operations across departments, including managing finance, human resources, and other operational consultants

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators and operational metrics

• Lead process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and scalability

• Manage cross-functional projects and ensure effective resource allocation

• Partner with CEO and other senior leaders on strategic planning and organizational development initiatives

• Oversee vendor relationships and contract negotiations from an operational perspective
   

Legal Leadership (General Counsel Functions)

• Serve as primary legal advisor to the executive team and board of directors

• Develop and implement comprehensive legal and compliance frameworks especially focused on cybersecurity

• Manage all legal matters including contracts, regulatory compliance, intellectual property, employment law, and litigation

• Manage compliance issues with membership eligibility

• Oversee risk management and insurance programs

• Ensure corporate governance standards and regulatory reporting requirements are met

• Manage relationships with external legal counsel and control legal spend

• Draft and review partnership and membership agreements

• Update and improve code of conduct and other norm setting policies for members

• Manage employment contracts, vendor contracts, and corporate policies
   

Community Responsibilities (Mutual Aid Functions)

The NGO-ISAC has a community of almost 400 NGOs working to lower their risk. The COO-GC should effectively engage with that community by:

• Applying their skills, knowledge, and ability to assist members in improving governance risk and compliance programs

• Working with other legal professionals in our community to help create tools, processes, and policies that reduce risk for our members

• Assisting member organizations in crisis by providing resources and advice where applicable

• Leading collaborative incident response efforts, coordinating resources when member organizations face attacks

• Developing and facilitating peer learning networks among member legal and compliance professionals

• Creating standardized risk assessment tools and compliance frameworks that members can adopt or adapt to meet their needs
   

Integrated Responsibilities

• Bridge operational and legal considerations in strategic decision-making

• Ensure operational processes comply with legal and regulatory requirements

• Lead crisis management and business continuity planning

• Support fundraising efforts and partner relations from both operational and legal perspectives
   

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from accredited law school and active bar admission

• 7+ years of legal experience with significant in-house counsel experience

• 5+ years of senior operational or executive management experience

• Experience in non-governmental, membership, civil society or other mission driven organizations

• Strong understanding of non-profit law, employment law, and regulatory compliance

• Proven track record of scaling operations in growing NGOs

• MBA or advanced business degree preferred

Key Competencies

• Exceptional leadership and team management skills

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities

• Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving capabilities

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills

• Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives

• Experience with NGO boards including governance and reporting

• Experience building and scaling membership-based organizations

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders

• Financial acumen and budget management experience

• 5 or more years of proven experience working as COO, GC, CFO, or in a similar leadership role within civil society

• Experience working in startup NGOs or other similar organizations

• Experience working on strategy, governance, and policy in NGOs

• Strong understanding of NGOs and their role in a functioning civil society

• A familiarity with the cybersecurity landscape, including emerging threats, vulnerability management, and incident response strategies is a big plus

• Technology proficiency and understanding of digital business models

• Crisis management experience, particularly in cybersecurity incidents

• Understanding of threat intelligence sharing and information security frameworks

Success Metrics

You'll know you're succeeding when you achieve:

• High member satisfaction and engagement scores

• Measurable operational efficiency improvements

• Successful crisis response interventions for member organizations

• A library of compliance framework, policy, and governance templates for our membership to use, adapt, and update

• Sustainable organizational growth and financial health

We Offer

• Salary: $160,000-$190,000

• An opportunity to build an essential organization protecting civil society from cyber and other threats

• A chance to "meet the moment" by helping our sector resolve serious challenges we face

• Opportunity to be a founding leader in a critical national security initiative

• Direct impact on the security posture of organizations advancing critical global missions

• A collaborative and supportive work environment with a focus on professional growth and development

• Unlimited paid time off (4 weeks minimum encouraged)

• Access to cutting-edge cybersecurity intelligence and industry networks

• Remote work flexibility

• Professional development and advancement opportunities

• Comprehensive benefits package
   

Travel Requirements: While exact travel requirements reflect organizational initiatives, fundraising needs, events, and other needs of NGO-ISAC, anyone in this position should be able to travel at least twice monthly.

 

NGO-ISAC is an equal opportunity employer valuing diversity, talent, passion, and compassion. All persons hired must provide proof of identity and legal work authorization in compliance with federal law.