The Monterey Bay Aquarium seeks a strategic and mission-driven legal leader to serve as Senior Counsel, providing expert legal counsel and risk management guidance to advance the Aquarium’s priorities with integrity, innovation, and a deep respect for the communities we serve. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Senior Counsel will be a trusted advisor to leadership and divisions, ensuring that all business operations, partnerships, and complex transactions align with the organization’s mission and long-term strategic objectives.
As a key legal and strategic partner, the Senior Counsel will lead efforts to assess and mitigate risk, enhance business operations, and develop forward-thinking policies and programs that strengthen the Aquarium’s impact. This individual will model continuous learning and ethical leadership, providing clear, actionable guidance to decision-makers at all levels, including executive leadership, project managers, and the Board of Directors.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for a highly skilled and mission-aligned legal professional to play a critical role in shaping the future of the Aquarium, ensuring its continued success as a leader in ocean conservation, education, and public engagement.
Key Responsibilities
•Serve as a strategic advisor, providing legal insight on complex deals, partnerships, and operational initiatives to advance the Aquarium’s mission while ensuring compliance and risk mitigation.
•Lead the development and implementation of risk management strategies and business operations policies, including overseeing legal aspects of contracts, workplans, and organizational initiatives.
•Apply a solutions-driven approach to guide decision-makers through evolving and uncertain legal landscapes, helping teams navigate challenges with confidence and integrity.
•Ensure all transactions and business activities align with the Aquarium’s mission, policies, and long-term strategic vision.
•Foster collaboration and innovation, working cross-functionally to develop creative legal solutions that support the Aquarium’s growth and sustainability.
•Communicate complex legal concepts with clarity, equipping staff, leadership, and Board members with the knowledge needed to make informed, ethical decisions.
•Model ethical leadership and continuous learning, ensuring that legal strategies reflect best practices in governance, compliance, and organizational stewardship.
Team Leadership
•Lead the development and implementation of strategic and annual objectives including expense budgets, workplans, new and/or improved programs/systems, etc.
•Lead the team in executing daily work plans and managing workflow; oversee project priorities and ensure alignment with MBA objectives.
•Foster the professional growth of staff directly and indirectly reporting to the role through targeted development initiatives.
Strategic Contract Business and Risk Analysis
•Review Aquarium and outside vendor contracts for business risks and stated Aquarium’s goals.
•Recommend contract improvements to achieve Aquarium objectives and reduce business risk.
•Draft and/or review standard vendor agreements/templates, review requested modifications.
Employee Issues
•Provide counseling and guidance to stay compliant with state and federal employment laws including updates on new regulations.
•Provide guidance on workplace employment issues including hiring practices, workplace discrimination, retaliation and terminations.
•Drive the creation and maintenance of Aquarium policies and standard operating procedures to manage risk and improve staff efficiencies (including Employee Handbook, etc.).
Business Legal Partner
•Advise on and develop creative solutions in partnership with Aquarium work groups to craft business deals, agreements and other instruments with outside partners that advance the Aquarium mission while protecting brand, mitigating risk and optimizing financial and mission outcomes.
•With Aquarium leadership, advise on organizational and legal risks and mitigation strategies including a range of intellectual property matters such as copyright protection and artificial intelligence issues that may impact the Aquarium’s operations.
•Develop risk mitigation strategies for insurance coverage/claims and in areas such as cybersecurity.
•Serve as primary contact with external legal guidance on work such as trademark, corporate governance, fundraising, etc. and provide guidance as needed regarding compliance with cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, including use of permits/process.
Corporate Governance
•Attend Aquarium quarterly Board meetings and/or as required, review minutes and maintain compliance with non-profit requirements with federal, state and local regulations.
The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
•Experience in one or more of the following legal subjects: commercial contracts, employment law, technology and intellectual property, commercial or property litigation, grants and public funding, environmental protection and related administrative law, tax-exempt and nonprofit organizations and related tax issues.
•Broad transaction experience, including negotiating complex, sensitive or high-profile transactions and agreements.
•Familiarity with California labor laws.
•Demonstration of the ability to work in a highly diversified work portfolio participating in the formulation and evaluation of broad policies and/or long-term programs or making decisions involving complex financial analyses and evaluating risk for the organization.
•In-house experience and/or law firm experience advising sophisticated clients and senior management.
•Juris Doctorate or equivalent and license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
•10-12 years of relevant work experience with 7 years relevant legal experience as an attorney.
•Experience directing staff both by direct reporting structure and/or non-direct reporting and fostering a collaborative and results-oriented team culture.
•Excellent communication and problem solving skills, sound judgment, initiative and a commitment to hard work.
•Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, serving as a thought partner to colleagues across the organization.
•Ability to work sensitively and ethically with a variety of communities to advance shared goals.
•Ability to work within and maintain Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Core Values.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Erin Reedy and Christy Farrell. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile (https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/22011). All inquiries are strictly confidential.
NLADA Mutual Insurance Co., RRG
