Compliance Counsel
About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients.
MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.
Role Overview
The Compliance Counsel plays a critical role in ensuring MSF USA meets its legal, regulatory, governance, and ethical obligations in alignment with its humanitarian mission. Reporting to the General Counsel, this role provides legal guidance on regulatory compliance, ethics, governance, and risk/risk mitigation; leads the development of compliance policies and frameworks; and is a key partner in building a culture of integrity and accountability. The Compliance Counsel designs and delivers staff training, collaborates with internal reviews and audits, and ensures that MSF USA remains compliant with federal, state, and local nonprofit regulations. This position serves as a strategic advisor across the organization, collaborating with internal teams and external legal partners to address complex compliance matters clearly and confidently.
Department Accountabilities
Leadership and Direction
Inspire and guide others, communicating actions needed and how they relate to broader organizational mission and strategy.
Stakeholder Management
Identify and engage with key internal and/or external stakeholders to create positive working relationships that enable a program or project initiation, delivery, and implementation.
Advance Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Support and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (D, E, and I) by providing examples, advice, and guidance on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to internal and external stakeholders to enable them to adopt these principles in ways that will also enhance innovation and other performance measures. Represent the organization to external stakeholders on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion issues.
Operations Management
Execute and manage operations using predetermined protocols and procedures to achieve specified operational performance standards.
Organizational Capability Building
Develop capabilities at an organizational level to ensure that they are relevant to current and future organizational requirements, enable the organization to achieve MSF-USA goals, and fulfill its people's potential.
Board Relationship
Develop and improve relationships with Board members; identify priorities, issues, and strategic challenges in the business for discussion with the Board.
ROLES SPECIFIC OUTCOMES
- Leads and coordinates the Risk and Integrity Team in the review and as needed development of organizational compliance and risk management policies and practices
- In collaboration with the Risk & Integrity Team, coordinates the development, implementation and follow-up, of an enterprise risk assessment and risk mitigation planning and implementation
- Advises departments on risk exposure, regulatory questions, and ethical standards
- Conducts legal research and monitors trends in nonprofit law, governance, ethics, and risk to inform thr organization’s strategy(ies)
- Collaborates with external counsel, as needed, to support investigations, reviews, audits or other legal matters that may present compliance and governance risks to MSF USA
- Designs and leads in-house training for staff and leadership on compliance and legal risk
- As needed, supports the review, drafting, and negotiation of contracts in collaboration with the Assistant Counsel (e.g., independent contractors, collaborators, or partner organizations)
- Supports organizational audits and internal reviews to ensure accountability and transparency
- Serves as a resource for ethics questions and compliance issues across MSF USA departments
- Maintains accurate, well-organized documentation of policies and legal resources on shared platforms
- Maintains awareness of global nonprofit standards and evolving regulatory expectations relevant to MSF’s international mission
Complexity And Problem-solving Skills
This role requires the ability to:
- Interpret legal requirements in complex, ambiguous, or emerging contexts
- Analyze evolving risks and develop thoughtful, proactive legal strategies
- Translate legal and ethical standards into operational guidance for staff
- Independently manage multiple legal projects while balancing urgent priorities
- Collaborate cross-functionally to align policy, risk, and compliance workstreams
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on issues of legal exposure and integrity
BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES
_THOUGHT: How MSF USA staff understand the organization, manage complexity, and contribute by creating the new and different.
_ People Focus
Partners with staff and departments to deliver strategic legal guidance that supports MSF USA’s mission and operations
Manages Complexity
Analyzes multifaceted legal issues with clarity and pragmatism
Global Perspective
Maintains awareness of global nonprofit standards and evolving regulatory expectations
Cultivates Innovation
Improves policy systems, training, and legal processes through innovation
Strategic Mindset
Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.
_RESULTS: MSF USA staff achieve results by cultivating a forward-thinking environment that produces solutions for changing stakeholder needs.
_ Drives Results
Meets deadlines and compliance targets with precision and reliability
Ensures Accountability
Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.
_PEOPLE: MSF USA staff understand their impact on others through collaboration and inclusion of different perspectives to achieve common goals.
_ Collaborates
Acts as a connector across departments to build shared ownership of compliance.
Communicates Effectively
Delivers clear, tailored communications on legal risk and guidance
Values Differences
Embeds equity into legal guidance and ethics practices
Builds Effective Teams
Builds strong identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
Manages Conflict
Handles conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.
Builds Networks
Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.
Drives Vision and Purpose
Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.
_SELF: MSF USA staff demonstrate self-awareness by having an open mindset and by continuously seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and improve.
_ Instills Trust
Upholds confidentiality, discretion, and the highest ethical standards
Manages Ambiguity
Navigates uncertainty and evolving legal standards with professionalism
Situational Adaptability
Responds to shifting priorities with flexibility and composure
Being Resilient
Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.
TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Plans and Aligns
Ensure compliance and risk mitigation strategies align with organizational priorities
Financial Acumen
Interprets legal and regulatory issues related to contracts and grant management
Tech Savvy
Leverages compliance tools, systems, and software to enhance workflow
Data Collection and Analysis
Uses data to identify trends and inform policy updates
Project Management Skills
Manages cross-departmental initiatives and legal reviews effectively
Presentation And Written Communication Skills
Develop materials and deliver end-use focused training for staff at all levels
Organizational Insight
Applying knowledge of MSF-USA and the industry to advance the organization’s goals.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
None
Desired Qualifications & Experience
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited institution
- Member in good standing of the New York State Bar, or in good standing in another state and eligible for admission to the New York Bar as Inhouse Counsel
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience, with a strong focus on nonprofit compliance, ethics, policy development, or risk management
- Significant experience with nonprofit laws and regulations (e.g. IRS regulations, charitable solicitations, lobbying, etc.)
- Demonstrated experience with governance, regulatory compliance, and ethics systems
- Experience advising or collaborating with cross-functional leadership teams
- Proven ability to design and deliver legal training and interpret regulations across contexts
- Strong legal research and writing skills; ability to translate complex law into actionable policies
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a commitment to organizational integrity
- Commitment to MSF USA’s humanitarian mission and values
Travel Requirements
Occasional travel required to MSF USA offices or external legal/compliance events
Compensation
$124,346 - $186,518; new employees will be compensated from the minimum to the midpoint based on experience
Equal Opportunity And Accommodations Statement
MSF-USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial, and inclusive workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences as per applicable laws.
We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at recruitment@newyork.msf.org.
We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.
