Associate General Counsel

ACS Associate General Counsel

Overview
The American Chemical Society (“ACS” or “Society”) was founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress.  A scientific and professional organization of chemists and chemical engineers, the ACS is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations with more than with more than 173,000 individuals in our global community across 140 countries. Our mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. Our vision is to improve all people’s lives through the transforming power of chemistry.  The ACS is a leading publisher of authoritative scientific information with more than 75 peer-reviewed journals, as well as books and databases.  The Society generates annual revenues in excess of $600 million, primarily through sales of its publications and database products, as well as through dues, meeting registrations and donations.    ACS’ commitment to its members is extraordinary.  It seeks to provide the resources and networks that will help members advance not only their careers but also the field of chemistry.  ACS facilitates the creation of collaborative communities focused on scientific progress. 
 

The ACS values diversity and knows it powers us as we build an innovative and inclusive leadership culture centered on the Society’s core values of Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Respect. 
 
Position Summary
            We are looking for an Associate General Counsel to join the ACS Office of the Secretary and General Counsel (“OSGC”) in our Washington, D.C. office.  This is a mid-level position that reports to the Assistant General Counsel and which operates with management responsibility, as delegated by the General Counsel, for a wide range of in-house legal activities, with a primary focus on data privacy.   
 

               We encourage collaborative and results-driven working styles and offer an environment where employees can function at their highest level. The ACS legal team works with all internal ACS Divisions and with the Society’s extensive governance to enhance the Society’s mission and to protect the Society’s legal rights.  We ensure that the Society complies with the many legal obligations facing ACS as a large nonprofit.  
 

              The ACS is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person’s race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any characteristic protected under applicable law.  The ACS will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. 

Position Accountabilities:

• Provide practical, timely, strategic and high-quality legal counsel and develop creative/practical solutions in a variety of diverse legal fields, primarily data privacy and protection and including consumer protection, cybersecurity, intellectual property, commercial transactions, employment and immigration, litigation, and public policy.    
• As Data Privacy lead, provide legal advice on global privacy, data protection, and security related matters, including working closely, collaborating, and coordinating with stakeholders to advise on best practices and compliance with applicable privacy and data protection laws, regulations and guidelines affecting the Society's activities. 
• Oversee legal and regulatory aspects of data collection and use, privacy disclosures and transparency, and related issues, including handling inquiries and issues relating to data privacy practices, withdrawal of consent, the right to be forgotten, and related rights.
• Support the development and delivery of privacy training materials and other communications to increase employee understanding of privacy policies, data handling practices, and procedures and legal obligations. 
• Advise on potential liability and other legal aspects related to data privacy and data security incidents and support the Society's privacy and cybersecurity incident response programs, including supporting the investigation of potential incidents, identifying applicable legal obligations, and supporting incident response efforts.
• Monitor the industry landscape to keep visibility on evolutions, trends, and best practices related to data privacy.   
• Advise senior managers and other employees within the Society as appropriate.

Key Requirements:

• J.D. degree with a strong academic background
• At least six years of experience as an attorney, including at least 3 years of experience advising on global data privacy issues
• Member, or ability to waive into, the D.C. Bar 
• In-depth knowledge of international, federal, and state laws and regulations regarding privacy and data security, including GDPR and CCPA. 
• Strong preference for candidates with relevant experience in two or more of the following areas: (1) privacy/GDPR; (2) intellectual property; (3) general publishing issues; (4) licensing; and (5) general litigation. 
• Able and willing to handle a variety of tasks across a broad range of substantive areas and to learn new areas quickly
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, along with the ability to communicate effectively with others at all levels of the organization
• Strong negotiating skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Commitment to teamwork and a strong sense of humor

This position will be primarily based in the Washington D.C. office.  ACS employees work a hybrid work schedule, consisting of working onsite, three days per week. ACS employees are in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday with the third in-office day scheduled in consultation with the manager. While always welcome to work in the office, employees may work the other two days of the week from a location of their choice. New employees are immediately eligible for this hybrid work arrangement. ACS offers relocation assistance, if applicable.

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