General Counsel
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PICO CALIFORNIA
Sacramento, CA, US
Summary
The General Counsel will serve as the primary legal advisor, leading legal strategy, compliance, and risk management with a strong focus on 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC structures. Responsibilities include advising on governance, overseeing risk management, reviewing contracts, and managing outside counsel.
Job Description
Description
Background
PICO California is a multi-faith network of 9 local affiliates and 529 member institutions. We organize across 18 counties, 73 cities, 35 school districts, and over 75 percent of California’s Senate and Assembly districts. Our Vision is a Moral Economy where all people belong, thrive, and are seen as sacred. Our Vision is a Moral Economy where all people belong, thrive, and are seen as sacred. Our belief is that true change starts with people, their formation, relationships, and collective courage shape a better future.
Join our team
We are seeking a strategic and grounded General Counsel to serve as the organization’s primary legal advisor. This role is ideal for someone who understands the intersection of law, advocacy, and social justice and can translate complex legal requirements into clear, practical guidance.
Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Staff, the General Counsel will lead legal strategy, compliance, and risk management, with a strong focus on 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC structures. This role is less about theory and more about real-time problem solving, ensuring the organization can move boldly while staying compliant and protected.
Why Join Us
Meaningful Impact: Contribute to a mission-driven organization positively impacting our community.
Perks and Work-Life Harmony: We recognize the valuable contributions of our staff by offering a comprehensive benefits package and flexible work arrangements. Our commitment to your well-being extends beyond traditional benefits, providing unique perks that promote work-life balance. We strive to create an environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally.
Requirements
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Serve as a trusted legal partner, supporting key decisions and ensuring the organization operates with integrity and clarity.
- Lead legal strategy and compliance across all areas of the organization, ensuring alignment with California nonprofit, lobbying, and political activity regulations.
- Advise on governance matters, including Board policies, structures, and compliance practices.
- Oversee legal risk management and identify potential issues early while guiding practical solutions.
- Review and advise on contracts, partnerships, and agreements to ensure alignment with legal standards and organizational priorities.
- Manage outside counsel and support regulatory inquiries, audits, or legal matters as needed.
Our Ideal Candidate:
- Juris Doctor (JD) and active membership in the California State Bar in good standing.
- 7–10+ years of legal experience, including strong expertise in nonprofit and tax-exempt law.
- Deep knowledge of 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC compliance, including lobbying and political activity regulations.
- Understanding of California employment law.
- Experience advising nonprofit or social justice organizations.
- Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance.
- Strong judgment, discretion, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
Why This Role Matters:
This role ensures the organization can do bold, impactful work while remaining grounded in strong legal and ethical practices. Your work directly supports the organization’s ability to advance its mission and serve the community with integrity.
Compensation and Benefits
PICO California is committed to diversity in its staff and offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including the flexibility of a hybrid role, 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental for staff members and dependents, and a robust 401(k) plan. Generous paid time off, including holidays, to complement our supportive and collaborative culture. This is a two-year position designed to support key organizational priorities with the possibility of extension. Work from home flexibility in State of California only. Range: $160,000-$190,000.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We provide equal employment opportunities to all staff and applicants for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin,
age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by
federal, state, or local laws.
PICO California is a multi-racial, multi-faith state network comprising nine local affiliates who organize across 18 counties, representing 500 congregations and nearly 650,000 Californians. Our mission is to catalyze faith-based and spiritually-centered people power in California to create systemic change for the most vulnerable so that all Californians thrive. We are a network of organizations that, through community organizing, builds power across race, faith, and class with congregations and faith-based, spiritually-rooted individuals who take action for racial and economic justice in California.
Over the past 30 years, our organizing and policy advocacy has resulted in increased investments in healthcare, education, and restorative justice, safe neighborhoods free from gun violence, affordable housing, support for those aspiring to American citizenship, and other programs and services that are critical for families.
At PICO California, we:
Invest in the formation of people. We teach people about the power structures around them, the power they harness within, and the power of mobilizing others to create better living conditions for themselves and their communities.
Reclaim faith in the public sphere. Faith should not be synonymous with bigotry, greed, and othering. We change hearts and minds under the premise that the core of belief is love, justice, and dedication to the dignity and worth of every person.
Commit to an ethic of love. The means of inclusion and belonging are as important as the ends of liberation. We believe in salvation and reconciliation, not victory for the sake of power. We see the stories of others in ourselves.
Founded
1993
Company size
11-50 employees
Industry
Civic and Social Organizations
Org type
Nonprofit
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
PICO California is a multi-racial, multi-faith state network comprising nine local affiliates who organize across 18 counties, representing 500 congregations and nearly 650,000 Californians. Our mission is to catalyze faith-based and spiritually-centered people power in California to create systemic change for the most vulnerable so that all Californians thrive. We are a network of organizations that, through community organizing, builds power across race, faith, and class with congregations and faith-based, spiritually-rooted individuals who take action for racial and economic justice in California.
Over the past 30 years, our organizing and policy advocacy has resulted in increased investments in healthcare, education, and restorative justice, safe neighborhoods free from gun violence, affordable housing, support for those aspiring to American citizenship, and other programs and services that are critical for families.
At PICO California, we:
Invest in the formation of people. We teach people about the power structures around them, the power they harness within, and the power of mobilizing others to create better living conditions for themselves and their communities.
Reclaim faith in the public sphere. Faith should not be synonymous with bigotry, greed, and othering. We change hearts and minds under the premise that the core of belief is love, justice, and dedication to the dignity and worth of every person.
Commit to an ethic of love. The means of inclusion and belonging are as important as the ends of liberation. We believe in salvation and reconciliation, not victory for the sake of power. We see the stories of others in ourselves.
Founded
1993
Company size
11-50 employees
Industry
Civic and Social Organizations
Org type
Nonprofit
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
