National VP, Estate Settlement Attorney

Overview

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

We have an excellent opportunity for a National VP, Estate Settlement Attorney in our Mission Advancement Department.

This position will work in a hybrid setting (in office 2-3 days a week) at our National Center office located in Dallas, TX.

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work-life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heart.jobs.

Responsibilities

Serves as the organization’s senior legal authority and executive leader for the Estate Settlement function, with enterprise-wide accountability for the overall success, performance, compliance, and strategic direction of the Association’s estate settlement operation. Provides strategic leadership, in-house legal counsel, and operational oversight across all estate, trust, and planned gift administration matters. Responsible for maximizing charitable estate distributions, minimizing legal and fiduciary risk, ensuring operational excellence, and leading cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders, donors, fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and outside counsel nationwide. Leads the Bequest Administration team, accountable for performance.

• Leads the organization’s overall Estate Settlement function, establishing strategic priorities, operational standards, workflows, governance practices, performance expectations, and cross-functional coordination for all estate settlement activities.
• Leads and manages the performance of the (remote) Bequest Administration team, promoting a positive and productive culture while ensuring revenue is realized as quickly as possible with the highest attention to donor gratitude, timeliness, detail, accuracy and documentation.
• Provides direct legal counsel on the administration of estates, trusts, beneficiary designations, gift agreements, and charitable interests. Reviews and drafts legal documents, interprets estate instruments, and advises staff and leadership on legal rights, risks, and strategies related to estate settlement matters.
• Monitors and ensures compliance with all relevant federal and state laws, regulations, and organizational policies governing estate settlement. Stays current on changes in estate, trust, and charitable giving law. Conducts regular reviews of estate settlement processes to identify and remediate legal and compliance risks.
• Oversees all litigation and disputed estate matters, including trusts, beneficiary designations, gift agreements, fiduciary administration, and other contested issues. Personally handles legal work as appropriate and directs outside counsel on strategy, budget, and case management to protect and maximize charitable distributions to the Association. Manages discovery, mediations, negotiations, court proceedings, and settlements while balancing legal, financial, and reputational considerations.
• Collaborates with counterparts representing other public charities when the Association is not the sole charity beneficiary of an estate or bequest.
• Partners with Finance to ensure accurate accounting of estate settlement transactions and provides legal review of financial instruments and Association reporting related to estate administration. Coordinates annual split-interest actuarial calculations with Finance.
• Prepares the annual CEP Audit and Accountability Report for the American Heart Association.  Prepares the annual Estate Settlement Report for the Association. 
• Provides regular progress updates and revenue insights, income projections and responds to other periodic report requests for use by the Mission Advancement executive leadership team.
• Develops and implements legal and operational strategies to streamline estate settlement processes for efficiency and effectiveness. Identifies best practices, ensures full legal documentation of estates and stakeholder relationships, and leverages technology to track progress and outcomes.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope and responsibility of the job level and family.

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Qualifications

• Minimum five (5) years of relevant legal experience in estate administration, trust law, charitable giving, or a closely related area of practice.
• Demonstrated experience handling litigation, disputed estate and trust matters, and leading outside counsel.
• At least five (5) years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• In-house counsel experience in a nonprofit or financial services environment preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 30% local and overnight stay.

Education / Certifications or Licenses:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. state; admission to the Texas Bar or eligibility for Texas licensure preferred.
• Board certification or advanced credential in estate planning, trust law, or nonprofit law is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary minimum to the midpoint of the range is $142,200.00 to $189,700.00. Pay is commensurate with experience; geographic differentials may apply to the pay range. The American Heart Association reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range. 

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package.  Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

• Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary.  That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success through annual salary planning and incentive programs; eligibility for an incentive program is based on the type of position.
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution.  As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program.  Heart U is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees.  The number of days will increase based on seniority level.  You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees.  This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

The American Heart Association’s 2028 Goal: Building on over 100 years of trusted leadership in cardiovascular and brain health, by 2028 the Association will drive breakthroughs and implement proven solutions in science, policy, and care for healthier people and communities. The greatest discoveries in health must reach everyone where they are.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, age, language, sexual orientation, national origin and physical or cognitive abilities.This position not a match with your skills?  Click here to see other opportunities.

In accordance with local and state laws where applicable, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities

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