General Counsel (Austin)
Civitech is a public benefit corporation dedicated to creating a fairer and more equitable democracy by building the tools and infrastructure needed to increase civic participation, empower Democratic candidates to win, and support the success of progressive causes. Since its founding in 2019, over 1400 partners—a range of nonprofit organizations, national political committees, and individual campaigns—have utilized Civitech’s tools to reach tens of millions of voters to help create a more equitable and progressive democracy. The General Counsel will serve as Civitech's primary legal advisor, providing guidance on contracts, corporate governance, employment matters, compliance, risk management, and vendor relationships. This role will help ensure the company's legal framework supports growth while appropriately managing risk. The ideal candidate is a practical business partner with deep expertise in business law, employment law, workforce compliance, and risk management. Experience advising organizations with remote, multi-state workforces and complex contractor relationships is highly desirable. Experience with election law, campaign finance law, voter engagement programs, political communications, or campaign operations is a strong plus. Civitech’s Values: We act with Integrity – At Civitech, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and value open and transparent communications with all of our stakeholders. Our rigorous approach to product design, testing, and data science leads to accurate assessments of our outcomes and challenges us to constantly improve our tools. We are Changemakers – As a team, Civitech seeks to make transformational change in our democracy by eliminating obstacles meant to hamper contribution from every member of the community. We are Collaborators – Buoyed by our mission, we look for opportunities to partner with everyone committed to making democracy easier to participate in. We seek to understand the challenges our partners face and use our skills and creativity to help them solve them. We are Bold – We recognize that disruptive change won’t come with doing business as usual. Civitech seeks to revolutionize civic participation by bringing innovation and creativity to politics. Why Work at Civitech: Medical, Vision, & Dental Insurance 401(k) plan Employee Stock Options Employer-paid Life Insurance Short/Long Term Disability Insurance Flexible Time Off & Paid Company Holidays Flexible Spending Account Parental Leave Flexible Schedules Professional Development Stipend Monthly Office Upkeep Stipend Responsibilities Legal Review and Risk Management Review customer, vendor, partner, and procurement agreements to identify legal, financial, operational, and compliance risks. Advise internal stakeholders on contract structure, liability, indemnification, intellectual property, privacy, and other legal considerations. Develop and maintain contract templates, legal standards, and approval processes. Ensure agreements align with company policies, risk tolerance, and strategic objectives. Review proposed contract modifications and provide guidance on legal implications. Maintain and improve the company's overall contracting framework. Corporate Governance and Business Operations Serve as the primary legal advisor to the executive leadership team. Support mergers, acquisitions, asset purchases, and other corporate transactions. Assist with corporate filings, entity management, and governance requirements. Develop internal policies and procedures to support organizational growth and compliance. Employment Law and Workforce Compliance Advise operations and leadership on employment-related matters, including hiring, performance management, investigations, disciplinary actions, terminations, and workforce planning. Provide guidance regarding employee and independent contractor classification, wage and hour compliance, leave requirements, and multi-state employment laws. Review and support employment agreements, separation agreements, contractor agreements, and workplace policies. Partner with People Operations to identify and mitigate employment-related risks. Monitor legal developments affecting remote workforces and ensure organizational compliance across jurisdictions. Support responses to unemployment claims, worker classification inquiries, labor agency investigations, and related regulatory matters. Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Monitor legal and regulatory developments that may impact the organization. Advise on privacy, data protection, consumer protection, and other compliance matters. Develop practical compliance processes and internal controls. Support responses to government inquiries, regulatory matters, and legal disputes. Strategic Legal and Operational Support Advise leadership on legal implications of operational, financial, and strategic decisions. Support acquisitions, integrations, and corporate restructuring activities. Provide guidance on insurance claims, disputes, demand letters, and potential litigation. Assist in responding to government inquiries, audits, and regulatory matters. Evaluate legal risks associated with new products, partnerships, vendors, and business initiatives. Develop practical policies and procedures that support organizational growth while maintaining compliance. Outside Counsel Management Manage relationships with outside counsel and specialized legal advisors. Determine when specialized expertise is required and coordinate legal work accordingly. Oversee legal spend and ensure efficient use of external resources. Election and Campaign Law (Preferred) Advise on legal and compliance issues related to voter engagement, voter registration, political communications, election administration, and campaign activities. Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting election-related programs and civic technology. Assess legal risks associated with election, campaign, and voter outreach initiatives. Coordinate with specialized election counsel when necessary. Required Qualifications Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school. Active bar membership in good standing. 8 years of legal experience, including substantial experience in business law, corporate law, employment law, or commercial contracting. Strong understanding of contract review, risk assessment, corporate governance, and employment law. Experience advising senior leadership on legal and business matters. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to balance legal risk with practical business needs. Preferred Qualifications Prior in-house counsel or General Counsel experience. Experience supporting technology, SaaS, data, consulting, or service-based businesses. Significant experience advising organizations that utilize a mix of employees, contractors, temporary workers, and seasonal staff. Strong knowledge of worker classification, wage and hour laws, multi-state employment compliance, and workforce risk management. Familiarity with election law, campaign finance law, voter engagement programs, political communications, or campaign operations. Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, asset purchases, or corporate integrations. Experience developing scalable legal processes for growing organizations. What Success Looks Like The company has clear, scalable legal policies and processes. Contracts and agreements are reviewed efficiently and consistently. Leadership receives timely, practical legal guidance. Legal and compliance risks are identified early and managed appropriately. Outside counsel is used thoughtfully for matters that require specialized expertise, while routine legal issues are handled efficiently in-house. The organization can confidently pursue growth opportunities with strong legal support. Reporting Structure This role reports to the Chief Operating Officer and works closely with the executive leadership team, providing legal guidance across all areas of the organization. The General Counsel will partner with leaders across Operations, Sales, Marketing, Product, Engineering, People Operations, Finance, and Client Success to support business objectives while managing legal and compliance risk. $215,000 - $260,000 a year The salary range for this position is $215,000–$260,000 annually, plus bonus and equity eligibility. Placement within the range will be based on experience, qualifications, and overall fit for the role. Compensation decisions consider the full mix of skills and experience a candidate brings to the position. Particular value will be placed on expertise in the core responsibilities of the role—including employment law, worker classification, commercial contract review, corporate governance, risk management, and experience supporting growing technology companies—as well as experience with election law, campaign finance law, voter engagement programs, political communications, or campaign operations. Civitech is a remote-first company hiring within our current footprint of 29 states (AL, AK, CA, CO, D
