Job openings/Deputy General Counsel

JOB TITLE Deputy General Counsel [CLOSED]

REPORTS TO The General Counsel of the Wikimedia Foundation

JOB PURPOSE Through experienced and strategic legal advice and actions, the Deputy General Counsel will support the General Counsel and the Wikimedia Foundation. The Deputy General Counsel will take on the role of a partner with the General Counsel, assuming responsibilities for the legal issues and needs of the Wikimedia Foundation as decided by the General Counsel. The Deputy General Counsel will maintain strong and supportive interactions with the executive staff, the chapter organizations, and the community of users, including volunteer editors.

POSITION SUMMARY Duties include, but are not limited to the following:
 * Maintaining a trusted and strategic leadership role within the organization that would require interaction with and advice to the General Counsel and the executive management.
 * Participating in effective and clear communications relating to legal topics with chapter organizations and members of our Community, including users and volunteer editors.
 * Assisting the General Counsel in the coordination of all legal activities and processes and in the shaping of the organization's legal infrastructure as Wikimedia grows and expands both domestically and globally.
 * Providing strong, daily, and hands-on transactional support, including the direct drafting and negotiation of complex commercial, technology, open source, mobile, and other agreements.
 * Providing advice and counsel on all other areas of the law, including intellectual property, free speech, and privacy.
 * Providing corporate governance advice and support in all areas relevant to a 501(c)(3) web-based organization.
 * Providing support to the global expansion initiatives of the foundation, including coordination of and work with foreign counsel.
 * Providing strategic coordination, support and advice on pending litigation domestically and internationally and undertaking proactive steps to mitigate legal threats.
 * Providing advice about and drafting of internal and online policies relevant to a web-based organization.
 * Coordinating with like-minded organizations and individuals to advance Wikimedia's legal interest in support of its mission, vision, values and goals.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
 * You should have at least 10 years practicing law, including significant hands-on experience in the drafting of commercial, technology, and other types of agreements relevant to a web-based industry.
 * You should be licensed to practice law in California or eligible for such admission immediately upon hiring.
 * You should have significant experience as legal counsel for a major internet-related organization.
 * You should have an ability to assess and manage serious risks and to formulate strategic and balanced risk mitigation plans.
 * You should be a mission-driven individual with a public service orientation and high personal integrity.
 * You should have an understanding and commitment to the free and open internet, the open source and free culture movements.
 * You should be comfortable in a highly collaborative, multi-culture, consensus-oriented environment.
 * You should be able to adhere to deadlines, complete projects independently and manage costs and budgets.
 * You should have a good sense of humor while being ego-less in the pursuit of the best result.
 * You should have a strong affinity for the Wikimedia mission.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
 * Experience working with online volunteers is a major plus.
 * Experience with use of wiki technology is a major plus.
 * Experience living or working outside your home country is a major plus.
 * Active participation as a Wikimedia volunteer is a major plus.