Head of Legal

About GiveWell

GiveWell researches the most cost-effective ways to save and improve lives, directing donations to high-impact global health programs. We've grown from directing $1.5 million in 2010 to over $400 million in 2025, with anticipated grantmaking approaching $1 billion in 2025 and scaling significantly beyond.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced, pragmatic attorney to lead GiveWell's legal function and build a team scaled for our expected growth. This role reports to the Chief Operations Officer and serves as a strategic senior leader shaping our Operations team and organization broadly. You will own our legal portfolio, strategy, and support our Grants Administration function.

We welcome candidates at various experience levels—from those with multiple General Counsel tenures to those stepping into a senior in-house legal role for the first time. The default position is Senior Director level; candidates with significant prior GC experience, especially in grantmaking or nonprofit operations, may be considered for Vice President level.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and lead GiveWell's legal function as primary legal decision-maker, developing calibrated legal strategy as we scale. This is a visible, highly cross-functional role working closely with senior operations leaders, executive leadership, and the Board.
• Maintain compliance posture across nonprofit operations, including risk assessment and mitigation in employment law, data privacy and security, programs, staff travel, intellectual property, contract management, and related areas.
• Provide strategic leadership for Grants Administration, including guidance on complex and novel grant structures.
• Own contracting across all functional areas—grants, contributions, employment, software, vendors, independent contractors—and build systems, processes, and controls for efficient operations.
• Modernize legal administration by prioritizing technology and tools that increase capacity and reduce manual review reliance.

What We're Looking For

This is a senior leadership role requiring legal expertise, strategic thinking, and ability to operate across multiple jurisdictions and compliance domains. Experience in nonprofit law, grantmaking structures, or in-house counsel positions is valued.

Salary Disclosure

Editorial Market Estimate: The employer has not published compensation. Based on senior legal leadership roles at comparable nonprofits, we estimate $100,000–$160,000 USD annually. This is not an employer-provided figure and will vary based on experience, location, and qualifications.