General Counsel

Description

** Interested candidates should contact Excel Search & Advisory directly at [email protected]. Please do not contact United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee directly as it will only delay consideration. **

Are you mission-driven and passionate about helping others succeed?

Do you strive to lead, follow, and act with integrity?

Are you the one who honors your commitments?

Is building trusting relationships an integral part of why you do what you do?

Do you push limits and challenge the status quo?

If you answered YES, keep reading to discover how you can significantly contribute to Team USA's success!

Here's a Summary Of Responsibilities

The General Counsel of the USOPC reports directly to the CEO and serves as a key executive partner responsible for all legal, governance, and compliance functions across the organization. As a member of the executive leadership team, the General Counsel plays a vital role in advancing the USOPC’s strategic priorities by ensuring legal integrity, managing risk, and upholding ethical standards throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. This position also serves as the Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors, advising on nonprofit governance, managing board proceedings, and stewarding adherence to the USOPC’s federal charter and Bylaws. In this capacity, they provide critical legal oversight on matters ranging from litigation and contracts to employment, intellectual property, and sport integrity. The General Counsel provides strategic legal oversight and governance leadership across a complex multi-entity structure, including the USOPC, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation (USOPF), U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Endowment (USOPE), and joint ventures with LA28 and the developing Salt Lake City 2034 organizing committee.

The General Counsel leads a high-performing division and oversees relationships with key external regulatory partners, including USADA, WADA, and the U.S. Center for SafeSport. The GC is instrumental in aligning legal strategy with operational and organizational goals, guiding the organization through complex legal environments and change management initiatives. This includes managing major litigation, overseeing the integrity of National Governing Bodies (NGBs), and guiding legal strategy through complex global agreements.

The ideal candidate will bring deep U.S. legal experience in nonprofit and sports law, a steady and board-savvy demeanor, and fluency navigating multi-stakeholder environments such as NGBs, collegiate athletics, and national sports organizations. With visibility across legal, compliance, and governance domains, this role requires sound judgment under pressure, collaborative instincts, and a passion for advancing the mission of Team USA. As a key executive partner to the CEO, the General Counsel (GC) provides leadership, thought partnership, and operational oversight of all legal matters of the USOPC.

Here’s How You‘ll Have An Impact

Division Operations

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across Legal & Governance and Ethics & Compliance departments, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, effective cross-functional collaboration, and high performance across diverse functional areas.
• Create alignment across all departments to provide excellent service and support to internal and external stakeholders to be able to achieve division, department, and organizational goals.
• Partner with Legal & Compliance leadership to develop, implement, and communicate plans for improvements to processes, reporting systems, and company policies. Lead change management efforts for organization-wide projects.
  
  

Ethics & Compliance Oversight

• Provide senior oversight of the Compliance & Audit department, ensuring that the USOPC and the organizations certified by the USOPC as NGBs within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement are meeting their compliance obligations under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, the USOPC Bylaws, and other applicable policies and procedures.
• Contribute leadership and expertise in supporting sport integrity policy and advocacy, including but not limited to sport betting, match manipulation, classification misrepresentation, doping, etc.
• Partner with the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer in overseeing the USOPC Ethics program, as directed by the Ethics Committee of the Board of Directors. Provide expert counsel as issues arise to USOPC management and staff as appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, oversee and manage the USOPC’s relationships with:
• U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
• Partnership for Clean Competition (PCC) – support and/or serve as the USOPC representative to the PCC Board as appropriate.
  

Legal Oversight

• Provide legal and strategic guidance and oversight on all USOPC legal and contract matters, cross-functional legal challenges, new business initiatives, litigation, special projects, and unique legal issues.
• Contribute expertise in supporting intellectual property protection and management, non-profit law and tax considerations, and confidential employment matters.
• Provide oversight and expertise for legal decisions on behalf of the USOPC, including material contracts for the organization (e.g., term greater than one year, greater than $100,000, organization-wide impact, and/or unique or complex legal issues).
• Engage outside counsel on behalf of the USOPC as appropriate. Partner with the Deputy General Counsel to manage all outside counsel relationships.
  
  

Corporate Secretary & Governance Oversight

• Serve as the USOPC’s subject matter expert on all governance matters, including managing adherence to the federal charter, IOC and IPC charters, and federal non-profit requirements.
• Provide expert guidance in advancing governance best practices for NGBs and other participant organizations across the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
• Act as the Corporate Secretary in accordance with the USOPC Bylaws, including, without limitation:
• Keep the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.
• Ensure that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of the USOPC Bylaws or as required by law.
• Act as the custodian of the corporate records and the seal of the corporation.
• Perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Secretary by the CEO or the Board.
• Support and liaise with the USOPC Board of Directors.
  

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team sharing diverse ideas to guide strategic actions and make important business decisions, drive priorities, and lead change for the success of the organization as a whole.
• Serve a key role in creating, reinforcing, and supporting the USOPC’s culture.
• Embody the USOPC’s core values and promote and acknowledge them across the organization.
• Support the USOPC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, with a focus on championing inclusivity and fostering belonging for all.
• Represent the USOPC as an externally facing ambassador at meetings and events with prospective and current sponsors, donors, and other external stakeholders. Present to external stakeholder groups such as NGBs, the Foundation, Endowment, LA28, and other affiliated organizations.
• Present to the USOPC Board of Directors and affiliated committees to provide updates and progress of strategic objectives, challenges, and opportunities.
• Manage critical business issues, develop short- and long-term strategic plans aligned to the USOPC’s priorities, and oversee a combined budget for all departments. Provide thought leadership and innovative problem-solving around key business challenges.
• Hire, mentor, support, coach, and develop teams. Manage performance of team members effectively.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Here are the skills and experience you'll need to be effective:

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited institution
• License to practice law in the State of Colorado and state of residence
• 15+ years of experience practicing law (5+ years at the executive level) in a firm or corporate environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage litigation strategy (e.g., abuse, IP, marketing), coordinate outside counsel, and mitigate legal exposure
• Experience managing legal issues tied to international events, including host city agreements, crisis response, and Games-time operations
• Proven track record supporting and advising boards, managing agendas, committees, and onboarding in a nonprofit or federated setting
• Experience navigating legal structures across foundations, endowments, and joint ventures, ensuring compliance and organizational alignment
• Demonstrates calm, principled leadership under pressure; collaborative, board-savvy, and capable of navigating sensitive, high-profile issues
• Understanding of the U.S. Olympic, NGB, NCAA, or pro sports legal landscape, with credibility and experience in mission-driven environments a plus
• Robust analytical and quantitative skills
• Demonstrated ability to successfully design, lead, and implement high impact cross-functional projects or responses to legal actions
• Ability to effectively build and maintain interpersonal relationships
• Strong critical thinking, problem solving and analytical skills
• Effective communicator with different stakeholder groups
• Good judgment and strategic mindset
• Appreciation for sport and the ideals of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement
  
  

Here Are The Tools, Equipment, & Conditions

• Standard office equipment
• Office environment in multi-story building on multi-building site
• Occasional domestic and international travel, some for extended periods of time during Games periods
• Regular attendance at work is an essential job function
  
  

Here's Where You'll Work

Colorado Springs Downtown Headquarters / Hybrid

Remote work options available

Here's Some More Information You Need To Know

• Hiring Pay Range: $300,000 - $375,000 per year.
• Work Week: This Full-Time, Exempt position is intended to work 40 hours per week.
• Bonus: This position will be eligible for the Annual Incentive Award Program, which has a 30% target. The USOPC may change or eliminate this program at any time at its sole discretion.
• Benefits: This position will be eligible for USOPC benefits. You can view a summary here.
• Search Team: Interested candidates should contact Excel Search & Advisory directly at [email protected]. Please do not contact United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee directly as it will only delay consideration.