Legal Counsel

The Associate Counsel is a trusted legal advisor who provides comprehensive corporate, transactional, regulatory, employment, and ministry-specific legal counsel across FCA's global operations. This role ensures FCA operates with integrity, excellence, and legal compliance while advancing the ministry's impact across more than 100 countries.

This position requires a seasoned attorney with 5-7 years of substantive legal experience, strong corporate transactional knowledge, strong real estate, leasing, and property transactional knowledge, nonprofit regulatory competence, andministry sensitivity. The attorney must bring strong business judgment, agility, maturity, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, relational environment while providing solution-oriented guidance that aligns with FCA's mission, values, and global ministry strategies.

MINISTERIAL DUTIES

FCA This role is considered a ministerial position and must reflect FCA's commitment to advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through service and stewardship.

• Affirm and abide by FCA's Christian Community Statement and Statement of Faith.
• Maintain consistent spiritual disciplines such as daily prayer, Bible study, and Christian fellowship.
• Live and model Christlike character, integrity, and biblical conduct.
• Be actively connected to and involved in a local Bible-believing church.
• Provide spiritual encouragement and relational leadership to staff, volunteers, coaches, and athletes.
• Represent FCA's Christian mission faithfully in all interactions and decisions

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES   Corporate & Transactional Legal Work. Independently manage, review, draft, and negotiate a wide variety of corporate and ministry-related agreements, including:

• Commercial vendor agreements
• Licensing, sponsorship, partnership, and marketing contracts
• Technology, data processing, and SaaS agreements
• Real estate purchase agreements, leases, acquisitions, licenses and property-related contracts
• Professional services and consulting agreements
• Events, camp, lodging, and athletic facility use agreements
• Cross-border ministry partnership MOUs

Responsibilites include: 

• Structuring agreements to protect FCA, reduce risk, and support ministry goals.
• Providing governance support, including bylaws, resolutions, consents, and legal entity information.
• Advising on corporate risk management strategies, insurance requirements, and indemnity clauses.

Regulatory & Compliance Advisory  Provide legal counsel related to FCA's broad regulatory landscape, including: 

• Nonprofit/tax-exempt laws (IRS 501©(3), charitable solicitation, UBIT)
• Youth safety and child protection standards (mandatory reporting, state laws, risk prevention)
• Employment and labor law compliance (U.S., Canada, and global contexts)
• Privacy and data protection (GDPR, COPPA, state regulations)
• Fundraising, international giving, and charitable solicitations laws
• Global operational restrictions and country-specific compliance

Responsibilites include: 

• Developing and updating policies, compliance frameworks, and training.
• Identifying regulatory gaps and advising on organizational risk exposure.
• Ensuring compliance with internal policies, procedures and ministry standards.

Real Estate, Property & Event Risk Managment Support all aspects of real estate and facility-related matters:

• Reviewing and negotiating leases, renewals, and property agreements
• Coordinating real estate acquisitions or divestitures
• Supporting camp and retreat center operations from a legal standpoint
• Ensuring event contracts meet safety, liability, and compliance requirements

Other Duties Duties assigned by the EVP of International Administration may include intellectual property, litigation, and campus access issues.    Cross-Functional Collaboration & Ministry Partnership Serve as a strategic partner to multiple FCA departments and leadership groups, including:

• Executive Team
• Human Resources
• Finance & Audit
• Technology & Data
• Advancement/Donor Relations
• Field Ministry Leadership
• Internation Regional Leaders
• Marketing & Communications
• Support Services
• Media
• Internation Support
• Strategic Delivery

Responsibilities include:

• Translating legal requirements into practical, ministry-aligned guidance.
• Advising Marketing, Media, and Communications on brand use, messaging, advertising standards, content creating, and rights management.
• Supporting Support Services in contracting, facilities, vendor management, and operational compliance.
• Collaborating with International Support on global risk, entity structuring, and compliance issues.
• Advising Strategic Delivery on organizational initiatives, cross-functional projects, and change management efforts requiring legal alignment.
• Supporting Board governance processes and preparing legal documentation.

  REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school; top 35% preferred.
• Active license to practice law in the U.S. with the ability to obtain Missouri admission.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive legal experience in areas including:
  • Corporate transactions and commercial contracting
  • Nonprofit/tax-exempt law
  • Employment and labor law
  • International ministry or cross-border operations
  • Proven ability to serve as a trusted business partner to senior leaders.
  • Strong legal judgment, risk analysis, and practical problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication, drafting, and negotiation abilities.
  • Ability to handle multiple complex matters in a fast-paced, high-trust environment.
  • High emotional intelligence, discretion, and professional integrity.
  • Demonstrated commitment to FCA's mission and biblical values

COMPETENCIES

• Strategic and practical problem-solving
• Clear and effective communication
• High relational intelligence (EQ)
• Ability to translate legal complexities into ministry-friendly guidance
• Strong analytical and drafting skills
• Adaptability and agility in a fast-growing global organization
• Confidentiality, integrity, and sound stewardship

Qualifications

This role does not require on-site work in Kansas City and is eligible for remote work.