The successful candidate’s starting pay will fall within the pay ranges listed below. Base salary is localized according to an employee’s work location. Ranges are market-dependent and may be modified in the future.

 

For candidates living in Boston, MA, Denver, CO, New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, and Washington, DC, the pay range is $114,800 – $128,850.

 

For candidates living in the United States, besides Boston, MA, Denver, CO, New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, and Washington, DC, the pay range is $97,300 – $109,200.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a US-based role that requires the employee to reside within the 48 contiguous states.

 

The Staff Counsel, International Operations helps to ensure that APHL’s international work is conducted in accordance with applicable US and foreign laws and regulations. The position will evaluate and monitor APHL’s international operations and will facilitate changes in the structure of those operations when needed. This includes identifying and managing legal risks to minimize or eliminate those risks within the association’s international operations and improving and enhancing internal controls over international subsidiaries or registered branches.

The position reports to the General Counsel and Managing Director, Legal & Compliance (General Counsel).

 

At this time, this position is funded through September 6, 2026 and is dependent upon continued availability of funds.

 

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) works to strengthen laboratory systems serving the public’s health in the U.S. and globally. APHL’s member laboratories protect the public’s health by monitoring and detecting infectious and foodborne diseases, environmental contaminants, terrorist agents, genetic disorders in newborns and other diverse health threats.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

1. Subsidiary and Branch Operations

 

• Work with in-country counsel to coordinate the maintenance or creation of international subsidiaries or the maintenance or registration of APHL branch or representative offices when necessary.

 

• Track all reporting or filing requirements for each subsidiary or branch and ensure timely submission of those reports and fulfillment of filing requirements.

 

• Serve as primary staff liaison with members of the board of directors for APHL’s international subsidiaries.

 

• Work with General Counsel, the Director, Global Health and others (as needed) to establish standard operating procedures for APHL’s headquarters regarding subsidiary formation and maintenance.

 

• Work with Director, Global Safety and Security and others to assist in the development of subsidiary or branch standard operating procedures.

 

• Ensure that these standard procedures support compliance with external legal, regulatory or contractual or grant requirements.

 

• Work with General Counsel, the Director, People Operations, Global Health headquarters staff and, where needed, Finance & Procurement and Grants Management staff and in-country counsel to develop employment agreements or consulting agreements for APHL’s international team members.

 

2. Internal Audits; Compliance and Enforcement

 

• Collaborate with General Counsel and other members of the Global Health, Operations and Legal & Compliance Departments on international compliance issues as necessary.

 

• Work with key staff at APHL headquarters to develop a comprehensive and efficient program for the internal audit of APHL’s international operations.

 

• Conduct or lead audits of subsidiary and branch operations and ensure that APHL headquarters maintains a complete and accurate oral and written report of the audits.

 

• Develop remediation items and a recommended plan of action to promptly and thoroughly mitigate any noncompliance or other problems identified during an audit and monitor implementation of remediation items or recommended actions.

 

• Prepare and submit required reports to external agencies or third parties.

 

3. Risk Assessment and Incident Response

 

• In consultation with the General Counsel and members of the executive leadership staff, develop and implement an ongoing risk assessment program targeting APHL subsidiary and registered branch operations and maintain an effective incident or risk response and reporting system.

 

• Work with the Managing Director, People & Culture and General Counsel as part of the response team in the event of a serious or aggravated noncompliance issue with a subsidiary or branch operation.

 

4. Education and Training

 

• Help ensure that other members of senior management team and key headquarters and subsidiary/branch association staff are aware of the parameters of APHL’s standard operating procedures and policies.

 

• Train other APHL headquarters staff on the function and conduct of an internal audit.

 

5. Association Support

 

• Keep abreast of applicable federal legislation and regulatory rules and requirements and stay up to date on developments in internal auditing procedures.

 

• When needed, assist with the response to external audits, agency proceedings, and survey requests or media inquiries on international operations.

 

• Aid in the development, review and negotiation of contracts for services, subaward agreements, teaming agreements, memoranda of understanding and other contracts submitted by the Global Health program and, when needed, submitted by other APHL program areas.

 

• Other relevant duties as assigned.

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Staff Counsel, International Operations will supervise the work of the Specialist, International Compliance.

 

• A law degree (JD or LLM) from an accredited law school, with a strong academic background.

 

• Membership in good standing of the District of Columbia or Maryland bar, preferred; current bar membership in another US jurisdiction with the ability to practice law in Maryland under the “in-house counsel” exemption, required.

 

• At least 2 years of relevant legal practice is required, with experience in some or all of the following areas of law preferred: nonprofit law, government grants, cooperative agreements or contracts, international law, compliance or administrative law or corporate, transaction or regulatory law.

Knowledge

• Experience in drafting and negotiating international employment agreements, subgrant documents or other complex contracts.

 

• An understanding of the professional duty and dual role – that of both a management and programmatic partner and a guardian of the institution – of in-house legal counsel desirable.

 

• Experience in development of standard operating procedures preferred.

 

• Experience working with international clients, staff or vendors strongly desirable.

 

• MS Office applications with proficiency in Excel, Word and Outlook

 

• Experience with SharePoint and Ironclad (APHL’s current contract management system) strongly preferred.

 

Skills

• Strong oral and written communication skills including the ability to identify and frame issues and convey them clearly to non-lawyers.

 

• Strong legal research, analytical and problem-solving skills.

 

• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking and organizational skills.

 

• Excellent interpersonal relations skills.

 

• Strong computer skills including familiarity with Windows operating systems, Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Office products.

 

• Analytical thinker with the ability to solve problems.

 

• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills and proven ability to handle multiple competing priorities simultaneously.

 

• High attention to detail.

 

• Familiarity with Ironclad, APHL’s contract management system beneficial.

 

Abilities

• Self-directed; ability to work under deadlines; highly organized.

 

• Team player with a positive attitude.

 

• Ability to work with a team to complete projects.

 

• Ability to manage concurrent projects.

APHL Week is a Conference/Convention that is held at the APHL Home Office Bethesda, MD. This event is mandatory for all employees to attend. Travel and lodging will be reimbursed by APHL.

Please Note: Reimbursement for travel and lodging may not be possible for employees that are local to the APHL Home Office.

The duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are illustrative ones anticipated for this position. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned as required. Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) reserves the right to amend or change this job description to meet the needs of its programs. This job description and any attachments do not constitute or represent a contract.

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a colleague to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.
During the job, the colleague may need to sit for extended periods, use a computer keyboard to type, read information visually, and communicate orally through a computer monitor.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, protected veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.