Associate General Counsel at American Psychological Association in Washington, DC

Job description

• Note: APA operates on a 37.5-hour work week with one-hour lunch breaks each day. APA sets salaries based on several considerations, including years of relevant experience, level of education, and previous staff and/or governance experience at APA.
• The American Psychological Association (APA) seeks a mid-level practical, collaborative business lawyer with 10-12 years legal experience to serve as special counsel for in-house business development, technology legal support, artificial intelligence initiatives, and corporate sponsorship (and related) ventures with for-profit entities that involve APA and/or its companion organization, APA Services, Inc. (APASI).
• This attorney will provide strategic legal support to APA and APASI. The portfolio includes the Business Innovation and Growth Office (BIGO), ITS, the Center for Behavioral Science and AI, Communications (specifically marketing, sponsorship, and partner ventures with for-profit entities), Publishing (AI), and other revenue-generating initiatives that exist or may be developed by other units within the organization(s).
• The attorney will advise on developing, commercializing, and operating new and existing programs, products, services, and strategic partnerships. The role requires sound legal judgment, strong transactional skills, and an ability to translate complex issues into practical business guidance.
• The position reports to the Deputy General Counsel and works closely with OGC colleagues, executive leadership, business teams, outside counsel, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Business and Revenue-Generating Initiatives
• Serve as primary in-house legal counsel for assigned revenue-generating activities of APA and APASI.
• Partner with BIGO and other revenue-generating units from concept development through launch (including marketing), operation, evaluation, and, when appropriate, expansion.
• Advise on business models, product development, commercialization, pricing, distribution, strategic alliances, sponsorships, and licensing arrangements relevant to revenue-generating activities undertaken by the organization(s).
• Provide legal support for revenue-related digital resources, product evaluation, and innovation communities.
• Counsel APA Labs on technology evaluations, product testing, digital badge programs, startup engagement, and relationships with consultants, investors, academics, clinicians, and corporate partners.
• Identify legal and business risks, recommend practical solutions, and support timely operational decisions for revenue-generating activities and programs.
• Help business teams develop scalable contract structures, templates, approval processes, and risk controls.
• Artificial Intelligence and Technology
• Provide legal counsel for APA and APASI initiatives involving artificial intelligence, digital health, and emerging technologies and other technology-related programs, including Publishing and Practice.
• Support the Center for Behavioral Science and AI in developing APA-industry collaborations.
• Draft and negotiate agreements involving AI development, evaluation, testing, data access, research collaboration, technical implementation, and commercial partnerships.
• Advise on intellectual property ownership, data rights, confidentiality, cybersecurity, privacy, licensing, product claims, and allocation of technology-related risk.
• Conduct legal review of proposed AI products, services, pilots, and partnerships.
• Develop contractual safeguards addressing training data, model outputs, human oversight, bias, security, regulatory compliance, audit rights, indemnification, and liability.
• Monitor relevant legal and regulatory developments and translate them into practical guidance.
• Help develop governance standards and review processes for responsible AI initiatives.
• ITS and Revenue-Related Contracts and Transactions
• Manage the contract lifecycle for assigned matters, including drafting, reviewing, and approving.
• Draft and negotiate service agreements, technology agreements, licenses, strategic-partnership agreements, sponsorship agreements, ITS/marketing/corporate sponsorship/joint partner venture agreements, data agreements, confidentiality agreements, and memoranda of understanding.
• Develop and maintain contract templates and playbooks for recurring business arrangements.
• Coordinate contract review with stakeholders and APA’s contract management system (CMS).
• Support contract compliance, renewals, amendments, terminations, and dispute resolution within legal portfolio or as assigned.
• Engage and manage outside counsel when specialized expertise is needed.
• General Organizational Counseling
• Advise APA and APASI on corporate, tax, intellectual property, antitrust, advertising, consumer-protection, and regulatory matters affecting assigned initiatives.
• Consider the distinct missions, tax status, governance, and operational requirements of APA and APASI when structuring activities.
• Provide concise risk assessments and recommendations to business teams and executive leadership.
• Prepare and deliver training to relevant staff on contracting, AI, intellectual property, and related compliance requirements.
• Serve on internal committees and working groups as assigned.
• Support OGC priorities and perform other duties assigned by the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel.
• Other Duties as Assigned

Requirements

• D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with the District of Columbia Bar, or eligibility for admission by waiver.
• Eight to ten years of progressive legal experience.
• Significant experience drafting and negotiating sophisticated commercial, technology, licensing, or strategic-partnership agreements.
• Experience counseling business teams on product development, commercialization, and/or revenue-generating activities.
• Experience with artificial intelligence, technology transactions, digital products, cybersecurity, and/or intellectual property.
• Experience in an in-house legal department, law firm transactional practice, nonprofit organization, professional association, technology company, or comparable environment.
• Strong business judgment and ability to balance legal risk with organizational objectives.
• Ability to identify issues early and propose practical paths forward.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, and project-management skills.
• Ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to nonlawyers.
• Ability to manage multiple matters, competing deadlines, and changing priorities.
• Collaborative working style and ability to build productive relationships across functions.
• Comfort learning new technologies, business models, and areas of law.
• High degree of discretion, professionalism, and accountability.
• Proficiency with contract-management systems, project-management tools, collaboration platforms, and APA-approved AI tools.
• Experience advising tax-exempt organizations and their affiliated nonprofit entities.
• Experience with marketing, joint ventures, product evaluation and/or startup programs.
• Familiarity with responsible technology development and emerging AI regulation.
• Experience supporting new business lines and early-stage initiatives.
• Experience developing contract templates, playbooks, and scalable legal processes.

Skills

Required

• Strong business judgment
• Collaborative working style
• Contract-management systems
• Project-management tools
• Collaboration platforms
• APA-approved AI tools

Benefits

• APA offers a generous employee benefits program, including Remote Work/Flexible Scheduling; a 401(k) option with employer match of up to 4%; medical, dental, and vision insurance options and an outpatient mental health benefit; paid personal/vacation time plus 12 paid holidays; Family/Medical Leave; tuition assistance; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); short- and long-term disability insurance; and more.