Senior Legal Counsel

**POSITION: Director, Legal (Senior Legal Counsel)** **ORGANIZATION:** Mastercard Foundation Asset Management **LOCATION:** Toronto, Ontario, Canada **TYPE:** Full\-time (3\-4 days in office per week) **VACANCY** : New position **Be part of a new and growing asset management company** **ABOUT MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT** Established in 2023, the Mastercard Foundation Asset Management (MFAM) Corporation was created to build a diversified investment portfolio for the Mastercard Foundation, one of the largest public foundations in the world. MFAM is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. We have a global investment strategy and mandate to deliver long term returns that will fund the philanthropic mission of the Mastercard Foundation and its partners in Africa and Canada. We believe in the mission and values of the Mastercard Foundation and aim to cultivate an ecosystem of exceptional people, trusted partnerships, and long\-term investments to achieve lasting impact. We value bold ideas, curiosity, and tenacity, as part of nimble, creative, and meritocracy\-based team. **ABOUT MASTERCARD FOUNDATION** Mastercard Foundation, one of the largest foundations in the world, works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Mastercard Foundation is an independent organization separate from Mastercard. The Foundation has offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. **WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH** You will report to the General Counsel \& Corporate Secretary and will build and maintain relationships with teams across MFAM, the Mastercard Foundation, external counsel, consultants and vendors. As a member of the team, you will have opportunities to grow and develop, and create meaningful value and lasting impact through the Mastercard Foundation. **WHAT YOU’LL DO** This is a unique opportunity to be involved in starting up a world\-class organization that will have global impact. You will be accountable to provide strategic and practical legal advice across MFAM’s investment and operating activities. Working in close collaboration with the General Counsel, this role will serve as a trusted senior advisor and execution partner to investments, operations, and leadership teams, with a hands\-on focus on deal execution, risk assessment, and solution\-oriented legal support. The successful candidate will bring deep legal expertise relevant to asset management and private investing, paired with strong commercial judgment and the ability to work collaboratively in a non\-hierarchical, team\-based environment. Accountabilities include: * Provide expert senior\-level legal advice on diverse legal issues including investment\-related matters (including fund investments, strategic relationships and portfolio monitoring), regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and risk management. * Support investment teams through legal due diligence, review and negotiation of transaction documents, and issue\-spotting across jurisdictions and asset classes. * Advise on regulatory, structural, and contractual considerations across MFAM’s business. * Collaborate with the General Counsel and other key stakeholders across MFAM to support strategic development, implementation, and operation of corporate governance functions. * Support corporate governance processes, including review of board and committee materials and related documentation. * Provide legal advice and develop practical, business\-oriented solutions to complex legal issues in commercial contexts. Contribute to the development and refinement of legal policies, templates, and internal processes, to reflect relevant changes and best practices. * Work with external legal counsel to ensure high\-quality, cost\-efficient, and risk\-adjusted legal advice. * Serve as a legal thought partner on new initiatives, structures, and operating models as MFAM continues to scale. * Ensure that legal advice to the organization considers the needs and reputation of Mastercard Foundation. * Stay current on legal and regulatory developments, emerging issues and industry trends relevant to MFAM’s operations. **WHAT YOU’LL NEED** * 7\+ years of post\-call corporate law experience in a law firm or in\-house, with significant experience advising asset managers, foundations, pension funds, endowments or similar institutional investors on fund investments. * Law degree (JD or equivalent) and membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario (or eligibility to transfer). * Strong knowledge of securities law, investment structures, fund documentation, and cross border legal issues. * Demonstrated ability to assess risk pragmatically and provide solutions\-oriented advice in complex, evolving situations. * Experience working closely with, and maintaining strong, collaborative relations with investment professionals and senior business partners. * Comfort operating in a hands\-on, execution\-orientated role within a growing organization. * Strong negotiation, drafting, and analytical skills. * Excellent relationship building, conflict resolution, and verbal communications skills. * Enthusiasm for being a key player in a start\-up environment, embracing hands\-on execution, contributing beyond assigned responsibilities, and adapting to evolving roles and expectations. * High integrity, sound judgment, and alignment with the mission and values of MFAM and the Mastercard Foundation. **WHY WORK AT MFAM** * Mission\-driven organization supporting impact across Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada and numerous opportunities to gain experience and develop a variety of skill sets in a growing organization that contributes to the mission of the Mastercard Foundation * Pay\-for\-performance environment that offers competitive salary and incentive compensation * Comprehensive employer\-paid benefits * Retirement income through a Retirement Savings Program * Competitive time\-off policy We are guided by five core values: 1. Partnership: We achieve the best outcomes through mutual trust, thoughtfulness, and respect 2. Inclusion: We embrace diversity of thought, background, and experience. 3. Communication: We learn and gain insight through open and honest communication 4. Performance: We are ambitious and results oriented 5. Innovation: We challenge the status quo and seek bold solutions MFAM provides a hiring range that reflects the expected compensation for this role. Final offers are determined based on skills, experience, and internal equity. MFAM does not use AI technology in screening, evaluating, or selecting candidates. This posting reflects a new vacancy. MFAM is an equal opportunity employer. We believe diversity is important and we take pride in ensuring that the people we hire and culture we create reflect and embrace diversity of thought, background, and experience. We value the unique skills and diverse experiences that each individual brings, and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable workplace where talent is respected, accepted, and empowered to be themselves. *Mastercard Foundation Asset Management values the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the organization and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.* *Completion of satisfactory business references and background checks are essential conditions of employment. If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please contact a member of MFAM at talent@mfamc.org . We will work with you to provide a positive recruitment experience in a confidential manner.*