Ravinia Festival

General Counsel (Highland Park)

HIGHLAND PARK, ILPosted 23 days ago

Job summary

  • Job post source

    This job is directly from Ravinia Festival

  • Job overview

    The General Counsel role at Ravinia Festival is a part-time legal leadership position providing strategic legal advice to senior leadership and trustees to mitigate risk and ensure compliance, supporting the organization's long-term success.

  • Responsibilities and impact

    The General Counsel will advise executive leadership on legal matters, develop legal strategies, manage litigation and dispute resolution, oversee corporate compliance and governance, lead contract management, protect intellectual property, ensure employment and immigration law compliance, and participate in risk management and government relations activities.

  • Compensation and benefits

    The position offers a salary range of $130,000 to $220,000 annually and eligibility for the Illinois Paid Leave plan, with a hybrid work environment requiring 50% on-site presence.

  • Experience and skills

    Candidates must have a Juris Doctor degree, an active Illinois law license, and at least 10 years of legal experience including nonprofit law, corporate governance, labor and employment law, and intellectual property; strong negotiation, analytical, communication, and leadership skills are required.

  • Work environment and culture

    Ravinia Festival promotes a culture of integrity, professionalism, collaboration, mutual respect, and customer focus, emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workforce.

  • Company information

    Ravinia Festival is North America's longest-running nonprofit music festival, featuring diverse musical events and educational programs, including performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and training for young musicians.

  • Job location and travel

    The job is based in Highland Park, Illinois, with a hybrid work model requiring 50% of work on-site at Ravinia's offices.

  • Unique job features

    The role uniquely combines legal leadership with involvement in a culturally significant nonprofit music festival, offering opportunities to work on diverse legal issues including entertainment law, governance, and intellectual property in a hybrid setting.

Company overview

Ravinia Festival is the oldest outdoor music festival in the United States, located in Highland Park, Illinois. It operates as a not-for-profit organization and serves as a cultural hub, hosting a wide array of performances including classical, jazz, pop, and world music. The festival generates revenue through ticket sales, memberships, sponsorships, and donations, emphasizing community engagement and arts education. Established in 1904, it has a rich history, including being the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1936, making it a prestigious venue for both artists and audiences.

How to land this job

  • Position your resume to underscore your expertise in nonprofit law, corporate governance, labor, employment, immigration law, and entertainment intellectual property, as these are core to the General Counsel role at Ravinia Festival.

  • Highlight your experience advising senior leadership and boards on governance, compliance, and fiduciary duties, showcasing your ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable advice aligned with business strategies.

  • Apply through multiple platforms such as Ravinia Festival's official corporate careers page and LinkedIn to maximize application visibility and increase your chances of being noticed among the first 25 applicants.

  • Connect on LinkedIn with members of Ravinia’s legal, executive leadership, or board advisory teams; initiate conversations by referencing Ravinia’s mission to make music accessible or recent festival events, and express genuine interest in how legal strategies support their unique nonprofit environment.

  • Optimize your resume for ATS by incorporating keywords from the job description like 'strategic legal counsel,' 'corporate governance,' 'litigation strategy,' 'compliance programs,' 'contract management,' and 'intellectual property enforcement' to ensure it passes automated screenings effectively.

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