Talence Group | Executive Search & Consulting · 19 hours ago
Chief Shared Prosperity & Legal Officer
Portland, Oregon, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
15+ years expTalence Group is seeking a Chief Shared Prosperity & Legal Officer for the Port of Portland, a vital economic engine generating significant revenue and supporting regional GDP. This executive will lead critical functions including legal services, human resources, and strategic governance to ensure the Port operates as a unified, mission-driven institution focused on shared prosperity.
Staffing & Recruiting
Responsibilities
Lead and collaborate with the executive team to develop and implement business, legal, and enterprise strategies that advance the Port’s shared prosperity goals and strategic plan, manage organizational risk, and reduce potential legal exposure while representing the Port’s goals internally and to the community
Translate strategic priorities into operational approaches, guiding cross-portfolio planning as an enterprise integrator
Strengthen organizational health, leadership effectiveness, workforce strategy, governance integrity, and legal and regulatory positioning
Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary leadership team that effectively oversees critical administrative functions, while strengthening leadership capacity
Provide executive leadership for legal services and records management to ensure sound governance, strategic legal positioning, and effective risk management
Advise the executive leadership team and Commission on legal, regulatory, and governance implications of organizational decisions, and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws governing public agencies and special districts
Oversee litigation coordination, policy development, and enterprise records and public records compliance to support transparency, accountability, and timely public disclosure
Provide executive leadership for Human Resources and enterprise people strategy including workforce planning, talent acquisition, classification and compensation, total rewards, labor and employee relations, learning and development, and performance management for a capable, engaged, and future-ready workforce
Lead enterprise change, culture, and organizational effectiveness initiatives that support sustained performance
Provide executive leadership and governance over the Contracts and Procurement function to ensure integrity, transparency, legal compliance, and strong fiscal stewardship aligned with Port and Commission policy
Lead contracting strategy to promote fair access, compliance, and measurable outcomes, supported by accurate reporting and data transparency
Provide transformational, values-driven leadership that strengthens organizational trust, accountability, and inspires measurable performance in support of the Port’s mission
Lead enterprise approaches to organizational culture and shared prosperity by integrating priorities into agency systems, leadership expectations, planning processes, and decision-making frameworks
Advise and support leaders across the organization to ensure shared understanding of how roles and business functions contribute to regional prosperity and mission delivery
Oversee the enterprise implementation of business line and division work plans, ensuring clear performance measures with key internal and external stakeholders
Foster a values-based organizational culture that supports employee engagement, psychological safety, and effective collaboration, while championing performance indicators
Qualification
Required
15 or more years of experience in the practice of law with progressively increasing responsibility, including service as a Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, Managing Attorney, Senior Corporate Counsel, or equivalent role
Extensive senior leadership experience in a complex public, quasi-public, or highly regulated organization, with responsibility spanning multiple enterprise functions
Significant experience providing legal counsel to a public body or agency on complex legal, policy, workforce, and governance matters
Demonstrated skill in balancing risk mitigation with enabling organizational strategy, innovation, and long-term value creation
Deep and broad knowledge of human capital, organizational strategy, and compliance, along with strong expertise in change management and organizational development
A track record of building strong leadership teams, developing talent, and fostering values-based, inclusive organizational cultures
Deep knowledge of inclusive culture principles and integrated shared prosperity practices, with the ability to embed these principles into strategy, policy, and daily organizational operations
Proven ability to translate strategic priorities into measurable outcomes, using data, performance metrics, and feedback mechanisms to drive accountability and continuous improvement
Demonstrated credibility engaging with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including elected or appointed officials, regulators, labor partners, and community leaders
Demonstrated commitment to ethical leadership, public stewardship, and mission-driven service, with a track record of fostering trust, engagement, and collaboration across diverse functions and perspectives
Exceptional communication and influence skills, with the ability to engage executives, governing bodies, employees, and external stakeholders with clarity and credibility
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
Active admission to the Oregon State Bar
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Basic life and AD&D
FSA/HRA
STD
LTD
PTO
Participation in the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP)
Company
Talence Group | Executive Search & Consulting
Successful executive search only works when there’s a trusting partnership between us and our clients.
2-10 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase