Associate General Counsel

Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.
Job Summary
The California Institute of Technology ("Caltech") is an independent and privately supported research university located in Pasadena, California. Caltech has a student body of approximately 2500 students with more than 300 professorial faculty and approximately 2500 employees. Caltech was named Forbes' 2023 Best Mid-Sized Employer and is dedicated to offering an exceptional work experience.
Caltech's Office of General Counsel ("OGC") is seeking an experienced and highly versatile attorney to advise Caltech on a wide range of sophisticated legal matters and complex issues. In addition to the Campus, Caltech's OGC provides legal counsel and advice to Caltech's affiliated organizations, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ("JPL"), NASA's federally funded research and development center ("FFRDC"), which has over 6000 Caltech employees. The successful candidate will embrace Caltech's commitment to collaboration, innovation, diversity, and excellence, and, as part of Caltech's OGC, will serve as an integral part of Caltech's community of bright, curious, and passionate professionals. They will be part of a supportive, independent, committed, and collaborative group of professionals in which teamwork and building strong relationships with colleagues and clients is a priority.
This position is for an Associate General Counsel who will serve as a generalist and will involve a diverse practice, which may require learning new areas of law and developing new skills. The attorney selected for this position will provide general legal counsel, support, and advice across the Institute, including JPL, on a breadth of matters that have a significant Institute-wide impact.
This is a Campus Critical position. An employee designated as campus critical is expected to be aware of the campus emergency management plan and to report to Campus as soon as possible in the event of an emergency to assist in campus wide response and recovery efforts.
Essential Job Duties

• Provide legal counsel, support, and advice to the Institute and its affiliated organizations on the broad range of matters that impact a top-tier research university, which also serves as a government contractor managing NASA's FFRDC. Duties of the position may include but are not limited to, supporting litigation and advising on student affairs, labor and employment matters, benefits, government contracts, regulatory and compliance issues, and other subject areas that will impact the Institute in a meaningful way.
• Advise and support leadership, management, and faculty on matters related to the Institute's policies, procedures, and compliance with laws and regulations that arise in the complex legal environment of higher education, government contracting, and FFRDCs.
• Develop and conduct trainings for employees and management across the Institute, including JPL, on matters that cover a broad range of topics.
• Proactively manage litigation impacting both the Campus and JPL, including overseeing outside counsel.
• Review and advise on transactional matters, including government contracts, procurements, and other contracts.
• Develop and foster impactful relationships with Caltech stakeholders to create meaningful partnerships that will contribute to the Institute's mission.
• Engage in continuous education and development in the legal practice through professional development.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the Deputy General Counsel and General Counsel.

• J.D. degree from an ABA accredited law school.
• 7 years of legal experience as a practicing attorney.
• Member in good standing with the California Bar.
• Excellent academic credentials, writing, analytical, and communication skills, and a strong sense of ethics.
• Previous legal experience in diverse areas of law and policy and an interest in having a diverse practice.
• Ability to analyze, identify, and provide counsel on a broad range of contractual issues while at the same time balancing internal policies and practices and applicable industry standards and laws.
• Ability to independently and proactively manage litigation in a strategic and tactical manner with excellent judgment and instinct regarding risk analysis.
• Ability to work collaboratively and establish strong relationships with different constituencies, including faculty, senior administration, managers, scientists, engineers, and business clients, across the entire Institute, as well as constituencies that support the complex research and technology activities of Caltech and its facilities.
• A strategic thinker who can approach issues and solutions creatively and pragmatically and remain focused on the particular needs of the client as well as the mission of the Institute.

• 10 years of legal experience as a practicing attorney.
• Experience in higher education, including a research university.
• Familiarity or experience with FFRDCs, federal laboratories, or federal government contractors.
• Experience in both litigation and transactional matters.
• Experience in compliance with Federal government laws and regulations.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• References upon request