General Counsel

Description:

Position Summary:
Provides advanced legal and strategic advice on a wide array of complex topics involving multiple stakeholders. This position functions as a generalist, providing collaborative advice and counsel on a wide variety of subject matter areas including; employment, student issues, governance, constitutional law, civil rights, Title IX, policy development and review, open records, privacy, law enforcement, litigation, risk management, contracts, tax, tort, employee benefits, athletics, construction, real estate, intellectual property, information technology, information security, and ethics/conflicts of interest among others.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential:

• Provides advanced legal advice and counsel to the college on a wide variety of issues faced by an institution of higher education, including all areas described above in the position summary.
• Manages significant and complex legal matters independently and in coordination with the College's outside counsel.
• Assists with the drafting, oversight and governance of the College's policies and procedures.
• Works with the Board of Trustees, the President, and the Senior Leadership Team to advise on legal implications in connection with issues and concerns raised by faculty, staff, and students.
• Researches and prepares responses to complaints and lawsuits filed with state and federal agencies against the college.
• Consults with A Higher Education College attorneys and State Attorney General's Office in litigation matters.
• Provides training, education, and other preventative law measures to the college community to mitigate legal risk.
• Independently anticipates, identifies and resolves legal issues of concern to senior College administration.
• Develops appropriate legal strategies and solutions, often in situations of high risk to the College.
• Demonstrates A Higher Education College's core values: Integrity, Excellence, Inclusiveness, Respect, Collaboration and Innovation.
• Drafts and reviews agreements, leases, rentals, purchases, contracts, and instruments effecting transfers of property, and all other legal documents or instruments, as needed or requested.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks and participates in internal and external meetings and seminars.
• Communicates effectively with a wide range of individuals and constituents in a diverse, multicultural A Higher Education College community network.
• Performs other duties as required.

Education/qualifications/Requirements

• Completion of a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree from an accredited college or university.
• Active member of the State Bar of Pennsylvania.
• Five years as General Counsel of a large educational, non-profit, for-profit, or governmental organization, or equivalent role as outside counsel.
• Legal experience working within a higher education environment that provides legal consultation to higher education administration, board of trustees, President, leadership and employees of A Higher Education College.
• Experience in legal matters in an academic setting and knowledge of Pennsylvania Higher Education Codes and Pennsylvania laws, labor relations, contract negotiations, grievance management, Title IX, discrimination cases, etc.
• Ability to assess and diffuse problem situations and experience influencing others to reach consensus.
• Demonstrated cultural competence with an understanding of inclusion and diversity issues in the workplace.
• Ability to manage and complete numerous assignments and multiple projects simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Must work collaboratively with all key constituencies and departments on campus and have a deep understanding of the organizational culture and decision-making processes within a higher education environment.
• Must have tact and diplomacy to handle difficult customer situations.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including strong team building and motivation skills.
• Demonstrated capacity to negotiate and facilitate processes in a collegial manner, with strong organizational, time management and resource management skills.
• Experience providing guidance/advise on legal, policy, and legislative issues.
• Must be a strong communicator who can draft, edit, and review legal opinions and other written materials so that it is accurate and clear to both legal and non-legal audiences.
• Oral and written communication skills to support interaction between A Higher Education College, governmental agencies, and other higher education entities as well as A Higher Education College faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Record of exercising excellent judgment on behalf of clients including large and complex organizations and issues.
• Commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards; personal and professional integrity beyond reproach; unquestioned discretion in maintaining confidentiality.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, professional reputation for strong ethical and integrity, able to collaborate with a diverse population, and ability to collaborate with Trustees, senior administrators, student, faculty, staff, government officials, and external audiences.
• Ready availability at all times in person or electronically to the president and senior administrators in case of organization challenges and emergency.
• A sense of urgency and responsiveness in dealing with clients, and an ability to handle multiple tasks in a timely manner.
• Strong knowledge and experience providing effective customer service.

Key Competencies:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strict commitment to confidentiality
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and remain focused in changing situations

The College reserves the right to change or reassign job duties or combine positions at any time.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Able to sit up to 90% of the working day and have sufficient dexterity to operate personal computer, printer, and other office equipment.

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