General Counsel

Job Title General Counsel Position Summary

The General Counsel serves as the chief legal officer to Texas Wesleyan University. A member of the Senior Administrative Leadership Team reporting directly to the President, the General Counsel represents Texas Wesleyan University in all legal and regulatory matters and provides advice and counsel to the Board of Trustees, the President, and university administrators in their official capacities. The General Counsel oversees and coordinates the University’s commitment to remain compliant with all applicable legal and regulatory obligations governing higher education and will also play an essential role in supporting the University’s ongoing work to advance a diverse and inclusive campus community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

- Provides counsel, legal representation, and support to the University on a broad spectrum of legal issues, and employee relations, to help fulfill the University mission and meet all legal and compliance obligations.
- Offers strategic guidance and representation to leadership on changing governmental requirements in civil rights, affirmative action, Title IX, equal opportunity, reporting obligations under the Clery Act, dispute resolution, and internal auditing and reporting and related areas as may be identified in the future.
- Reviews, analyzes, interprets and advises on laws, regulations, and guidance affecting the University.
- Drafts, reviews and negotiates simple and complex contracts, memoranda of understanding, settlement agreements, leases and other transactional documents on behalf of the University.
- Convenes and provides guidance to units/areas directly responsible for planning and implementing the University’s compliance initiatives and ensures the University is responsive to and in compliance with all legal policies and laws.
- Collaborates and advises in the development of multifaceted compliance and risk training programs for members of the university community.
- Examines, negotiates, and drafts and reviews simple and complex contracts, memoranda of understanding, settlement agreements, leases and other transactional documents on behalf of the University.
- Composes policies, organizational by-laws, committee charters, resolutions, and other governance documents.
- Serves on the Retirement Plan Governance Committee
- Retains and supervises outside counsel as necessary for litigation and specialized matters.
- Participates and represents the College in the national higher education legal community.
- Performs other related duties as required given by the President.
- Designated as an Essential Employee.

Education, Certifications and/or Licenses

- JD degree from an accredited ABA law school.
- Licensed and in good standing as a member of a state bar.
- Must be a member of the State Bar of Texas or become a member of the State Bar of Texas within 6 months of hire date.

Experience

- A minimum of 10 years’ experience as a practicing attorney.
- Previous experience with direct interaction and support of executive leadership and board of trustees.
- Experience with office budget management and approval of expenditures.
- Previous supervisory experience required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

- Demonstrated knowledge and experience with legal issues affecting private nonprofit institutions of higher education.
- Demonstrate ability to use sound judgment, discretion; diplomacy; objectivity; integrity, and ethics.
- The aptitude to be a generalist.
- Exceptional communication (written, verbal, and digital) and interpersonal skills.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and customer service
- Integrity, discretion, reliable judgment and the ability to maintain confidences while complying with FERPA and privacy regulations
- Ability to interact effectively with diverse academic leadership, faculty, community leaders, and funding agencies
- Excellent organizational and time management skills, with particular attention to detail, the ability to multi-task, prioritize and organize actions in a complex and changing environment.
- Knowledge of the goals, objectives, structures and operations of a university required Proficiency with an integrated administrative system and current software programs.
- Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
- Knowledge of and the ability to adhere to university & departmental policies and procedures.
- Ability to maintain a professional appearance and office atmosphere.
- Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
- Skill in budget preparation, fiscal management and utilizing resources.
- Ability to write, read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents.
- Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
- Ability to write and edit effective and persuasive correspondence, speeches and presentations for top management, employees, students, public groups, and/or the Board of Trustees.
- Ability to read, analyze, & interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures.
- Ability to write and edit reports, business correspondence, & procedure manuals.
- Ability to effectively present information & respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, students, & employees.
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply, & divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, & decimals.
- Ability to compute rate, ratio, & percent & to draw & interpret graphs.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
- Ability to work evening/weekend hours, as necessary.