General Counsel

The Minnesota State Board of Trustees and Chancellor Devinder Malhotra invite nominations and applications for the position of General Counsel.

The General Counsel is charged with providing advice and support to the chancellor, the Board of Trustees, and the system leadership (presidents, chancellor’s cabinet, system and campus administrators) on business, legal, and public policy issues.

The General Counsel reports directly to the Minnesota State Board of Trustees and to the chancellor and serves in the chancellor’s cabinet. The General Counsel is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies to effectively coordinate and integrate the system’s legal services and compliance activities to achieve Minnesota State objectives.

The Minnesota State Office of General Counsel focuses primarily on areas that present significant policy as well as legal issues, including employment law, governance, data practices, immigration, global study programs, copyright, and other policy-related issues. The General Counsel coordinates the provision of legal services, including consultation on litigation, contracts and other legal issues of special significance to the system.

The General Counsel is responsible for leading a team of four attorneys and three staff and managing a $2.2 million budget.

The colleges and universities of Minnesota State do not employ or contract with their own legal counsel. Legal representation is provided by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office at the direction of the Minnesota State Office of General Counsel.

Minnesota State has an enduring commitment to enhancing Minnesota’s quality of life by developing and fostering understanding and appreciation of a free and diverse society and providing equal opportunity for all its students and employees. To help effectuate these goals, Minnesota State is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in employment and education.

With 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities on 54 campuses, Minnesota State is the workforce engine for Minnesota, serving nearly two-thirds of the entire state’s undergraduate student population.

Minnesota State serves 300,000 students annually and more students of color, first-generation college students, and students of modest financial means than anyone else in the state.

The ideal candidate will possess five years managerial and supervisory experience. He/she will have proven success in providing legal guidance in the context of complex organizations and a deeply held commitment to, and belief in, the value of collaborative decision-making. Must be licensed to practice law in Minnesota, or be licensed in good standing in another state and be able to become licensed in Minnesota within six months of starting employment required. A J.D. Degree is required.

The Position Profile is available here

Nomination & Application Process

Kris Hnastchenko, President of Heinze & Associates Executive Search is supporting Minnesota State in this search.

Screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The preferred date to receive application materials for maximum consideration is September 29, 2022.The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected.

Applications must include:

• Letter of interest stating how the candidate’s experiences and qualifications connect with the strategic priorities expressed in the position prospectus
• A resume
• Names, addresses telephone numbers, and email addresses of five references for future contact, including the candidate’s professional relationship with each reference listed. References will only be contacted with permission of the candidates

Confidential inquires, nominations, and application materials should be directed to:

Kris Hnastchenko, President

Heinze & Associates Executive Search

kris.heinzeandassociates@gmail.com

763-242-9926

The target start date for the new General Counsel is no later than January 1, 2023

To learn more about Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, please visit MinnState.edu

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System is an Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. Candidates with hearing or speech disabilities may contact us via preferred telecommunications relay services.