Assistant or Associate General Counsel

To enrich education through diversity, The College of New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The College has a strong commitment to achieving diversity among faculty and staff, and strongly encourages women and members of underrepresented groups to apply.

The Office of General Counsel is seeking candidates for the position of Assistant or Associate General Counsel

The College of New Jersey invites applications and nominations for the position of Assistant or Associate General Counsel. This position will report directly to the General Counsel. The successful applicant will join a service­ oriented Office of General Counsel in providing legal services to academic and administrative offices across the College. The Assistant or Associate General Counsel will function as a generalist, providing legal advice on a variety of matters affecting The College of New Jersey.

Responsibilities I nclude:

• Provision of counsel in the areas of academic and student affairs; accessibility; contracts and purchasing, including real estate and construction; regulatory compliance; grants and sponsored research; intellectual property; labor and employment; discrimination; litigation; torts; environmental health and safety; criminal law; emergency and risk management; privacy and data security; government employee ethics; public records and open public meetings; public finance; risk management and insurance; constitutional law; and College governance issues;
• Responding to federal and state administrative agencies;
• Researching, reviewing, and providing legal opinions regarding current laws and regulations affecting College operations;
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts;
• Providing litigation support;
• Preparing Board resolutions;
• Developing policies and procedures;
• Serving on College committees as assigned;
• Providing training to College constituents; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Desired Abilities:

The Office of General Counsel is a fast-paced, high-volume, intellectually challenging work environment. The successful candidate should possess the following characteristics, knowledge and skills:

• High ethical standards and demonstrated work ethic;
• Excellent listening, oral and written communication, and other interpersonal skills;
• Proficient research and analytical skills, and sound judgment;
• Ability to identify a broad array of legal issues that arise in a public higher education setting;
• Commitment and aptitude to excel in a broad general practice of law;
• Ability to develop and negotiate a wide variety of agreements;
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other members of the Office and institutional clients; and successfully interact with the broader campus community and external audiences from academia, industry, and government;
• Ability to prioritize tasks; organize work; handle multiple unrelated matters concurrently in a timely and proficient manner; and supervise staff;
• Ability to make sound decisions and employ strong analytical skills and effective problem-solving skills to prevent or resolve complex problems; and
• Aptitude to combine legal considerations with program and policy objectives in development of practical solutions that meet institutional needs.

Minimum qualifications:

• JD or LLB degree from an accredited U.S. law school;
• Not less than 5 years' related professional legal experience;
• Admitted and in good standing in New Jersey or other state bar; admission to New Jersey bar required within one year of appointment ; and
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Google suite of applications.

Preferred qualifications:

• Employment experience as legal counsel in an institution of higher education, government entity or large organization;
• Strong academic and professional credentials;
• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts; and
• Creative problem-solving skills.

Employer Qualifications:

• Final offer of employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check and reference checks.
• COVID-19 Testing and Compliance - The College has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement. To learn more, please read the policy here: COVID-19 Information .

About TCNJ

TCNJ is a highly selective institution that has earned national recognition for its commitment to excellence. Founded in 1855, TCNJ has become an exemplar of the best in public higher education and is consistently acknowledged as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the nation. TCNJ currently is ranked as one of the 75 "Most Competitive" schools in the nation by Barron's Profiles of American Colleges and is rated the No. 1 public institution in the northern region of the country by U.S. News & World Report. TCNJ was named the #10 value in public higher education by the Princeton review in 2009 and, in 2006, was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa chapter - an honor shared by less than 10 percent of colleges and universities nationally. A strong liberal arts core forms the foundation for programs offered through TCNJ's seven schools - Arts & Communication; Business; Education; Humanities and Social Sciences; Science; Nursing and Health Science; and Engineering. TCNJ faculty members are teacher-scholars who share a commitment to liberal learning. TCNJ is located within an hour, by train, of New York City and Philadelphia. The College's campus is set on 289 tree-lined acres in suburban Ewing Township and is known for its natural beauty and has 39 major buildings.

Contact Information

Qualified candidates should apply online and submit a letter of interest, resume (CV), and the names and contact information for three professional references. Applications received by October 15, 2022 will be given priority consideration. Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

In accordance with the New Jersey First Act P.L. 2011 c.70, effective September 1, 2011, new public employees in certain positions (faculty exempt) are required to obtain New Jersey residency within one (1) year of employment. Applicants must meet the requirements listed .