Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel

Posting Details

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Position Information



Working Title Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel Department Legal Affairs & General Counsel Compensation Title Position Number 30002403 Position Status Regular Work Schedule
Full time Hours per Week 37.5 Months per Year 12 Commitment to Inclusive Excellence

Northern Kentucky University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action institution. We embrace inclusiveness, equity, and global awareness in all dimensions of our work and seek excellence through diversity among our students, administrators, faculty, and staff. Application by members of diverse groups is encouraged.

Purpose of Position
The General Counsel reports to the President and serves as the chief legal officer for the University, providing legal services on a wide range of matters of institutional importance. The General Counsel functions as an integral partner within the President’s Executive Team; advises the Board of Regents with respect to its governance and responsibilities; oversees and/or handles all legal matters; and advises administrators, faculty, and staff on matters having legal implications for the University. The General Counsel also provides management and oversight to the Office of Financial and Operational Auditing and the Office of Compliance and Institutional Ethics. Primary Responsibilities
The successful candidate will thrive in a complex environment with the ability to juggle numerous high-profile legal matters and possess a high degree of ethics, integrity, judgement and discretion required for a leader in a prominent university environment.

The Vice President and General Counsel will have the following responsibilities and opportunities:

• Provide legal counsel and guidance to the Board of Regents, President, and other administrators of the institution on all legal matters relevant to a metropolitan public institution, including employment law, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations, and laws pertaining to students, real estate transactions, contracts and grants, worker’s compensation, liability and insurance matters, public monies and purchases, affirmative action, and other laws and regulations.

• Anticipate and identify legal issues/risks and counsel administrators of the institution and others in order to develop legal strategies and solutions, often in situations of great political, public relations, or financial risk or significance.

• Review, research, interpret, and prepare both written and oral opinions on a wide variety of legal issues.

• Draft, review, and approve policies and procedures, regulations, bylaws, and other legal documents. Review contracts, leases, and other legal documents; research legal issues and recommend revisions as necessary.

• Represent or oversee the representation of the institution and administrators in judicial and administrative proceedings, and in negotiations with other parties.

• Select, retain, and supervise outside counsel to obtain legal opinions or to handle claims, litigation and other matters.

• Lead, manage, and oversee all attorneys and professionals within the OGC, Audit and Compliance and with an eye towards maintaining and enhancing the manner in which legal services are provided to ensure high caliber work and alignment with the President’s vision for the University.

• Lead Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management efforts and manage Ethics Hotline reports and issues.

• Provide training to the campus community on various legal issues.

• Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of the latest developments in college and university law and in other related areas.

• Serve on University task forces and committees representing employee and institutional interests.

• Engage with the external community in a variety of settings.

• Perform other related duties as assigned by the President.

Qualifications
This role requires a strategic partner who inspires confidence and trust at all levels and possesses high ethical standards, mature judgment, and the capacity to communicate in a clear and concise manner while fostering constructive outcomes in a complex environment involving a variety of stakeholders.

A successful candidate will have:

• The ability to prioritize and handle a large number of matters;
  
  
• Knowledge of relevant federal and state regulations;
  
  
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate (both orally and in written form) and interact effectively, presenting to large and small audiences
  
  
• Skills in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures;
  
  
• Ability to develop and implement new strategies and procedures; ·
  
  
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills that reflect courtesy, diplomacy
  
  
• A collaborative approach to developing and maintaining effective work relationships; and initiative, self-discipline, confidence and charisma to lead, encourage and challenge
  
  
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience with professionals and support staff, including a successful track record in confronting change and increased expectations in a highly visible organization.
  
  
• Superior intellect, with the ability to think critically and effectively communicate well-reasoned decisions; ability to see and handle more than the legal issues of a project; strong, pragmatic business acumen with the ability to recognize the broader consequences of a course of action and its impact on the many stakeholders; a strategic and innovative thinker who can bring value and find creative solutions to complex legal issues.
  
  
• Must be a licensed attorney in good standing admitted to practice in at least one state jurisdiction with successful legal experience with increasing responsibility and complexity. Extensive legal experience, including supervising other lawyers.

Additional preferred experience:

Legal experience in a higher education setting. Knowledge of financial audit and compliance, higher education compliance and enterprise risk management issues. Admittance to the Kentucky Bar or qualified for admission within twelve months. Knowledge of legal issues relevant to higher education including but not limited to Title VII, Title IX, Clery Act, ADA, HEOA and FERPA . Minimum Education Juris Doctorate Preferred Education Juris Doctorate Minimum Experience See posting detail Salary Pay Grade UN

Posting Detail Information



Requisition Number 2022S1586 Job Open Date 04/01/2022 Job Close Date Open Until Filled No Quick Link https://jobs.nku.edu/postings/11634 Is this an internal only posting? Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * Are you a licensed attorney in good standing?
   • Yes
   • No
2. * What attracts you to this university counsel position?
   
   (Open Ended Question)
   
   

Documents Needed to Apply
Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter/Letter of Application
3. Salary history
4. References

Optional Documents