General Counsel

General Counsel
Type: Staff, Full-Time

Diversity Statement:
Columbia College is committed to creating an inclusive employee experience for all regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability. The college maintains a safe place for open discourse; supports activities that promote diversity and inclusion; and overall, fosters a sense of community that welcomes everyone.

Job Summary:
Advise and assist the Board of Trustees, President of Columbia College, and key departments and officials as designated by the Board of Trustees on legal matters as they pertain to operations, risk, and strategic mission.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports directly to the Board of Trustees
• For purposes of defining the General Counsel’s obligation to maintain client confidentiality and zealous representation under the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct, the General Counsel’s client will be the Board of Trustees
• The Board of Trustees may designate representatives of the Board of Trustees and officers of Columbia College for reporting relationships

Essential Functions:

• Advise the Board of Trustees, President of Columbia College, and key departments and officials on legal and regulatory matters, obligations, rights, risks, and policies and procedures
• Conduct legal research, provide legal interpretations, risk analyses, and solution-oriented recommendations in support of the operations and strategic mission of Columbia College
• Develop and maintain expertise on existing and evolving federal, state, and local laws and regulations applicable to Columbia College and its operations and strategic mission
• Advise Columbia College with respect to contractual and other legal relationships, including grants and giving arrangements, sponsored programs, real estate and intellectual property matters
• Lead representation of College in legal and administrative proceedings including through appearing in court/administrative/settlement proceedings, and managing and directing outside counsel in such matters as appropriate
• Advise and manage Columbia College regulatory compliance, including ensuring appropriate policy development and implementation
• Advise the Board of Trustees and Columbia College regarding the observance of applicable non-profit and corporate formalities, including providing legal support to responsible College departments for filings such as registrations, tax documentation, and audits
• Provide legal support to Columbia College officials responsible for administering nondiscrimination protocols, risk management, finance, athletics, alumni affairs and development, academics, human resources, student affairs, facilities, campus safety, and other departments to support risk mitigation/management, compliance, and policy development
• Participate in meetings of the Board of Trustees, and as appropriate other meetings of staff and faculty of Columbia College in order to address legal issues
• Ability to provide legal support directly to the constituents of Columbia College, with the use of outside counsel in those circumstances where such resources are required because of specific areas of expertise or personnel requirements

Supervisory Responsibility:
The General Counsel may supervise other attorneys, paralegals or legal support personnel that may be assigned to the General Counsel’s office from time to time. These personnel will not be assigned to other staff positions in the College.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Fifteen+ years’ experience in the practice of law with progressive supervisory and management responsibility
• Juris Doctorate from an American Bar Association accredited law school
• Membership in the Missouri Bar or eligibility for membership within one year of employment
• Experience managing multiple workstreams and multiple departments or individuals
• Strong organization as well as verbal/written communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to anticipate and analyze intersecting legal, regulatory, and operational issues in a variety of regulated and risk areas
• Strong professional judgment and high ethical standards
• Strong interpersonal and supervisory skills, including the ability to interact effectively with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders
• Ability to operate legal and office technology (including remote work technology) and willingness to learn evolving technology for purposes of effective administration
• Availability to work in excess of 40 hours per week as may be needed and overnight travel

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with non-profit, employment, litigation, corporate, nondiscrimination, athletics, intellectual property, data privacy and security, finance, education and other complex legal matters across multiple jurisdictions
• Experience in leadership roles, policy development and strategic planning, and management of legal personnel
• Experience advising and supporting governing or advisory boards

Experience in the management of others in a professional legal setting with inclusivity as a key value

This job description is not meant to be all-inclusive of every duty and responsibility required by the employee in the position.

Eligibility for employee benefits and perks is determined by employment status. For more information please see https://www.ccis.edu/careers .

The offer of employment and assignment to duties is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal background check in addition to the installations background check to be employed on the military base. The information may include, but is not limited to, academic, residential, achievement, performance, attendance, disciplinary, employment history, credit history, driving history, and criminal history of public record.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Columbia College is an equal opportunity employer.

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), the Department of Campus Safety for Columbia College has provided the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report and crime statistics for the main campus and venues nationwide.

Columbia College is required to distribute this information to all current and prospective employees and students. Please follow the link below for the full report or contact Human Resources at 573-875-7495 for a printed copy.

https://www.ccis.edu/campus-safety/crime-reporting/reports-stats