General Counsel and Chief Legal Affairs Officer

Reporting directly to the President, the General Counsel and Chief Legal Affairs Officer serves in a senior leadership role as the campus chief legal officer. The position will manage the Office of Legal Affairs, provide day-to-day legal counsel to the President, Cabinet, and campus leaders; as well as formulate legal solutions to issues impacting the college. The General Counsel renders advice and legal opinions regarding students, employment, transactional and real estate issues, manages litigation and administrative complaints; as well as ensures campus-wide legal compliance and coordination among departments with regard to federal, state, and local regulatory standards.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide strategic oversight of campus legal operations.
• Direct legal inquiries and legal complaints concerning students, faculty, staff, administrators and third parties. Provide oversight and management of campus legal incidents to ensure a timely, efficient, equitable and effective response to complaints.
• Successfully conduct and manage legal investigations as applicable, providing advice to campus staff, faculty, and leadership, as required. Train and oversee appropriate designated members of the organization to assist in conducting investigations. Develop and coordinate investigation plans, as applicable. Develop comprehensive reports of investigative findings and make recommendations.
• Serve as the College’s senior expert on legal requirements and provide consultation to a high-level team and administrative officers. Assist campus officials with a broad range of legal or other administrative matters.
• Develop and implement case management plans.
• Review and process contracts, pursuant to state, federal, and local laws.
• Review and ensure institution policies, procedures, protocols and practices are in compliance with the state, federal, and local laws, in concert with the audit function.
• Collaborate with other campus offices, as needed, to coordinate and execute the College’s response to legal matters in a timely manner.
• Remain knowledgeable of current state and federal laws, regulations and trends in the field of education.
• Oversee and successfully maintain department budget.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctorate or equivalent from an AVA accredited institution
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience as a licensed attorney overseeing legal operations and policy development for complex organization, preferably in public institutions or institutions of higher education; with no less than four (4) years in a senior supervisory capacity
• GA Bar membership
• Experience preparing communications for Executive level officials, including but not limited to the President, Vice President, and other cabinet level officials
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality of legal materials, institution records and verbal or written communications
• Experience conducting campus investigations
• Experience serving on investigation panels with varying members of an organization
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate and guide training program initiatives

POSITION DISCLOSURE

Due to the volume of applications, applicants may not receive a reply from the College unless an applicant is selected for an interview. Review of applications will continue until positions are filled. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States and proof of eligibility will be contemporaneously required upon acceptance of an employment offer. Any resulting employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation and credit check if applicable to the position, as determined by Georgia Gwinnett College in its sole discretion. Georgia Gwinnett College, a unit of the University System of Georgia, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability or religion. Georgia is an open records state.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Position may require local travel. Position requires fiduciary responsibility, therefore successful completion of a credit report is a condition of employment. Ability to lift and carry files and materials. Ability to move from one office to another office on campus. Adequate vision, hearing and manual dexterity to interact with people in person, on the phone and in writing. Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations.