General Counsel

TCS Education System (TCS) is currently seeking a General Counsel to join its System Office Executive Leadership Team based in its Chicago office.

Overview:

Reporting to the President, the General Counsel provides legal guidance and counsel in executive and policy decision making for TCS and its five (5) Affiliate colleges. This position supports and advises on governance, risk management, and compliance programs. The General Counsel reviews and recommends institutional policies and procedures, reviews and prepares contracts and other legal documents, and offers legal opinions. The General Counsel is responsible for working with and supporting all entities within TCS and serves as Corporate Secretary of all legal entities. The position manages the Office of General Counsel overseeing three attorneys and one paralegal.

Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Advises on matters of higher education law, employment issues, and student matters.
Manages the development, communication, and evaluation of risk management and compliance programs and services including legality in programs, technologies, and cross-organization knowledge transfer processes, consistent with governance and accreditation requirements.
Manages legal representation in litigation and administrative proceedings, including the oversight of contracted outside counsels.
Provides counsel and advice concerning compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations affecting institutions of higher education.
Resolves all legal claims and disputes, initiating response and appeals.
Manages outside counsel budgets, issues contracts for legal services.
Provides advice and counsel to the Boards of Trustees and Governance Committees reviewing resolutions, by-laws, and policies offering advice in form, content, and legality.
Advises on TCS governance model and prepares Affiliate service agreements.
Reviews and advises on all major contracts relating to employment, purchasing, real estate, intellectual property, technology, and marketing.
Actively participates as legal liaison for System development to include new affiliations and/or asset purchases and other opportunities for innovation and business development.
Contributes to strategy and vision of TCS and Affiliates in working with peer colleagues and college presidents.
Maintains a focus on external affairs and changing trends in higher education, regulations, and standards.
Assists with drafting/editing of accreditation documents for compliance reviews.
Leads, supports, and trains Office of the General Council staff (three attorneys and one paralegal).
Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have substantial experience as an attorney or administrator in a higher education environment. Additional requirements include:

Juris Doctorate degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school;
Substantial experience as an attorney in a higher education environment with a track record of progressively responsible administrative leadership experience;
Member of the Illinois State Bar Association (or ability to become a member within a reasonable time frame);
Experience managing the work of attorneys, outside counsel, and other professionals in the representation of decentralized and matrixed organizations;
Extensive experience with accreditation and regulations of higher education, preferably both regional and programmatic accreditation, including experience in submissions for new programs and changes;
Experience in building relationships with executives, accreditors, and outside partners;
Experience and appreciation for working in a system environment, with multiple institutions each having their own missions, visions, and student populations;
Experience with employment and labor law;
Demonstrated ability to define issues, develop alternatives, and build solutions; effective leadership experience with diverse teams;
Skilled at accomplishing goals and objectives; project management orientation with the ability to lead through influence, collaboration and empowerment;
Experience supporting leadership in managing difficult and/or high-profile issues;
Excellent analytical, professional, written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills;
Commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards, professional and personal integrity and unquestioned discretion in maintaining confidentiality;
Ability to travel up to 25%.
TCS Education System offers a generous compensation and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work for a leader in the field of education. Some of our key benefits include: generous paid time-off, medical and dental coverage, company-paid life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts (FSA), tuition reimbursement, professional development, and regular employee appreciation events.