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General Counsel

Employer
University of San Diego
Location
San Diego

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Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution
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Job Details

General Counsel

Posting #: 1627
Position Status: Full-time regular
Location: San Diego
Position Type: Office of the President, Administrator

Position Title & Department:

General CounselPosting #

1627

University Description:

The University of San Diego, a contemporary and engaged Roman Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The General Counsel will serve as the principal legal officer for the University, with overall responsibility for the vision and leadership of USD’s legal strategy. Reporting to the President, as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the General Counsel will provide legal advice and counsel to the President, Board of Trustees and other members of the community on all significant matters affecting the University. This is an excellent opportunity to work for a mission-driven institution with true growth potential where the General Counsel will serve as a key thought leader within the community.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities of the General Counsel will include, but are not limited to:

  • Providing legal counsel and guidance to the University’s President, Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team on matters pertaining to the University’s activities and operations.
  • Developing a vision for legal services in conjunction with the President and Vice Presidents that aligns with the University’s mission and vision and sharing best practices and recommendations for how to execute legal services with an eye to institutional risk and ongoing support for academic initiatives and programs.
  • Working closely with the Board of Trustees and advising and counseling on all governance matters, as well as regularly participating in meetings of the Executive and Audit Committees and attending other Committee meetings as needed.
  • Leading, managing and overseeing the Office of the General Counsel, including developing and mentoring employees within the Office.
  • Advising and counseling the senior leadership team, deans, Human Resources staff, and managers from across campus on a wide range of employment-related matters involving faculty, administrators and staff.
  • Advising and counseling the Student Affairs staff on a variety of issues such as Title IX compliance and sexual assault and other conduct hearings; disability accommodation issues for students; and student issues involving the intersection between mental health and conduct issues.
  • Advising and counseling the provost, deans, and department chairs on faculty matters, intellectual property questions, academic integrity violations, research issues, and various other matters arising out of their areas.
  • Advising and counseling Athletics leadership on various facilities, game and other business agreements, coach separations, coach agreements, and issues involving student-athletes, and at times on NCAA compliance issues.
  • Advising and counseling the Public Safety leadership on a variety of matters including, policies, investigations, Title IX compliance, Clery compliance, no trespass orders, and other safety-related issues impacting the USD community.
  • Providing advice and guidance to the Finance team, the Facilities Management team, Information Technology Services, and University Advancement, among other constituencies.
  • Reviewing, consulting on, and drafting, as necessary, contracts and other legal documents and handle issues raised within contractual relationships.
  • Representing or overseeing the representation of the University in judicial and administrative proceedings.
  • Keeping abreast of compliance/regulatory related changes and providing executive and managerial education on legal issues in higher education for University constituents as it relates to their work.
  • Serving as a member of and advising the following: the Senior Leadership Team, the President’s Cabinet, the Compliance Oversight Committee, the Retirement Investment Committee, the Clery Compliance Committee, the Research Council, the President’s Task Force on Immigration, the Intellectual Property Policy Task Force, the Athletics Compliance Committee, the Emergency Operations Committee, the GDPR Working Group and the Alcala Village Working Group
  • Determining when external resources will be necessary and retaining resources for legal assistance.
  • Supervising and managing work performed by outside legal counsel.
  • Maintaining professional growth and development through seminars, professional affiliations and other means to keep abreast of developments in legal matters affecting the University’s activities and operations.
    • Job Requirements:

    Qualifications and Skills:

    The University of San Diego seeks an exceptionally accomplished attorney with a distinguished professional record. Personal and professional alignment within the University’s culture is of paramount importance. Candidates must be self-motivated and exhibit a passion for understanding the University, its mission and serving as its attorney, as well as contributing in a meaningful way to strategy and long-term goals. In addition to possessing the requisite legal and technical skills, the successful candidate must approach this role as an experienced leader and demonstrate a high degree of strategic, conceptual and analytical thinking capabilities. This candidate will possess an understanding of and appreciation for an academic environment, the roles and relationships of faculty, staff and students, and the unique mission-orientation of USD.

  • J.D. from an accredited law school and an excellent academic background.
  • At least 15 years of progressively responsible legal experience. Experience in higher education law is strongly preferred.
  • Some experience in private, faith-based higher education is a plus.
  • A solid understanding of matters related to higher education including, employment law, ADA, VAWA, FERPA, Title IX and Clery is a clear advantage.
  • Experience in some of the following legal areas: Advising Boards of Trustees, HR and Employment Matters, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Finance, Facilities Management, Athletics, Public Safety, Information Technology Services, University Advancement, Preventative Campus Education; University Committees; and Estate and Gift Planning.
  • Ability to handle litigation, government investigations and other claims; contract review and online repository; subpoena response management; trademark portfolio registration management; and FCC license registration management.
  • Some experience working with Boards of Trustees and dealing with governance issues is preferred.
  • Some experience with California employment law is a plus.
  • Ability to communicate and make presentations in a clear and concise fashion.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders and other professionals and colleagues at all levels of the University while utilizing excellent judgment in complex situations.
  • Outstanding executive leadership and management skills in all aspects of a higher education environment with a proven ability to advise a successful, advancing institution.
  • 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 in the University; a strategic and innovative thinker who can bring value and find creative solutions to complex legal issues.
  • Ability to work collaboratively and with a strong sense of urgency as a member of a team while empowering colleagues and emphasizing accountability.
  • Must be a team player and have the ability to build rapport with a diverse range of business and legal partners.
  • A self-starter and someone who is University-focused with an ability to arrive at creative solutions to complex legal issues.
  • A strong people-orientation and sensitivity to USD’s mission.
  • Commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards; personal and professional integrity beyond reproach; unquestioned discretion in maintaining confidentiality.

    • Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

    Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

    Posting Salary:

    Commensurate with experience; Excellent Benefits.

    The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package, to include medical, dental, vision, a 12% retirement contribution given to you by the University (with three year vesting period), and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer. USD: Human Resources: Benefits

    Special Application Instructions:

    Nominations, applications, and inquiries of interest should be sent in confidence to the University’s executive search firm, Major, Lindsey & Africa:

    Please submit a resume (in Microsoft Word format) with a letter describing your interest and relevant skills addressed to:

    Heather Fine Joanna Herman

    Partner Managing Director

    hfine@mlaglobal.comjherman@mlaglobal.com

    Please do not contact the University directly; all resumes sent to the University will be routed to MLA for handling and will create delays. Additional information can be found on www.mlaglobal.com. You may be required to complete additional documents to be considered for this position.

    Additional Details:

    Closing date: Open until filled

    Note: External job postings will be up for at least five days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

    The University of San Diego is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the campus community.

    The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.

    Advertised: September 13, 2019 Pacific Daylight Time
    Applications close:

    Organization

    The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic institution committed to advancing academic excellence, expanding liberal and professional knowledge, creating a diverse and inclusive community, and preparing leaders dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service.

    Located on 180 acres overlooking the city of San Diego, Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the campus is a community treasure, with Spanish Renaissance-inspired buildings and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes.

    Chartered in 1949, the university enrolls more than 7,000 students and is known for its commitment to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values and community service. In less than 60 years, the University of San Diego has grown from a local college with 50 students and a handful of professors to a nationally ranked university. This achievement is the direct result of a single, unwavering expectation: academic excellence.

    USD offers more than 60 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. The university adds depth to education by inspiring students to grow spiritually, morally and socially. The breadth of programs and depth of facilities means that students can easily find a course of study that ignites their intellectual fire. In the classroom, coursework across disciplines encourages students to develop their critical thinking skills.

    Small class size means the instructors know their students and can stimulate curious minds with anything from participation in a research project to an after-class discussion on topic. Instructors welcome the free exchange of complex ideas in an environment of tolerance and civility. In this environment, students begin a lifelong habit of appreciating and cultivating their individual gifts.

    To complement this instruction, the university's Honors program provides a challenging curriculum for USD's uniquely motivated students. The university also holds memberships in several honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa.

    While intellectual growth is key, USD adds depth to the education experience by inspiring students to grow spiritually, morally and socially. An active faith community invites widespread student participation. In the classroom, study is accompanied by an examination of ethics and values University of San Diego students inquire freely and challenge ideas, exercise moral, spiritual and social judgment, serve others, and contemplate social justice in their lives and in their chosen fields. These students are truly educated. These students achieve excellence.

    Students, faculty and staff are active members of the community, volunteering time and expertise, fostering friendships, and working to preserve the region’s unique character. With a population of more than 7,500 students and approximately 2,000 employees, the university impacts the life of the area economically, politically and socially. In turn, the university welcomes the community to participate in campus life, through classes, special events, sports, forums and tours.

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