JOB SUMMARY: This position reporting to the President serves as in-house legal counsel to Middle Georgia State University and provides assistance to the President on projects as assigned.

MAJOR DUTIES: Provides legal assistance to the institution:.

• Liaises with the Office of Legal Affairs at the University System of Georgia (USG) and Office of the Georgia Attorney General (AG) as needed, including review of institutional agreements, any litigation brought against the institution, development of policies and procedures, and guidance on state and federal laws relevant to grievances brought by students, faculty, staff, and/or members of the public.

Provides advice and assistance related to compliance with State and Federal laws, rules and regulations and USG policies.

• Manages open records requests and serves as the institution’s Records Management Officer.
• Reviews changes to USG policy and suggests appropriate updates to MGA policy accordingly.
• Chairs the university’s Compliance Commission, Intellectual Property Committee, and various other working groups related to compliance and policy development.
• Serves on the Ethics Hotline Triage Committee and Clery Coordinating Committee.
• Coordinates with Human Resources, Risk Management, University Police, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs on compliance.
• Provides and delivers training to faculty, staff, and students related to policies and legal or regulatory requirements for the institution.

Performs various other duties as needed.

• Researches nationwide higher education best practices, including those identified by the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and the USG, and makes recommendations to Cabinet members on reduction of legal risk through potential improvements to programs and operations.
• Performs related duties as assigned by the President.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION:

• Knowledge of higher education laws and regulations, general processes, procedures, and internal and external constituencies.
• Knowledge of the legal environment in the state of Georgia.
• Knowledge of motivational factors affecting individual and group behavior.
• Knowledge of program development, design, implementation and assessment.
• Skill in interacting with interdisciplinary teams for the purpose of needs assessment, program development, and program implementation.
• Knowledge of computers and job-related software programs.
• Skill in identifying and resolving problems.
• Skill in decision making and problem solving.
• Skill in interpersonal relations and in dealing with the public.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The President assigns work in terms of institutional goals and objectives. Evaluation is based on results, work product, and progress made on initiatives.

GUIDELINES: Guidelines include the Board of Regents policy manual; the Americans with Disability Act, the Clery Act, Campus SaVE, Title IX, the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges policies and procedures; and university policies and procedures. These guidelines require judgment, selection and interpretation in application. This position develops program guidelines and institutional policy.

COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK:

• The work consists of varied program management duties. The need to work with diverse constituencies contributes to the complexity of the position.
• The purpose of this position is to provide legal guidance to the university and assistance to the President.
• Success in this position contributes to improved efficiency, compliance, and collaboration across the university community.

CONTACTS:

• Contacts are typically with USG legal affairs colleagues, Attorney General’s office, university administrators, outside attorneys, faculty and staff, community members, students, and members of the general public, as necessary to resolve legal issues.
• Contacts are typically to provide services; to give or exchange information; to resolve problems; to motivate or influence persons; or to justify, defend or negotiate matters.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The work is typically performed while intermittently sitting, standing, or walking. The employee frequently lifts light objects.
• The work is typically performed in an office or meeting room.

SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY:

• Supervises and assigns projects to Legal Extern, if/when one engages in placement at MGA.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with the completion of a graduate degree, specifically a Juris Doctor.
• Membership in the Georgia Bar.

COMPENSATION CLASSIFICATION:

• This position is exempt (monthly paid).
• Salary grade 26.

TO APPLY: Application materials should be emailed as a Microsoft Word or Adobe.pdf attachment to: recruitment@mga.edu with the subject line “10018621 University Counsel 4.1.2021”. Application materials are to include a resume, an MGA Staff application; a letter of interest; and three professional references. Paper application materials will not be accepted.

Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates.