Senior Legal Counsel

Job Description :

• The Senior Legal Counsel (SLC) serves as the principal legal advisor for The Community Solution Education System. Reporting to the Chief of Staff / Corporate Secretary, the SLC oversees and provides legal guidance and counsel pertaining to litigation, regulatory bodies;
• compliance and risk management; policy development, management and procedures; review and preparation of contracts / leases;

governance; and managing transactions, including real estate. The SLC is responsible for leading the Legal Affairs team and supporting all entities within the education system.

The Senior Legal Counsel will play a critical role in providing strategic legal guidance and fostering a culture of ethical and legal compliance at The Community Solution Education System.

Position Responsibilities :

Legal Practice, Counsel and Guidance :

Provide a broad range of legal counsel and guidance on all matters relating to higher education law, intellectual property, data privacy, transactional and contracts law.

As practicable, directly provide legal service or supervise in-house team in doing so.

Advise on matters of higher education law and regulation, employment issues, litigation, and student matters.

Provide counsel and advice concerning compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations affecting institutions of higher education.

Provide advice and counsel on legal elements of governance : prepare / review resolutions, bylaws, and policies; offer advice in form, content, and legality.

Interact regularly with executive leaders on significant legal and strategic matters.

Provide System-wide legal counsel and guidance.

Compliance and Risk Management :

Develop proactive strategies to ensure compliance with existing and anticipated federal / state higher education laws and regulations and liaise with various regulatory bodies.

Support efforts to proactively train System personnel in areas of risk mitigation.

Draft / edit regulatory documents for compliance reviews.

In partnership with the CFO and COO, manage the development, communication, and evaluation of risk management and compliance programs and services, ensuring legality in programs, technologies, and cross-organization knowledge transfer processes, consistent with governance and accreditation requirements.

Maintain a focus on external affairs and changing trends in higher education, regulations, and standards.

Contract and Transactional Work :

Regularly draft, review, revise, and consult on varied contracts, including but not limited to service and third-party vendor agreements, leases, licensing agreements, international operations, data privacy, academic partnerships, memorandums of understanding, and institutional affiliations.

Review and advise on all major contracts relating to employment, purchasing, real estate, intellectual property, technology, and marketing.

Actively participate as a legal liaison for System expansion, including new affiliations and / or asset purchases and other opportunities for innovation and business development.

Oversee and manage real estate transactions and facilities’ legal matters.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution :

Manage legal representation in litigation and administrative proceedings, including the oversight of contracted outside counsels.

Manage pre-litigation disputes.

In coordination with the Human Resources team, conduct internal investigations to ensure effective and efficient management / resolution of employee complaints and concerns raised through the EthicsPoint platform and as brought forward to the department.

Resolve all legal claims and disputes, initiating responses and appeals.

Direct and supervise outside counsel handling various matters.

Manage outside counsel budgets and issue contracts for legal services.

Team Leadership and Development :

Oversee day-to-day leadership, mentorship, strategic planning, and management of a team of three lawyers and a legal operations specialist, including hiring, coaching, and supervising to ensure continued professional development, goal attainment, and advancing System-wide goals.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications :

Knowledge and Skills :

Ability to navigate a matrix organization and work collaboratively with multiple constituents.

Prior experience working with boards of trustees and executive leaders preferred.

Experience managing the work of attorneys, outside counsel, and other professionals in the representation of decentralized and matrixed organizations.

Demonstrated, extensive experience with regulation of higher education.

Experience in building relationships with executives, regulatory bodies, 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 preferred.

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.

Familiarity with higher education transactions (affiliations, mergers, acquisitions) preferred.

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.

Deep understanding of the distinction between legal and business advice.

Prior experience with state authorization and NC-SARA is a plus.

Flexibility to work some evenings / weekends and travel as needed.

Education :

Juris Doctorate degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school.

Experience :

Substantial experience as an attorney in a higher education environment with a track record of progressively responsible administrative leadership experience.

Five (5) plus years of combined law firm and in-house experience required.

A minimum of three (3) years in higher education required.

Extensive experience working with various regulatory bodies.

Prior experience managing and mentoring attorneys and support staff highly preferred.

Demonstrated comfort and success with significant responsibility in handling workload with minimum supervision.

Certifications or Licensure :

Member of the bar in California or Illinois (or ability to become a member within a reasonable time frame).

Compensation & Benefits

This opportunity is budgeted at $200,000 - 220,000 base compensation. Additional compensation factors may impact total compensation.

To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.

https : / / www.tcsedsystem.edu / careers /

The Community Solution is an Equal Opportunity Employer.