Vice President Legal Affairs & General Counsel

Job Summary

Serves as the chief legal officer and advisor to the Board of Regents, President, and senior management on all legal and governmental affairs matters and provides executive leadership overall strategic and tactical legal initiative, programs, and services.

The individual selected for this position will be a highly strategic, forward-thinking attorney who is well-versed in the business dynamics and regulatory environment of higher education.

The General Counsel is expected to develop and lead a high performing legal team, ensuring their accountability while also effectively mentoring this group and building a positive, open and responsive team environment.

Candidates must bring a distinguished record of achievement and senior leadership experience. The successful candidate must have excellent academic credentials and a law degree from an ABA accredited school of law, and membership in the State Bar of Oklahoma.

Essential Duties

Provides executive and administrative direction over the College's legal affairs as a member of the President's executive team.

Reporting to the President and the Board, this executive serves as the chief legal officer, providing legal support, advice and guidance to the President, Board, and also to senior leaders, faculty and staff on all legal matters affecting the institution.

Assumes responsibility for ensuring that the programs and activities of the College are legally conducted in compliance with applicable laws, statutes, codes, and regulations.

Judges the merits of court cases, regulatory inquiries, and other legal actions filed against or on behalf of the College;

works with the appropriate executives to define strategic positions and / or defenses; approves settlements of disputes where warranted.

Supervises the governmental affairs and legislative liaison for the College and provides all strategic legal advice on all matters relating to legislative matters.

Manages legal matters for the TCC Foundation.

Negotiates the most complex and sensitive contracts, agreements, and settlements on behalf of the College which are consistent with College interests, law, and relevant rules of professional responsibility.

Identifies, analyzes, and responds appropriately to risks which have legal implications that may adversely affect realization of the College's educational and business objectives;

advises executives and managers regarding the legal aspects of their exposure to identified risks.

Assures adequate and appropriate systems and processes are in place to identify compliance violations; advises executives and managers regarding the legal aspects of their compliance systems, exposure, and decisions.

Identifies needs and develops educational and training programs and activities for the purpose of keeping executives and managers informed of the latest changes in the law and policy and to prevent errors in their application.

Participates in the development of College policies, procedures, and related business documents by policy makers by providing continuing counsel and guidance on legal aspects and implications and drafting proposed documents.

Attends all meetings of the Board of Regents and Board committees to provide legal analysis and advice on legal and procedural matters.

Oversees the selection, retention, management and evaluation of all outside counsel; establishes, manages, and ensures compliance with the budget for outside legal services.

Functions as an integral partner within the President's executive team. Identifies financial needs and manages the budget of the Office of General Counsel.

Minimum Qualifications

Doctoral degree (Ph.D., J.D., Ed.D.) from an accredited American Bar Association school of law.

Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law or in-house counsel.

License to practice law in the State of Oklahoma and membership in good standing with the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Preferred Qualifications

Legal experience in a higher education setting.

Familiarity with public contracting.

Ability to transform strategic direction into actionable plans.