University Counsel - Civil Rights

Chancellor's Office Statement

Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education.

We are currently seeking experienced candidates for the position of University Counsel Civil Rights . The CSU Chancellor's Office, located on the waterfront adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach, is the headquarters for the nation's largest and most diverse system of higher education.

The CSU Chancellor's Office offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, and dental plans;

a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.

Salary

The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $18,862 per month, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The salary range for this classification is $6,250 to $20,063 per month.

Classification

Administrator III

Position Information

The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a University Counsel Civil Rights who will be an attorney in the Office of General Counsel in the headquarters office in Long Beach and will be assigned to work systemwide in the Chancellor’s Office.

The incumbent will be assigned to and focused on advising one of several systemwide Civil Rights Directors in Systemwide Human Resources (or an equivalent position), and the correlating campus Title IX and Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation administrators which the assigned systemwide Civil Rights Director oversees (generally between four and five campuses).

The incumbent will also provide legal advice and counsel to the Civil Rights unit of Systemwide Human Resources, as well as to all attorneys in the Office of General Counsel, and other Chancellor’s Office and campus administrators, and will be a subject matter expert in all matters related to applicable Civil Rights laws, regulations, and policies.

The incumbent will be permitted to work in-person at the Chancellor's Office or via a California-based remote work location for the duration of 2023;

but in-person and remote work protocols are subject to change as circumstances warrant. The incumbent may be required to work in-person on certain dates at management's discretion.

The incumbent must reside in California upon starting employment.

Responsibilities

Under the general direction of the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief Counsel Civil Rights , the University Counsel Civil Rights will :

• Provide legal advice, counsel and support to systemwide Civil Rights Directors who are responsible for overseeing multiple campuses (generally four to five campuses).
• Provide legal advice to the appeals officers in the Civil Rights unit of SWHR.
• Provide legal advice, counsel, and support to assigned campus Title IX and DHR administrators and the respective systemwide Civil Rights Directors assigned to those campuses.
• Develop collaborative and strong working relationships with fellow OGC Civil Rights attorneys, and all OGC attorneys and staff.
• Develop collaborative and strong working relationships with administrators in SWHR’s Civil Rights unit, and all campus clients.
• Advise hearing officers, investigators, campus Title IX and DHR administrators, and other related administrators involved in responding to, overseeing, administering, investigating, and resolving Civil Rights complaints pursuant to CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy, and applicable Civil Rights laws, including but not limited to supportive measures, investigation process, and each party’s fair process rights.
• Maintain and develop expertise in all subject areas related to gender / sex and other protected status Civil Rights, including nondiscrimination, harassment and retaliation laws, policies, best practices, strategies, resources, initiatives, and compliance.
• Provide timely updates to the Executive Vice Chancellor & General Counsel, Associate Vice Chancellor & Deputy General Counsel, and Assistant Vice Chancellor & Chief Counsel Civil Rights on all significant matters, exercising good judgment as to what level of detail is necessary to be communicated and when.
• As a member of the Civil Rights team within OGC, may be responsible for assignments in other related substantive legal areas within that team function.

The incumbent will report to the Assistant Vice Chancellor & Chief Counsel Civil Rights.

• Contribute to the mission of the OGC and the CSU, including its commitment to a caring compliance approach to maintain a working and learning environment free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
• Serve on CO and systemwide committees and work groups as legal counsel, as assigned.
• Statewide travel.
• Other duties as assigned, including undertaking some responsibilities outside of principal functions.

In collaboration with the SWHR Civil Rights unit, assist SWHR with :

• Drafting policies, templates, handbooks, and other materials to facilitate systemwide compliance with antidiscrimination laws and policies and investigation procedures.
• Providing in-person and web-based training to CSU Administrators regarding Title IX and other nondiscrimination laws and policies.
• Coordinating the CSU’s or an assigned campus’s response to sensitive public records requests involving student and other privacy rights, in the areas of Title IX and other DHR issues.
• Coordinating the assignment and evaluation of hearing officers and investigators, and reviewing draft investigation reports for legal sufficiency.
• Responding to related internal and external audits; and
• Advise campuses in addressing and responding to complaints, inquiries, and investigations received from state and federal agencies, including but not limited to the .

Office for Civil Rights, the California Civil Rights Department, the Department of Education (both federal and state), the Department of Justice (both federal and state), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Qualifications

This position requires :

• The incumbent must be admitted to and currently licensed in California and be in good standing with the State Bar of California.
• Graduation from an ABA accredited law school.
• Minimum of five years of full-time related, current legal experience is required (applicable Civil Rights laws).
• Superior verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex issues and legal concepts to non-lawyers.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of, and ability to interpret current federal and state gender / sex antidiscrimination laws (including Title VI and Title VII), regulations, guidelines and best practices, as well as experience with current Title IX compliance and investigations.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent and mature judgment, maintain objectivity and fairness, and safeguard confidential and sensitive information.
• Excellent problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to foster, establish and maintain positive, effective, caring, and collaborative working relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Ability to be diplomatic in handling sensitive matters.
• Superior skills in collaboration.
• Ability to gather, assemble, analyze and evaluate facts, evidence, data and other information in order to draw reasonable and fair conclusions, make sound recommendations, and create clear and concise written materials.
• Strong ability to multi-task, handling multiple priorities and changing business conditions.
• Demonstrated understanding and support of CSU’s and OGC’s mission, vision and core values.
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office (particularly Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel), and strong reporting and recordkeeping skills, including proficiency with, or a desire to learn, case management software.
• Statewide travel is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least ten or more years of current Civil Rights legal experience.
• Relevant Civil Rights legal experience working in higher education or a federal or state government entity.

Application Period

Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by December 4, 2023 . Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.

How To Apply

Please click "Apply Now" to complete the California State University, Chancellor's Office online employment application and upload your resume and a cover letter highlighting your legal experience.

In addition, please submit two recent writing samples by email to

E-Verify

This position requires new hire employment verification to be processed through the E-Verify program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, .

Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHSUSCIS)' in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

If hired, you will be required to furnish proof that you are legally authorized to work in the United States. The CSU Chancellor’s Office is not a sponsoring agency for staff and Management positions (., H1-B VISAS).

COVID19 Vaccination Policy

Per the , it is strongly recommended that all Chancellor’s Office employees who are accessing office and campus facilities follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications.

Mandated Reporter Per CANRA

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Conflict of Interest

The duties of this position will include participation in decisions that may have a material financial benefit to the incumbent.

Therefore, the selected candidate will be required to file Conflict of Interest Form 700 : Statement of Economic Interest when they first occupy the position, and on an annual basis, complete ethics training within 6 months of appointment, and attend this training every other year thereafter.

CSU Out of State Employment Policy

California State University, Office of the Chancellor, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California.

As of January 1, 2022, the prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Background

The Chancellor's Office policy requires that the selected candidate successfully complete a full background check (including a criminal records check) prior to assuming this position.