Salt Lake Community College.

https://jobs.slcc.edu/postings/35750

Job Summary         

The General Counsel is the chief legal officer of the College and works in conjunction with the assigned Assistant Attorney General to provide proactive professional counsel and advice on critical strategic, legal and public policy issues. The General Counsel provides, manages, and coordinates the legal affairs for the College in areas including but not limited to: academic and corporate governance, personnel and employment issues, benefits, student affairs, academic affairs, non-discrimination, conflicts of interest, gifts and development, immigration issues, contracts, tax and payroll matters, insurance and risk management, construction, purchasing, real estate, environmental issues, HIPPA, compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations, copyright and other intellectual property matters, information technology, and athletics.

The General Counsel works closely with, and provides legal advice and support to, the Board of Trustees, the President, senior administrative officers, and other administrators of the College. This position reports to the President, with an operational/supervisory line to the Vice President for Government and Community Relations and is an employment At-Will position.

The General Counsel serves as the College Policy Officer, with responsibility for overseeing College policy development and maintenance. The General Counsel is responsible for overseeing records management and serves as the College Appeals Officer.

The General Counsel supervises the Director of Risk Management who serves as the College ADA Coordinator, GRAMA Coordinator, Records Officer and Policy Coordinator.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties          

Working in conjunction with the assigned Assistant Attorney General, provide legal counsel and advice to the College’s administration and monitor, prioritize, and coordinate the legal affairs within the College. Such coordination of legal affairs shall include, but is not limited to, contract development and review, assisting with the development of policies, promoting compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, attending on-campus hearings (when appropriate), providing information and training to minimize legal risks and cost, and coordinating with the assigned Assistant Attorney General on matters of risk management and litigation, pending and potential.

Ensure that the College is aware of, and in compliance with, all pertinent federal and state laws and regulations. Oversee College’s records management, with responsibility for appeals to the College on records requests. Serve as the College Policy Officer, with responsibility for overseeing College policy development and maintenance. Supervises the Director of Risk management who oversees risk management and serves as the College ADA Coordinator, GRAMA Coordinator, Records Officer and Policy Coordinator.

Develop an environment within the College that is conducive to and actively promotes the successful practice of preventive law. Be readily accessible to the President and administrators and keep them appropriately informed on legal matters. Proactively identify and address problems and issues before, or as, they may arise. Provide information and training that encourages the prevention of legal problems and litigation.

Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties Continued 

Preferred Qualifications             

• Professional legal experience providing legal counsel and advice to, or representation of, an institution of higher education is preferred.

Minimum Qualifications             

• A Juris Doctorate from ABA-accredited law school.
• License to practice in Utah; a member in good standing with the Utah State Bar. Or if licensed in another state, able to obtain admission to practice in Utah within one year of hire;
• A minimum of eight (8) years of substantial and progressively responsible legal experience practicing law. Such experience shall include the provision of sophisticated legal advice and counsel reflecting sound judgement, first-rate legal acumen, and substantive in-depth legal advice.
• Excellent analytical, oral, and written communication and problem-solving skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• The higher education environment requires flexibility, creativity, judgement, integrity, and foresight in dealing with a broad array of legal matters. General Counsel should possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities in order to fulfill the job requirements.

Knowledge:

• Advanced knowledge of higher education law, contract law, and other specialty areas of the law pertinent to higher education which may include academic and corporate governance, personnel and employment issues, benefits, student affairs, academic affairs, non-discrimination, conflicts of interest, gifts and development, immigration issues, tax and payroll matters, insurance and risk management, construction, purchasing, real estate, environmental issues, HIPPA, compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations, copyright and other intellectual property matters, information technology and athletics.
• Knowledge of the procedural and evidentiary requirements for administrative hearings and litigation.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of legal research.
• Demonstrate understanding of ethical issues in a higher education setting.

Skills:

• Judgement, tact, and diplomacy
• Ability to provide legal counsel and advice to senior administrators, helping them achieve their strategic goals and objectives.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills to interact effectively and develop maintain productive working relationships with an array of individuals, departments, programs, diverse interests, and constituencies.
• Outstanding verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, logically, and persuasively during interactions.
• Outstanding communication skills, including active listening skills.
• Ability to draft accurate, complete, and persuasive legal documents.
• Intellectual and conceptual flexibility to analyze, interpret, present, and write about complex problems, issues, and concepts in a clear, concise fashion.
• Strong computer fluency skills including the ability to conduct legal and other research.
• Excellent negotiating skills.
• Unquestioned integrity
• Ability to make and communicate hard decisions and opinions, and clearly articulate the reasoning of such decisions and opinions.

Abilities:

• Commitment to learning the extensive policies and procedures of the College.
• Ability to facilitate solutions and gain compromises without damaging relationships.
• Ability to lead by influence and consensus.
• Ability to represent institutional concerns persuasively to internal and external parties.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a team player in all circumstances, as defined by contributing to the successful outcome of goals and initiatives of others and the operation of the College.
• Ability to effectively prioritize, and timely complete, pending projects and issues.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality with regard to sensitive issues and information and exercise discretion in dealing with sensitive or potentially sensitive topics.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of diverse people across the College.
• Ability to work with all groups in a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic background of community college students, faculty and staff, including those with disabilities and special needs.

Non-Essential Responsibilities and Duties 

Special Instructions       

• Salt Lake Community College will complete a criminal background check on the finalist.

FLSA      Exempt