Description:
The Deputy Counsel will report to the Vice President and General Counsel, provide legal guidance to campus administrators on areas within subject matter expertise and/or working with subject matter experts; manage the office; manage complex transactions; and perform other duties as requested and/or needed by the General Counsel.The ideal candidate will have legal experience and be able to perform in the following areas:
- Labor & employment law, including preparing for and representing clients at management of DHR/EEOC/OCR complaints and arbitrations
- Student affairs issues, including Federal CLERY, FERPA, and Title IX compliance
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 legal issues
- New York Ethics and Not for Profit Corporations Law compliance
Key Responsibilities include:
- Developing, negotiating, reviewing academic agreements with other colleges and universities
- Providing advice and recommendations regarding campus-based policies
- Providing advice on procurement matters and reviewing and advising on vendor and other contracts
- Drafting and negotiating commercial leases
- Advising in various student-related matters concerning reasonable accommodations, academic leaves, student discipline, and dismissal
- Providing statutory and regulatory interpretation
- Drafting legal guidance
- Representing the College in state and federal administrative agency proceedings as well as, on occasion, in state and federal courts
- Representing the College in employee and student discipline matters, discrimination cases and internal investigations, and with labor and employment issues
Required Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor degree
- Candidates should have a minimum of 5-7 years of significant and progressively responsible legal experience
- Admitted to the New York State Bar in good standing
- Strong analytical and legal research skills
- Superior written and oral communication
- Legal experience working in-house and/or in higher education
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ability to translate complex problems into practical solutions
- High ethical standards and mature judgment
- Ability to function effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple and changing priorities and objectives
- Demonstrated ability to make and communicate hard decisions; demonstrated credibility to win support for those decisions
- Judgment, tact, and diplomacy to partner with senior teams to help them achieve their strategic objectives
- Outstanding communication and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, logically, and persuasively during interactions and in writing, and utilize active listening skills
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive issues and information and exercise discretion in dealing with sensitive or potentially sensitive topics
- Knowledge of applicable federal and state of New York laws and regulations related to grants and contracts
