Deputy General Counsel

Opening

Full Time 40 hours Range URG 121 Office VP & University Counsel

Responsibilities

Major, Lindsey & Africa, a national executive recruiting firm, has been retained to support the search committee. Confidential inquiries via interested candidates should submit a resume in Microsoft Word format addressed to the following: Deborah Thompson - dthompson@mlaglobal.com, Lee Udelsman - ludelsman@mlaglobal.com, Cara Bain - cabain@mlaglobal.com, and Jared Pritchard - jpritchard@mlaglobal.com.

GENERAL PURPOSE:
Serves as a trusted advisor to the Senior Vice President and General Counsel and oversees a team of highly skilled attorneys, professionals, and support staff to address the entire range of legal issues impacting the University. Provides, supervises, and directs legal advice and services to University administration, including senior executive leaders and department chairs, as well as faculty and staff on a wide variety of issues and projects, primarily those affecting schools and divisions outside of the Medical Center.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provides, supervises, and directs legal services in connection with legal matters involving the University and its departmental leadership, faculty, and staff including, but not limited to, contract review, drafting, analysis, and negotiation.
2. Manages, mentors, supervises, recruits, and inspires Office of Counsel staff in the delivery of legal services, including providing input on project allocation and performance assessment. Manages needs of assigned staff including, but not limited to: advising on hiring decisions, identifying and providing training, engaging in ongoing direct supervision, addressing personnel issues and actions, and conducting performance reviews.
3. Serves as a strategic thought partner to General Counsel and University leadership and acts on behalf of the General Counsel in that leader’s absence.
4. Arranges for and manages the expert, efficient, and effective delivery of outside legal services for legal matters when necessary, and manages related costs, particularly with regard to litigation and government investigations and in connection with transactions, audits, and University trademarks.
5. Represents the University before various local, state, and federal agencies, including the US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. Communicates, and negotiates with attorneys representing potential litigants and complainants having disputes with the University.
6. Supports the General Counsel in pursuing execution of the University’s strategic plan, including the commitment to diversity as an institutional value, with the delivery of relevant, expert legal services. Advises and occasionally serves on ad hoc and standing committees. Drafts, reviews, and recommends revisions to University policies.,
7. Works closely and collaboratively with colleagues in the Office of Counsel, as well as faculty, staff, and University leadership in creating and delivering reports for the Office of Counsel; maintains and improves personal legal expertise by following developments and participating in continuing legal education regarding law affecting the University operations, and provides training and presentations on legal issues and developments for members of the University community
8. Provides input into capital and/or operational budgets consistent with the strategic objectives of the department and URMC. Provides input into allocation of funds and provides projections for expected or annually recurring projects. In partnership with the Vice President and General Counsel, and the department’s Senior Business Administrator, develops and manages the annual budget for assigned area.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Juris Doctor required.
• 12 years of relevant legal experience required.
• Experience in litigation and one or more additional fields of law relevant to the needs of the University preferred.
• Experience interacting with boards of directors/trustees, including preparation of materials for board meetings and advising on various issues preferred.
• Ability to plan for and lead complex projects requiring a team approach for resolution within deadlines required
• Excellent communication skills, including demonstrated ability and judgment in the timely, effective transmission of information to key stakeholders required.
• Specialized knowledge in state and federal litigation involving universities preferred;

• Knowledge of at least one other field of substantive law relevant to the needs of the University preferred.
• General familiarity with the following areas preferred:

• Student affairs (FERPA; Title IX, academic and non-academic discipline; disability accommodations and ADA compliance; local, state and federal civil rights laws affecting admissions, financial aid and programs; athletics; study abroad)
• Faculty affairs (tenure, academic freedom, grievances)
• Copyright and intellectual property
• General liability/risk management
• Charitable giving

• Experience relating to sponsored research oversight including both human, and animal research subjects, and clinical trials preferred.
• Experience working with an organization that includes an academic medical center preferred.
• Knowledge in areas of the law directly impacting governing boards and senior executives such as corporate governance and fiduciary duties, ethics, and legal compliance, and strategic transactions preferred.
• New York State bar admission or eligibility for registration in New York to work for the University as in-house counsel, with commitment to become licensed in NYS required.

The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the University’s mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations.

How To Apply

All applicants must apply online.

EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled

Pay Range

Pay Range: $280,000 – $350,000 Annually

The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job’s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations.