Job Details:
Title: General Counsel
Department: Legal Counsel
Campus Location: Arnold/Main Campus
Salary Range: $170,254-$212,817
Work Mode: This position requires some regular in-person presence on campus or at alternative locations, depending on business needs of the office.
Hours Per Week:40
Position Type:Full-Time Staff, Exempt
Position Summary
Reporting to the President, the General Counsel is responsible for the management and oversight of legal matters that affect the College and its operations. The position deals with complex, challenging and ever changing legal issues that have a material and substantial impact on the ability of the College to operate and achieve its mission. Primary focus areas include, but are not limited to: personnel issues; student issues; human resources issues; real estate; contract development and review; educational program articulation and clinical affiliation agreements; business and educational institution relationships; use of college facilities; strategic communications and public relations issues; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; accommodations and accessibility; intellectual property; data security and identity theft prevention; policy drafting and review; and governance and Open Meetings Act compliance. A successful General Counsel will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop and review college policies, ensuring they reflect legal requirements and align with the institution’s values. The incumbent will be a highly competent attorney and strategist who is innovative, collaborative, and decisive, yet flexible and committed to and supportive of the College’s diverse population.
Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is committed to enriching the educational experience it offers through the diversity of its faculty, administrators, and staff members. The college seeks to recruit and support a broadly diverse team who will contribute to the college’s excellence, diversity of viewpoints and experiences, embrace concepts of equity and inclusiveness and support the equal rights of all people by advancing the understanding and appreciation of differences, including age, race, gender, ability, religious convictions, socio-economic status, ethnic heritage, or sexual orientation.
While we appreciate your interest in employment with Anne Arundel Community College, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is unavailable for any position.
In the best interest of the College, only individuals who are residents of Maryland or one of the following states will be eligible for employment at the college: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia or the District of Columbia. The college will annually review this restriction and, if appropriate, expand the list of states of employment eligibility.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
1. Manages the legal work of the College, including disputes, regulatory proceedings, administrative actions, real estate and contract transactions, financial transactions, and internal complaints.
2. Oversees the work of outside counsel in litigation to assure the College is being properly represented and reviews all complaints, answers, motions, discovery, appeals, and other litigation-related documents.
3. Provides legal advice regarding employment, tort, contract, commercial transactions, and student and faculty affairs.
4. Provides legal support for administrators.
5. Collaborates closely with the Chief Compliance and Fair Practices Officer and the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer.
6. Presents proposed actions to the President and Vice Presidents related to policies, procedures, manuals, handbooks, reports, contracts, personnel actions, and other matters having legal significance to the management and operation of the College.
7. Assists in preparation and negotiation of collective bargaining agreements.
8. Interprets and provides guidance on compliance with College policies, laws, and regulations applicable to the College.
9. Provides advice, counsel, and support to the President, Vice Presidents and administrators in various contexts, early on and through the decision-making process, to enhance the quality of decisions made by these leaders, helping to mitigate legal risk.
10. Collaborates with Risk Management on insurance coverage of pre-litigation and litigation matters including defense, indemnification and related issues.
11. Identifies legal risks to the College and develops methods, processes and actions to mitigate the risks.
12. Prepares legal documents such as responses to demands and charges, agreements, opinions and advisory memoranda.
13. Reviews and provides feedback on documents generated by various offices, departments, and programs for legal compliance.
14. Conducts legal sufficiency reviews of responses to internal and external complaints.
15. Monitors federal and state legislation and advises on changes that need to be made for compliance.
16. Prepares and submits monthly reports to the President, and as the President may direct, to the Board of Trustees concerning legal issues being handled by the General Counsel including progress on previously identified matters.
17. Works with legal counsel for the College Foundation and provides counsel where appropriate.
18. Creates, monitors and oversees the budget for the office. Approves all expenditures from the budget.
19. Supervises the Associate General Counsel (part-time), including review and approval of all major work products, performance reviews, and professional development. Receives support from a shared administrative assistant for which this position provides direction and feedback.
20. Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications:
Juris Doctorate Degree required.
A minimum of 5 years of increasing legal experience in a civil or government practice. Three years experience in representing or working for institutions of higher education required.
Experience in employment discrimination, breach of contract and tort matters required.
Licensed to practice law in Maryland and in good standing with the Maryland Bar.
Strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills, including the ability to anticipate issues and concerns whenever possible.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including skills in consulting, mediation, negotiation, advocacy, which accommodate conflicting interests and viewpoints of individuals and groups.
Demonstrated work as a key strategist who is innovative and collaborative.
Ability to act as a champion for the College’s values, fostering a legal framework that reflects and reinforces our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Ability to represent the College in administrative proceedings.
Ability to develop and implement legal strategies and solutions; analyze and interpret issues and to prepare legal opinions.
Ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and professionalism.
Ability to work independently, exercise initiative and function effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple and changing priorities and objectives.
Ability to successfully work both independently and collaboratively with diverse populations and members of the various College constituencies.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Ten or more years of increasing legal experience in civil or governmental practice.
• Ability to remain calm, rational, and focused in handling daily issues as well as in crisis situations.
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence.
• Experience in employment and labor law.
• Three years of experience in a managerial and supervisory capacity.