Job Details

General Counsel

Position Number: 6994064
Location: Macon, GA
Position Type: Legal Affairs

General Counsel
Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance – Division of Planning & Institutional Strategy

JOB SUMMARY

This position reporting to the Chief Planning Officer/Vice President for Institutional Strategy serves as in-house legal counsel to Middle Georgia State University with dotted line reporting to the President. The General Counsel will provide expertise in matters of university policy, litigation, intellectual property, contract review, governance, and compliance. This position also serves as a member of the President's Cabinet.

MAJOR DUTIES

Provides legal assistance to the institution (50%)

Liaises with the Office of Legal Affairs at the University System of Georgia (USG) and Office of the Georgia Attorney General (AG) as needed; reviews of institutional agreements (including academic, procurement, and real estate contracts and agreements); manages and provides guidance on institutional grievances, complaints to regulatory agencies and formal litigation; manages trademarks and copyrights; manages development of institutional policies and procedures, and provides guidance on local, state and federal laws.

Provides advice and assistance related to compliance with State and Federal laws, rules and regulations and USG policies (40%)

Serves as the institution's Open Records Officer and Records Management Officer.
Reviews changes to USG policy and suggests appropriate updates to MGA policy accordingly.
Chairs the university's Intellectual Property Committee, co-chairs the Functional Data Governance Committee (FDGC), and serves on various other working groups related to compliance and policy development including but not limited to the Ethics Hotline Triage Committee, the Clery Coordinating Committee, the Cybersecurity Governance Committee, the Threat Assessment Team, the Athletic Advisory Committee, and the Gender Equity Working Group.
Coordinates with Human Resources, Risk Management, University Police, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs on compliance.
Supervises the Executive Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator and ensures compliance to federal laws regarding Title IX.
Supervises the MGA Compliance Coordinator who ensures compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Security Act, the USG Programs Serving Minors initiative, and manages open records requests under the Georgia Open Records Act.
Provides and delivers training to faculty, staff, and students related to policies and legal or regulatory requirements for the institution.

Performs various other duties as needed (10%)

Researches nationwide higher education best practices, including those identified by the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) and the USG, and makes recommendations to Cabinet members on reduction of legal risk through potential improvements to programs and operations.
Serves as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) as defined by the Jeanne Clery Act.
Performs related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

Knowledge of higher education laws and regulations, general processes, procedures, and internal and external constituencies.
Knowledge of the laws of the state of Georgia.
Demonstrated skill in excellent oral and written communication.
Strong legal research and writing skills.
Knowledge of motivational factors affecting individual and group behavior.
Knowledge of program development, design, implementation and assessment.
Skill in interacting with interdisciplinary teams for the purpose of needs assessment, program development, and program implementation.
Knowledge of computers and job-related software programs.
Skill in identifying and resolving problems.
Skill in decision making and problem solving.
Skill in interpersonal relations and in dealing with the public.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The President and the Chief Planning Officer/Vice President Institutional Strategy assigns work in terms of institutional goals and objectives. Evaluation is based on results, work product, and progress made on initiatives.

GUIDELINES

Guidelines include the Board of Regents policy manual; the Americans with Disability Act, the Clery Act, including VAWA and Campus SaVE, Title IX, the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Georgia Open Records Act, the Georgia Max Gruver Anti-Hazing Act and federal Stop Campus Hazing Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges policies and procedures; and university policies and procedures. These guidelines require judgment, selection and interpretation in application. This position develops program guidelines and institutional policy.

COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK

The work consists of varied program management duties. The need to work with diverse constituencies contributes to the complexity of the position.
The purpose of this position is to provide legal guidance to the university and assistance to the President.
Success in this position contributes to improved efficiency, compliance, and collaboration across the university community.

CONTACTS

Contacts are typically with USG legal affairs, the Georgia Attorney General's office, university administrators, outside attorneys, faculty and staff, community members, students, and members of the general public, as necessary to resolve legal issues.
Contacts are typically to provide services; to give or exchange information; to resolve problems; to motivate or influence persons; or to justify, defend or negotiate matters.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work is typically performed while intermittently sitting, standing, or walking. The employee frequently lifts light objects.
The work is typically performed in an office or meeting room.

SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

Supervises and assigns projects to the MGA Compliance Coordinator and Executive Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator.

QUALIFICATIONS

Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school.
Licensed and in good standing) as a member of the Georgia Bar.
Five years of experience as a practicing attorney in a sophisticated environment such as a law firm, government agency, university, or non-profit or a business corporation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience in litigation management and experience as university counsel and/or higher education preferred.

COMPENSATION CLASSIFICATION

This position is exempt (monthly paid).

To apply, please visit: https://careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psp/careers/CAREERS/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=83000&JobOpeningId=295319&PostingSeq=1