Vice President For Legal And Government Affairs / General Counsel

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Vice President for Legal and Government Affairs/General Counsel serves as the Chief Legal Officer for the college, providing expert legal counsel to the President, Board of Trustees, senior leadership, and other college stakeholders. This role is responsible for overseeing all legal aspects of the college's operations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, managing legal risks, and representing the college in legal matters. The Vice President and General Counsel plays a critical role in policy development and analysis, governance, and strategic initiatives, and is responsible for overseeing compliance and risk management and managing litigation and agency complaint investigation and response.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

This position is directly supervised by the President and has a functional reporting relationship with the Board of Trustees for the purpose of providing legal counsel to the board.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Executive Assistant and Secretary to the Board of Trustees; Manager of Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Assessment; Director of External Affairs

EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as General Counsel and acts as legal representation on behalf of the University.
• Reviews University's legal matters, including, among other things, contracts, legal questions/issues arising in student and employee arenas, tort claims, discrimination, and Title IX claims, and referrals to outside counsel.
• Reviews compliance matters and makes recommendations as appropriate, including reviewing requests for public records as Records Access Officer.
• Oversees activities related to legal compliance and enterprise risk management on campus.
• Provides legal counsel to the Board of Trustees.
• Assists with the development of University policy and procedures.
• Supports the development of contracts and memoranda of agreement between the University and outside parties.
• Presents professional development to the University community on relevant topics such as FERPA, risk management, etc.
• Responsible for managing a wide range of complex and politically sensitive legislative, funding, and issue-oriented interactions as well as campus initiatives designed to advance the mission and priorities of the campus..
• In collaboration with campus stakeholders, regularly assess trends in education to identify opportunities or threats to the University's current and future goals and objectives.

As a member of the Executive team:

• Monitors Commonwealth higher education trends and developments for potential impact on the University as well as the entire state university and public higher education sector.
• Collaborates in the development of strategy and tactics to enhance state support for the institution.
• Monitors Commonwealth and federal budget & appropriations activities and communicates updates to the President and senior staff as appropriate to identify opportunities or impacts on University funding.
• Cultivate relationships with MA legislative and executive branch officials, as well as with MA state institutions of higher education and members of the Executive Office of Education in order to advise and develop relevant education policy to advance support for various programs and initiatives of interest and benefit to the College and the Commonwealth.
• In collaboration with the President and executive staff members, identifies, creates, and executes the development of strategy and tactics to enhance public (municipal, state, and federal) support for the institution.
• Serves on and/or leads the Emergency Planning Committee for the University, as assigned.
• Serves on and/or leads various committees or teams, as assigned.
• Responsible for reporting to the Equal Opportunity Officer or Title IX Coordinator knowledge or receipt of reports of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and retaliation from students or other members of the university community.
• Accountable for ensuring that equal opportunity, inclusion, and equity are integrally tied to all actions and decisions in areas of responsibility.
• Other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This role performs work primarily on the Framingham State University campus. Weekend, evening, and early morning presence is required for various meetings and events.

The University seeks candidates who bring the professional experience, competencies, and personal qualities needed to thrive in this role. The qualifications below reflect qualifications that align strongly with the position. However, we recognize that talent and potential can take many forms. If you bring related experience and are excited about the opportunity, we encourage you to apply.

• Juris Doctor degree and licensed member of the Massachusetts bar (or qualifications to be admitted to the MA bar).
• Substantial experience working as an attorney in public higher education, with sophisticated understanding of legal, political, and regulatory issues facing public colleges and universities.
• Demonstrable strong and effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of administration, as well as outside entities, and sensitively with persons of diverse backgrounds and levels of ability.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the principles, practices, and culture of higher education.
• Experience working with university personnel, policies, and procedures.
• Experience in effectively negotiating procurement contracts and working within collective bargaining agreements.

This is a full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible, non-unit position. The salary range is $190,000-200,000.

Framingham State University conducts criminal history and sexual offender record checks on recommended finalists prior to final employment for all positions.

Framingham State University is an equal opportunity employer. The University considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, disability status, Veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristics protected by law.

Members of underrepresented or minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and all persons committed to equity, diversity, and inclusive excellence are strongly encouraged to apply.