Associate General Counsel
11 days ago
Glenside
Job Description Job Description: The Associate General Counsel provides expert legal counsel in a fast-paced and collaborative environment, supporting the mission and strategic goals of the University. Reporting to the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel offers proactive, practical, and solution-oriented legal advice to a wide range of university stakeholders, ensuring institutional compliance and minimizing legal risk. This role requires a forward-thinking approach to emerging legal challenges in higher education. The office of General Counsel consists of the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel, and support staff. This position may require working outside of standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, as business needs require. Key benefits include tuition remission, retirement contributions, and a hybrid work policy (subject to business needs and mutual agreement). Location: Glenside Key Responsibilities: Legal Counsel and Compliance: • Provide independent, high-level legal advice to faculty, administrators, and staff on a broad spectrum of legal matters, including contracts, regulatory compliance, employment law, civil rights, data privacy, cybersecurity, and international legal issues., • Advise on compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including but not limited to Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, ADA, Section 504, FERPA, state privacy laws as applicable, GDPR for international applications, and other higher education regulations., • Stay current on emerging laws and regulations affecting higher education, and ensure appropriate communication and training for campus stakeholders., • Develop and manage a University-wide compliance matrix to track and support adherence to regulatory requirements., • Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide variety of legal agreements, including but not limited to:, • Academic and affiliation agreements., • Employment and HR-related contracts, including remote and hybrid work arrangements, and separation agreements., • Real estate documents (leases, sales agreements)., • Construction, donor, and research agreements., • Dual enrollment and international agreements., • Technology agreements, including SaaS, cloud services, AI/ML licensing, and data processing agreements., • Cybersecurity and information security contracts., • Digital accessibility and compliance agreements., • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-related partnerships and contracts., • Vendor and procurement agreements with enhanced data protection clauses., • Provide legal support on matters involving Title IX, discrimination, harassment, disability accommodations, religious accommodations, LGBTQ+ rights, and related investigations., • Advise Title IX Coordinators and other officials on case resolution procedures, policy development, training, and emerging civil rights challenges., • Represent the University in responses to investigations or inquiries from regulatory agencies (e.g., OCR)., • Represent the University in legal proceedings and manage litigation, in coordination with outside counsel as appropriate., • Support internal dispute resolution processes, including student conduct cases, employee grievances, union matters, and terminations., • Respond to subpoenas and coordinate document production, ensuring compliance with legal and confidentiality standards., • Serve as Chair of the University's Policy Advisory Committee and facilitate the development and delivery of training on University policies and legal obligations., • Provide expert-level support to the General Counsel in their role as Secretary of the University, including advising on governance matters, strategic planning, enterprise risk management, and board compliance., • Advise on artificial intelligence governance, algorithmic accountability, and responsible AI implementation in educational settings., • Support data governance initiatives, privacy impact assessments, and cross-border data transfer compliance. Required Qualifications: • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school., • Minimum of 7 years of relevant legal experience (higher education or nonprofit experience preferred)., • Experience with board governance or serving as counsel to boards., • Active license to practice law in Pennsylvania., • Exceptional legal research, analytical, writing, and oral communication skills., • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines independently in both traditional and hybrid work environments., • High ethical standards, professional integrity, and enthusiasm for the work., • Be a solutions-oriented consummate team player with the ability to build strong, collaborative relationships across diverse university constituencies., • Advanced legal knowledge across a wide range of practice areas, with adaptability to learn emerging legal frameworks quickly., • Effective supervision and mentoring of legal support staff., • Demonstrated ability to identify emerging legal issues before they impact the institution and develop preventative strategies., • Capacity to anticipate and solve problems creatively and strategically., • Understanding of higher education trends, including digital transformation, hybrid learning models, and evolving student and employee expectations., • Familiarity with contemporary risk management approaches and crisis response protocols., • Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams on complex compliance initiatives. Application Instructions: • Applications must be submitted online through Arcadia's Human Resources portal to receive full consideration. Please do not email application materials to the hiring manager. Due to the volume of applications received, communication will generally be limited to candidates selected for additional consideration. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the excellence of our community. The successful candidate will demonstrate examples of ways they will incorporate our values in their work. At Arcadia University, our Lived Values are the foundation of our highly regarded, values-based learning community, which reflects the world in which we want to live. As such, Arcadia actively seeks and welcomes candidates who embrace those values. Arcadia prohibits discrimination against individuals on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, age, gender identity, military or military veteran status, disability, family medical or genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic. All offers of employment are conditional based on the successful completion of a background check. Employment may not begin until the University accepts the results of the background check. Arcadia offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, generous tuition benefits for employees and their families, retirement benefits, health and wellness programs and resources, and much more. Position Code: AC139F