Position Summary:

The College of New Jersey invites applications and nominations for the position of Assistant General Counsel. This position will report directly to the General Counsel. The successful applicant will join a service-oriented Office of General Counsel in providing legal services to academic and administrative offices across the College, with a focus on providing labor and employment counsel to the Office of Human Resources and other College departments. The Assistant General Counsel will also be responsible for providing legal advice on a variety of other matters affecting The College of New Jersey.

Responsibilities Include:

Primary responsibility will be provision of day-to-day legal counsel for all labor and employment issues and representation of the College in select employment-related litigation and administrative matters;
Additional provision of counsel in the areas of academic and student affairs; accessibility; contracts and purchasing, including real estate and construction; regulatory compliance; grants and sponsored research; intellectual property; discrimination; litigation; torts; environmental health and safety; criminal law; emergency and risk management; privacy and data security; government employee ethics; public records and open public meetings; public finance; risk management and insurance; constitutional law; and College governance issues;
Responding to federal and state administrative agencies;
Researching, reviewing, and providing legal opinions regarding current laws and regulations affecting College operations;
Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts;
Providing litigation support;
Preparing Board resolutions;
Developing policies and procedures;
Serving on College committees as assigned;
Providing training to College constituents; and
Other duties as assigned.


Desired Abilities:


The Office of General Counsel is a fast-paced, high-volume, intellectually challenging work environment. The successful candidate should possess the following characteristics, knowledge and skills:

High ethical standards and demonstrated work ethic;
Excellent listening, oral and written communication, and other interpersonal skills;
Proficient research and analytical skills, and sound judgment;
Ability to identify a broad array of legal issues that arise in a public higher education setting;
Commitment and aptitude to excel in a broad general practice of law;
Ability to develop and negotiate a wide variety of agreements;
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other members of the Office and institutional clients; and successfully interact with the broader campus community and external audiences from academia, industry, and government;
Ability to prioritize tasks; organize work; handle multiple unrelated matters concurrently in a timely and proficient manner;
Ability to make sound decisions and employ strong analytical skills and effective problem-solving skills to prevent or resolve complex problems; and
Aptitude to combine legal considerations with program and policy objectives in development of practical solutions that meet institutional needs.
Minimum qualifications:

JD or LLB degree from an accredited U.S. law school;
Not less than 5 years' related professional legal experience in providing labor and employment counsel and representation;
Admitted and in good standing in New Jersey or other state bar; admission to New Jersey bar required within one year of appointment; and
Proficiency in Microsoft and Google suites of applications.
Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations in order to perform the essential functions of the position. If the requested accommodation(s) cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, the applicant may not be eligible for the position.

Preferred qualifications:

Employment experience as legal counsel in an institution of higher education, government entity or large organization;
Strong academic and professional credentials;
Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts; and
Creative problem-solving skills.
Employer Qualifications:

Final offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and reference checks.
Residency Requirement: In accordance with the New Jersey First Act P.L. 2011 c.70, effective September 1, 2011, new public employees in certain positions (faculty exempt) are required to obtain New Jersey residency within one (1) year of employment. Applicants must meet the requirements listed.