General Counsel - Kennewick School District

POSITION: General Counsel

POSITION LOCATION: KSD Administration Center

POSITION OPENS: October 2, 2024

POSITION CLOSES: October 18, 2024

Overview of the Position

The Kennewick School District is seeking an outstanding candidate for the position of General Counsel. Kennewick serves over 19,000 students and in 33 schools and learning programs and employs a staff of more than 3,500 people, including 1,320-plus certificated and 1,180-plus classified workers, with an annual budget of approximately $320 million.

General Counsel serves as chief legal counsel and representative for the district, providing legal oversight and assistance to all aspects of the district’s operations and ensuring legal and policy compliance. General Counsel provides legal advice and counsel for the Board of Directors, superintendent, and district leadership team; provides training; develops and reviews policies, regulations, contracts, and agreements; conducts investigations and labor arbitration services and/or civil litigation services as necessary; consults with specialized legal counsel as appropriate; and oversees the district’s public records office and records management personnel.

The successful candidate will begin duties in November 2024.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Conditions of Employment

1. Juris Doctorate Degree; current member of the Washington Bar Association.
2. Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
3. Must be able to meet the Physical Demands of the position.
4. Must pass a basic skills test.
5. Completion of Safe Schools Web Based Training within 30 days of hire and yearly thereafter.
6. Must pass a background check, which includes employee paid fingerprinting.

Required Qualifications

1. Juris Doctorate Degree; current member of the Washington Bar Association.
2. 2+ years’ experience practicing general law with experience in a specialized area such as employment; labor; education; special education.
3. Demonstrated excellent communication, interpersonal, public relations, oratory, and presentation skills. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret information relevant to the position, including being able to speak effectively to small and large groups of people, and to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
4. Flexible and able to multi-task; can work within a complex, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems.
5. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
6. Ability to effectively use typical office applications and computer programs for email, word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations.
7. Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to the mission of Kennewick School District.

Preferred Qualifications

1. School district-related legal counsel experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

Vision and Culture

1. Support the district’s strategic goals and objectives.
2. Develop a culture of customer service, accountability, and continuous improvement within assigned areas of responsibility.
3. Ensure a safe, healthy, inviting learning and working environment in district facilities.
4. Enable and support high quality classroom instruction through operational excellence.

Leadership

1. Serve as a member of the district leadership team.
2. Supervise and evaluate the Public Records Officer.
3. Provide support for labor relations, including collective bargaining, contract management, data collection and analysis, and employment issues.
4. Assume responsibility for the interpretation and implementation of contractual agreements with employee bargaining units, including responsibilities for the processing of staff grievances, preparation of materials for arbitrations, and providing appropriate testimony.
5. Develop systems to regularly review and monitor policies, procedures, and practices to ensure continuous alignment and improvement.
6. Utilize data and technology to maximize productivity and efficiency in district operations.

Accountability and Compliance

1. Ensure district compliance with the applicable federal, state, and local codes, rules, regulations, statutes, and policies.
2. Conduct annual evaluations for all assigned staff.
3. Coordinate the assessment of training needs for personnel in assigned areas.
4. Provide direction for management regarding employee discipline, evaluation, complaints, reasonable accommodations, and investigations.
5. Oversee or conduct or assist with investigations of alleged employee misconduct. Determine facts and appropriate corrective action.
6. Serve as the district’s Civil Rights and Equity Officer.

Communication and Engagement

1. Attend Kennewick School Board meetings and work sessions as needed.
2. Develop appropriate board agenda items pertaining to areas of responsibility, and present information at Board meetings.
3. Develop positive working relationships with personnel, parents, stakeholders, policy makers, community members, contractors, etc.

Perform other duties as assigned by the superintendent or Board of Directors.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability to perform the essential functions.

• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical manuals, product labels, and procedures. Ability to write effectively and use e-mail correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, and decimal numbers. Ability to calculate percentages, discounts, proportions, area, circumference, and volume.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions. Ability to interpret variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Mobility:While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is sometimes required to sit, and to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Employee will frequently use ladders while performing daily responsibilities.
• Senses:The employee is often required to listen to slight variations in pitch, amplitude, and frequency. The employee must be able to communicate effectively in person, over the telephone, and by using the district radio communications system. The employee is occasionally required to taste or smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Lifting:The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 35 pounds; frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; occasionally lift and/or move over 100 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Hazards:While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; in outside weather conditions; and may be exposed to the risk of electrical shock. The employee will occasionally be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may on occasion be loud and require hearing protection. Working on rooftops and confined spaces occasionally occurs in the performance of daily job responsibilities.

Kennewick School District's Non-Discrimination Policy

The Kennewick School District provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or use of trained dog, guide or service animal by a person with a disability, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Civil Rights & Equity: Dr. Thomas Brillhart - (509) 222-5335 (Thomas.Brillhart@ksd.org)

Section 504, Title IX:BJ Wilson - (509) 222-5003 (BJ.Wilson@ksd.org)

This holds true for all students who are interested in participating in all education programs and/or extra-curricular school activities in the Kennewick School District.

Applicants: Inquiries regarding compliance procedures or requests for reasonable accommodation may be directed to the School District’s Director of Human Resources.

Kennewick School District Contact Names and Telephone Numbers

Toni Neidhold, Director of Human Resources

(509)222-6414

Toni.Neidhold@ksd.org

Certificated/Classified ADA

Kennewick School District

1000 West 4^thAvenue

Kennewick, WA 99336

Application Procedures

Complete a Kennewick School District online application. Application must include:

• Resume or Vitae
• Letter of Interest
• Copies of degrees and credentials
• References (3)

Closing Date:

All online applications must be received by the Kennewick School District Human Resources office by 10:00 p.m. on October 21, 2024.

Contract and Salary Range:

12 month/260 days including holidays (13), vacation (20).

Salary range: $138,840 - $159,479 + longevity incentive (depending on experience).

Paid health benefits are provided at the same level as those provided to other district employees. Benefits will include all benefits established by the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB).

Superintendent

Dr. Traci Pierce

Board of Directors

Mr. Gabe Galbraith, President

Mr. Micah Valentine, Vice President

Ms. Brittany Gledhill, Legislative Representative

Mr. Michael Connors

Dr. Josh Miller