General Counsel - Community College System of New Hampshire

Community College System of NH

General Counsel

Annual Salary Range - $142,554.88 to $181,708.80

General Summary: Reporting to the Chancellor, serves as general counsel responsible for overseeing and managing the legal and risk management services, programs, and operations and for providing a full range of legal services including advice, counsel, and representation for CCSNH and its colleges.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversees CCSNH’s General Counsel and Risk Management operations and services and provides general and specialized counsel on a broad range of higher education, employment, and student matters.
• Serves as a member of the CCSNH Leadership Team with responsibility for strategic planning, fiscal management, resource development, labor/employee relations, policy setting, and operational oversight.
• Oversees and manages a portfolio of legal issues and provides advice and counsel on a variety of areas including, but not limited employment and labor relations, admissions, financial aid, student affairs, academic affairs, contracts, development and gift agreements, grants, academic freedom, civil rights (including Title IX), AI-related issues, governance and board bylaws, legislative proceedings, and internal investigations.
• Negotiates, drafts and reviews a myriad of complex transactional documents such as contracts, leases, licenses and other documents through which CCSNH transacts its legal business.
• Manages the legal services and risk management budget and establishes a legal services strategy and operation for the System by retaining and managing outside counsel to provide subject matter expertise.
• Develops and ensures an effective Right-to- Know policy and practice is in place. Review complex requests made pursuant to NH RSA 91-A, as requested, and act as the conduit for all requests for all CCSNH institutions
• Serves as a resource to the Executive Director of Government Affairs on proposed state and federal legislation, with occasional testimony before legislative or other committees.
• Stays abreast of legal developments relevant to higher education and proactively advises on emerging trends and changes to laws and regulations and their potential impacts on the college's operations.
• Confers with System and college administrators, faculty and staff on legal and/or policy matters.
• Identifies legal issues and counsels management in order to develop legal strategies and solutions. Advises the Chancellor and CCSNH Leadership of matters regarded as highly visible, sensitive, or that may expose the System or a College to legal risk or liability and works with the relevant stakeholders to manage and respond to the legal issue(s).
• Works with System and college administration in the development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Conducts periodic legal reviews of college policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance with appropriate laws and the principles of academic freedom.
• Fosters a culture of legal compliance and ethical conduct across the college, promoting awareness and understanding of legal requirements and best practices through training and education.
• Maintains current knowledge of higher education and employment legal matters.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education: Juris doctorate degree from an American Bar Association accredited institution.

Experience: Seven (7) years of practicing legal experience in employment, higher education, and/or as general counsel for a public agency.

License/Certifications: Valid Driver’s License or access to statewide transportation.

Special Qualifications: Member of the New Hampshire Bar Association required. Experience in employment law and in performing legal work in an institution of higher education desired.

Additional Desired Qualifications: Knowledge of regulatory environment affecting higher education and employment, judicial procedures and rules, knowledge of common, statutory and constitutional laws, and knowledge of court and legal procedures in the State of New Hampshire. Strong communication, organizational, and management skills and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously. Ability to work independently and as a member of a team. Ability to exercise sound judgment, to maintain confidentiality as appropriate, and to handle matters with diplomacy. Proficient in the use of technology including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook ). Ability to establish effective working relationships.

Disclaimer Statement: The job description lists typical examples of work and is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to a position. An employee may be required to perform other related duties not listed on the job description provided that such duties are characteristic of that classification.

Notice of Non-Discrimination: The Community College System of New Hampshire is an equal opportunity employer. The Community College System of NH does not discriminate on the basis on race, creed, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or law enforcement, or military, veteran, or marital status.