Assistant or Associate General Counsel – Legal Affairs
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Assistant or Associate General Counsel – Legal Affairs Salary: Commensurate with experience The position will be either an Assistant or Associate General counsel based on the number of years of directly applicable practice area experience. Completes other duties as assigned.
Benefits: Generous benefits include paid time off including holidays and vacation, retirement match, and tuition remission for employee and dependents. Details at www.duq.edu/benefits
Location: Division of Legal Affairs
Position Status: Full-time
Hours: Varied
Position Number: 223541/10-998
FLSA Status: Exempt
POSITION SUMMARY:
The primary responsibilities of this position will be to review, develop, and negotiate all University contracts, including, but not limited to, agreements for procurement of goods and services, professional services agreements, affiliation and articulation agreements, software license agreements, non-disclosure agreements, construction and engineering contracts, facility license and lease agreements, sponsorship agreements, and various other contract types. This position will have responsibility for development of contract templates and guidelines for entering into University agreements, including the University’s contract administration process, and will train University business managers and contract owners on contract review. The successful candidate will serve as a valued partner on contract negotiation, enforcement, and termination strategies, including advising on legal and business risks associated with University contracts.
This position will also be responsible for providing legal guidance and counsel to University clients and leadership in a variety of other areas, including state and federal regulatory compliance, intellectual property, real estate, athletics and NIL-related matters, data governance and privacy, University policies, risk management and insurance, tax-exempt bond compliance, litigation management, subpoena and document request response, and student accounts issues.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reviews University contracts to ensure compliance with applicable laws and University policies/procedures; reviews terms and conditions of University agreements; works with contract owners to negotiate and modify contractual language and ensure appropriate modifications are incorporated. Drafts and negotiates University Agreements.
Assists University Administrators in developing agreement templates and an overall contract management strategy. Assists clients in developing processes, documents, and forms to standardize business approaches. Creates, facilitates, and manages a training resource for the campus community related to contracts, negotiations, best practices, etc.
Analyzes and reports potential risks that agreements may pose to the University to designated University administrators and/or General Counsel as appropriate. Analyzes insurance requirements in agreements to ensure consistency with University’s insurance coverage.
Conducts legal research and advises on non-contract related matters, including regulatory compliance, licensing and intellectual property matters, and other miscellaneous legal issues.
Performs other duties as assigned, including some litigation management and some legal support of the Athletics Department.
Supervises the work of others, including planning, assigning, scheduling and reviewing work, ensuring quality standards. Is responsible for hiring, terminating, training and developing, reviewing performance and administering corrective action for staff. Plans organizational structure and job content.
REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum qualifications:
Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited institution.
PA Law License.
3+ years of experience, but a minimum of 3 years of business/corporate law or transactional experience. Greater directly-applicable experience will impact whether the role is for an Assistant or Associate General Counsel.
Experience using common technology for document creation and management, including the Microsoft Office suite.
Experience using contract management software.
Preferred qualifications:
Experience in higher education, not-for-profit law, and/or procurement is a highly preferred.
Alternately, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination of experience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Ability to read, comprehend, and analyze legal documentation at a high level.
Progressively responsible and related experience in the areas of contract development, review, and negotiation.
Knowledge of contracting principles, including developing/drafting of contracts, negotiations, contract interpretation, and conducting a contract risk assessment.
Strong working knowledge of contract formation and contract administration functions.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently independently and as a team member.
Ability to communicate clearly in written and oral communication and to balance the multiple, varying and sometimes conflicting interests of diverse stakeholders.
Ability to manage complex and confidential matters.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University community.
Excellent organizational and administrative skills with the ability to be attentive to the details.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Verbal and written communication skills and ability to communicate complex concepts in basic terminology.
Knowledge of and proficiency in a variety of current and emerging technology platforms.
Success in this position will require the ability and desire to embrace and develop working knowledge in new areas of the law.
Commitment to the University’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion, and recognition of the importance of treating each individual with dignity and respect consistent with the University’s Mission. Demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, the broad diversity of the University community (students, faculty, staff and others).
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University Community.
Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the University and to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University. The mission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit of service, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and an ecumenical campus community.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.
Catholic in its mission and ecumenical in spirit, Duquesne University values equality of opportunity as an educational institution and as an employer. We aspire to attract and sustain a diverse faculty and staff that reflects contemporary society, serves our academic goals and enriches our campus community. We particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups and support dual-career couples through our charter membership in this region's HERC (http://www.hercjobs.org/oh-western-pa-wv/).
We invite applicants for this position to learn more about our university and its Spiritan heritage by visiting http://www.duq.edu/about/mission-and-identity/mission-statement. Those invited to campus for an interview may be asked about ways in which they see their talents contributing to the continued growth of our community and furthering its mission.
Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Duquesne University is Catholic in mission and ecumenical in spirit. Motivated by its Catholic identity, Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution and as an employer.
