Chief Counsel

Job Summary  

EDA Overview

Join the NJEDA and help lead New Jersey to sustainable economic growth, fostering equitable opportunities and vibrant communities. We offer hybrid work, a supportive culture, and robust benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and extensive wellness programs. Make a tangible impact and shape New Jersey's future with innovative economic development at NJEDA.

Job Overview

• Reporting directly to the NJEDA’s Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Counsel provides strategic leadership for the Authority’s legal, governance, compliance, and regulatory affairs, serving as the principal legal advisor leading efforts to manage risk, ensure adherence to state and federal regulations, and uphold strong governance practices.
• Leads NJEDA’s legal, compliance, and regulatory affairs, ensuring adherence to state and federal laws while managing risk and upholding strong governance practices.
• Advises the CEO, Executive Committee and Board on legal and regulatory matters, collaborating with leadership to shape NJEDA’s strategic initiatives and promote ethical standards.

$193,600 - $242,000

Note: The NJEDA currently offers a hybrid work schedule for up to 2 days of telecommute work from home. To participate, you will be required to have high speed home internet access and a manager's approval. This program does not supersede the "New Jersey First Act", which requires newly hired NJEDA employees to establish and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey.

Duties  

Daily Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Leads all legal and compliance functions, ensuring NJEDA’s activities align with state and federal laws, managing legal risks, developing and enforcing regulations, and overseeing the legal review process to protect against fraud, waste, and abuse, while collaborating with internal and external counsel to safeguard the Authority’s interests.
• Oversees the Board Governance department, which supports and interacts with the EDA Board and affiliated Boards and manages the Board approval process in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Works to continually improve Board practices and functionality and promote efficiency.  Ensures timely and effective communications with Board members.
• Oversees the Business Operations department, which works to implement best practices and improve and document internal processes. Responsible for process improvement throughout the Authority and ensuring the organization has appropriate written internal controls, policies, and procedures.

Projects:

• Oversees the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks for new economic development programs, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and supporting NJEDA’s mission to foster equitable growth.
• Leads initiatives to enhance Board governance practices, including modernizing processes for compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act and improving communication with Board members and stakeholders.
• Spearheads organization-wide risk management projects, including the creation of fraud prevention measures and the establishment of internal audit processes to ensure operational and financial integrity.

Goals and Objectives:

• Ensure NJEDA’s full compliance with all legal, regulatory, and governance standards, minimizing legal risks and avoiding operational disruptions.
• Drive process improvements across the Authority’s legal, compliance, and governance functions, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
• Foster a culture of ethical conduct and risk management, ensuring that NJEDA operates with integrity while meeting its strategic and operational goals.

Collaboration and Cross-Divisional Interaction:

• Collaborate closely with the executive leadership team to ensure alignment on legal, compliance, and governance strategies that support NJEDA’s mission and operational goals.
• Foster open communication and partnership with department heads across the organization, providing legal guidance on regulatory requirements and risk management to support cross-functional initiatives.
• Lead cross-organizational efforts to promote transparency and best practices in governance, ensuring consistent communication with internal teams and external stakeholders, including the EDA Board, outside counsel, and senior government officials.

Reporting Structure:

• The Chief Counsel will report directly to the CEO and will manage a team of 25+ legal and compliance professionals, including senior leadership in legal, governance, business operations, and compliance.
• The candidate will have a high level of decision-making independence, with authority to make key legal and compliance decisions, develop regulations, and shape governance policies, while regularly consulting with the executive leadership team and Board of Directors on strategic and high-impact issues.
• Must complete annual self-assessment as required.
• Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

Technical Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, and executive orders relevant to public sector operations, including compliance with governance frameworks, labor laws, and regulatory affairs; proficiency in legal risk management, contract law, and regulatory development; familiarity with government auditing standards and public records regulations like the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).

Soft Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills, including effective communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution; ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams, build consensus among stakeholders, and foster a culture of ethical conduct, transparency, and continuous improvement within the organization.
• EDA Leadership Profile
• • Talent Management: Acquires, develops, and manages high-performing teams.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners effectively across boundaries and functions.
  • Vision-Driven Results: Drives a clear vision and strategic thinking for achieving results.
  • Innovation and Change: Encourages new ideas, opportunities for change, and motivates team members.

Experience:

• Minimum 20+ years of professional experience; proven and progressive leadership experience is required (preferably within the public sector), with a minimum of 5 years in middle to upper management positions.
• Advanced degree or industry specific certification may be substituted for 1 year of experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field and Juris Doctorate required.
• Must be licensed to practice law in New Jersey.

Software/Tools Proficiency:

• NJEDA utilizes Microsoft as the core application platform and proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is preferred.
  

Additional Information

• Minimal physical demands and ability to work out normal business hours
• Travel expected when necessary for business operations

Certificates and Licenses Required

• Staff are required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essentials duties of the position.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job description. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope, general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job.  This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

Your employment at NJEDA is voluntary and subject to termination by you or NJEDA at will, with or without cause, or with or without notice, at any time.  Nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to conflict, eliminate or modify the employment-at-will status of NJEDA employees. 

This position is considered exempt and is excluded from minimum wage, overtime regulations, and other rights and protections afforded nonexempt workers under the FLSA.

NJEDA reserves the right to amend/revise this job description as necessary to meet current and changing business needs.

NJ SAME Program

 In accordance with P.L. 2021, c. 465 and P.L. 2021, 466, the SAME program was established to enable New Jersey State agencies to hire, promote, retain, and advance qualified individuals whose physical or mental impairments impact their abilities to participate in the hiring and promotion process for non-competitive and unclassified titles within the State workforce.

The SAME program allows candidates, who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process. This program uses a fast-track process that permits people who are eligible for the program to request that the State appointing authority schedule with them a good faith interview. For more information about the SAME program and the Fast Track Hiring program, please Click Here.  If you have any questions, please email, or call the contact as indicated on the job vacancy announcement.

This posting open to eligible applicants regardless of SAME eligibility.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Requirements

• Foreign degrees/transcripts must be evaluated by a reputable evaluation service at your own expense and must be submitted prior to a start date. If this cannot be provided within 21 days of an offer the offer will be rescinded.
• Must comply with the “New Jersey First Act” which requires employees hired after September 1, 2011, to reside in New Jersey. Non-New Jersey resident employees must relocate to New Jersey within one year of their date of hire and provide proof of residency to Human Resources.
• Must complete an Outside Activity Questionnaire (disclosure of outside office or employment) on an annual basis.
• Must review the required NJ State Ethics Guidelines found on the state website.
• Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States per the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations. Note: The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorship for citizenship to the United States.

#LI-KH1

#LI-HYBRID