Vice President and University Counsel

Who We Are:

System Administration, which also houses the Office of the President, is located in the uptown neighborhood of Denver with a few smaller offices located on the campuses.  Many of our departments support the educational and research missions of the four University of Colorado campuses, but System Administration is not considered a campus. We provide diverse opportunities for professional development, innovation, and collaboration with talented staff and faculty.  Learn more about CU System Administration.

Position Summary:

The position of Vice President and University Counsel is the senior legal professional position at the University of Colorado. The Board of Regents is the appointing authority for the position.

The position reports jointly to the Board of Regents and the president. The person holding the position receives day-to-day oversight and direction from the president. In the event of any conflict between the Board of Regents and the president, the Board of Regents is the ultimate appointing authority. 

This position requires experience managing a legal staff of professional employees and budgets within a complex organization and advanced knowledge of the practice of law representing corporate and/or public entities. The position requires the candidate to exercise discretion and to uphold confidentiality of privileged materials. The person holding this position should be able to exercise independent judgment and demonstrate technical proficiency in the effective handling of the complex legal activities in which the university is involved. The Vice President and University Counsel has primary responsibility for the provision of legal services to the university and for the legal advice and representation provided to university officials and employees while performing their university responsibilities. The office of University Counsel is in Denver in an office building that houses the president, vice presidents and university-wide business functions. The Vice President and University Counsel is an officer of the university and is a member of the President’s executive team who works closely with the university vice presidents to provide guidance and leadership to system administration and campus officials.

Where You Will Work:

This role is located at 1800 Grant Street, Denver, Colorado 80203.

Diversity and Equity:

The University of Colorado System Administration Office is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse workforce. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons within the LGBTQ+ community and all veterans.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Vice President

• Assists the president in providing effective management of the university.
• Performs duties assigned by the president.
• Coordinates activities with other university vice presidents in their areas of operation.
• Assists in the formulation, implementation, and oversight of university policies.

General Counsel

• Serves as the general counsel of the university.
• Serves as the chief legal advisor to the Board of Regents and the president.
• As designated by the Colorado Office of the Attorney General, the Vice President and University Counsel is a special assistant attorney general and prosecutes or defends all claims and suits on behalf of the university.
• Oversees all litigation and other complex university legal matters.
• Manages the Office of University Counsel, an organization of approximately 25 attorneys, which is a 
  system administration organization with offices embedded on each of the four campuses.
• Advises the regents on Board fiduciary obligations and Board procedure.
• Advises and oversees legal support to the regents and university administration on all matters related to 
  contractual rights and responsibilities.
• Advises the regents and university administration on all potential institutional civil and criminal legal liabilities.
• Advises on matters related to federal and state institutional compliance matters, as well as risk management matters, in coordination with the system administration and in coordination with the university chief compliance officer.
• As requested, provides guidance on the development and interpretation of the Laws of the Regents, Regent Policy, and University Administration Policy Statements.
• Coordinates the engagement and oversight of external counsel engaged by the university for specific litigation, transactional, or advisory purposes
• Responsible for development of executive session agenda with the senior vice president for internal operations and chief of staff, president and chair of the Board of Regents.
• Ensures preparation of certificates of resolutions and certification of regents as a body corporate in 
  preparing official statements of the University for grants and contracts.
• Has administrative oversight of the associate vice president for internal audit. In the event of a conflict, the associate vice president of internal audit reports directly to the Board of Regents.
• Works to ensure the attorneys and staff within the office of University Counsel reflect the diversity of Colorado.
• Works collaboratively with UCHealth regarding all joint legal matters, UCHealth board appointments and University of Colorado Hospital Authority board appointments.
• Works closely with the president and the president’s executive team to implement regent-approved policies.
• Provides strategic advice to enable the Board of Regents to effectively govern the university.
• Analyzes and provides feedback on proposed state and federal legislation
• Assists the university’s governmental relation staff in preparing and advocating for potential legislation
• Assists in the negotiation and drafting of agreements and transactions
• Works with the Board of Regents to prepare the president’s performance evaluation.

What We Offer:

Salary: The anticipated hiring range has been established at $450,000-$575,000.

CU System Administration takes into consideration a combination of the selected candidate’s education, training and experience as it relates to the position, as well as the position’s scope and complexity, internal pay equity and external market value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Benefits: With our unparalleled range of benefits, including top-notch healthcare, comprehensive wellness programs, enriching professional development, and a dynamic work-life balance, we ensure your holistic growth and happiness.

• No-cost or low-cost medical & dental plan options, some inclusive of IVF assistance.
• Disability, Life, Vision Insurance options.
• Multiple retirement planning options including a mandatory 401(a) plan where CU contributes 10% of your gross pay, a 401k or 403b plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan.
• Pre-tax savings plans, such as Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Embrace a healthy work-life balance with ample sick and vacation leave, along with at least 12 paid holidays. This includes a dedicated week off for winter break.
• 6 weeks of parental leave to adjust to the joys of parenthood.
• A tuition benefit program for you and/or your dependents.
• Free RTD EcoPass and Free Onsite Parking at our 1800 Grant Street Office.
• Many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Additional taxable fringe benefits may be available. 

For more information on benefits programs, please review our Comprehensive Benefits Guide. 

Access our Total Compensation Calculator to see what your total rewards could be at CU.  (This position is a University Staff position)

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Please ensure your resume includes any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against these qualifications.  You must meet all minimum requirements listed at the time of application to be considered for this role.

•  Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school
• Ten (10) years’ experience in the practice of law with experience in a diverse practice dealing with complex legal matters
• Active license to practice law in the State of Colorado
• Five (5) years’ experience managing other attorneys and support staff

Preferred Qualifications:

• Significant experience in the representation of complex governmental or higher education organizations
• Significant experience working with various types of boards, such as corporate, non-profit, education boards and/or elected officials in a staff capacity
• Knowledge of Colorado and federal higher education law
• Experience with complex litigation, negotiating and drafting complex agreements, and analyzing and drafting statutory provisions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Build and sustain relationships with others
• Coordinate the activities of the legal staff representing a complex organization
• Advise the university’s governing board in a nonpartisan manner
• Work tactfully and effectively with a governing board, university officers, the university community, state administrative officials, court officials, and the general public
• Advise the board on its governance and fiduciary obligations
• Collaborate as a member of a team to support and advance the functions of the president and board of regents.
• Work collaboratively with diverse constituencies
• Conduct legal analysis, communication and negotiation
• Prepare materials in a clear and logical form for presentation as advice, opinions, briefs, or decisions
• Analyze, assess, and evaluate complex factual situations in the context of applicable laws, rules, regulations and judicial precedents
• Understand complex litigation in both federal and state courts and handle or manage such litigation
• Utilize alternative dispute resolution processes and negotiate effectively in formal and informal proceedings

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please attach the following as separate documents to your application:

1. A cover letter identifying the job specific minimum qualifications you possess
2. A resume including any and all relevant experience to be accurately assessed against the qualifications listed in the posting.

Please ensure you check the “Job Specific Attachments” box next to each document on the “Required Documents” page of the application for the appropriate documents to be attached.

Per the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, you are not required to provide your date of birth, dates of school attendance, or dates of graduation on your resume or cover letter. If an application requires additional materials, such as a transcript or certification, you may redact identifying information relating to your date or birth, dates of school attendance, or dates of graduation.

When to Apply:

For full consideration completed applications must be submitted by Thursday, November 14, 2024.  Reference checking is a standard step in our hiring process. You may be asked to provide contact information, including email addresses, for up to five references as part of the search process for this position. *Please note\: All application materials must be submitted through CU Careers; emailed materials will not be considered.*

Sponsorship Statement:

We are unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial history, motor vehicle history and/or fingerprinting background check. The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that a verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

ADA Statement:

We are committed to an inclusive and barrier-free search process. We provide accommodations for applicants requesting accommodation through the search process such as alternative formats of this posting.  Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodations throughout the search process should contact the ADA Coordinator at\: systemhr@cu.edu.