Assistant Vice President and Legal Counsel

Reporting to the President and serving on the President’s Cabinet, the Assistant Vice President and Legal Counsel (“Legal Counsel”) will be responsible for delivering effective legal solutions and advice to the President and Cabinet in relation to labor relations, student affairs, contracts, and other administrative areas. The Legal Counsel will also draft, review, negotiate, and manage KGI’s commercial agreements in partnership with KGI’s President’s Cabinet and senior leaders, providing solutions and legal advice on best practices and risks for commercial engagements. The Legal Counsel will also oversee KGI’s policy development process, which includes oversight, advice, guidance, drafting, review, and implementation of policies that align with KGI’s legal requirements and strategic direction.

Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) was founded in 1997 as the first higher education institution in the United States dedicated exclusively to education and research related to the applied life sciences. KGI offers innovative postgraduate degrees and certificates that integrate life and health sciences, business, pharmacy, engineering, and genetics, focusing on industry projects, hands-on industry experiences, and team collaborations. KGI employs an entrepreneurial approach and industry connections that allow students to become leaders in healthcare and the applied life sciences.

Located in beautiful Claremont, California, KGI is a member of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five undergraduate liberal arts colleges, two graduate institutions, and The Claremont Colleges Services, which provides shared institutional support services. The Claremont Colleges consistently place at the top of national college rankings, including Forbes, Money and U.S.  News and World Report, and the Princeton Review.

Education and Experience: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school. Active membership in good standing in the California State Bar. A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in relevant legal fields in a law firm, or in-house counsel for an academic institution, corporation, or other entity, preferably in or with a focus on higher education. Proven experience in labor and employment law and contract negotiation is required. Experience in litigation management and policy development is preferred.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: Individuals must possess knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the following essential functions of the position or explain or demonstrate how the essential functions may be performed, with or without reasonable accommodations, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Labor Relations

• Provide counsel on US and California employment-related laws, policies, and regulations and a variety of labor relations matters.
• Provide legal advice on faculty and staff labor and employment matters.
• Review and draft employment contracts, policies, benefit programs, and other employment-related documents.

Student and Academic Affairs

• Provide legal advice on student and academic affairs matters such as disability access and accommodations; student misconduct, discipline and leaves; political activity; academic integrity, student records and privacy; discrimination and sexual misconduct; admissions and financial aid; diversity initiatives; student organizations; community safety; and litigation and pre-litigation disputes.
• Provide counsel on institutional and program accreditation matters.
• Develop and implement processes to support the institutional technology transfer operation, including creating and maintaining intellectual property policies and procedures, developing patent portfolio strategies, engaging outside patent counsel, and managing intellectual property assertions, valuations, and licensing agreements.

Contract Management

• Provide end-to-end contract support to the institution.
• Draft, review, analyze, and conduct comprehensive analysis and negotiation of a wide variety of commercial and engagement contracts and partnership memoranda and agreements.
• Serve as the institutional singular point of contact for matters concerning contracts.
• Monitor contract terms, milestones, and significant dates and proactively determine course of action with respect to close-out, extension, or renewal activities.
• Negotiate intellectual property and publication rights and agreements.
• Provide counsel on research grants and contracts as needed.

Policy Development

• Create and maintain policies, processes, and internal control procedures for all institutional matters in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
• Work with the President’s Cabinet to update policies, practices, and procedures to conform with changing legal requirements.

Litigation Support

• Develop strategies for resolving disputes efficiently and cost-effectively, minimizing litigation risks and associated expenses.
• Handle and negotiate pre-litigated disputes, and represent the institution in engagements with opposing counsel, alternative dispute resolutions, and administrative agencies.
• Act as a liaison with outside counsel on complex litigation matters.

Legal Expertise and Advice

• Interpret complex facts and the law in areas of high ambiguity.
• Assess risks, balance competing interests, and deliver practical, appropriate legal advice to the leadership team.
• In collaboration with the President’s Cabinet, develop and implement legal strategies to achieve institutional goals, including due diligence for strategic and operational transactions.
• Provide guidance to the Board of Directors and the Board Secretary on corporate governance and related matters.
• Advise and render opinions with respect to the legal implications of establishing or changing policy.
• Develop a thorough understanding of the institution’s business, people, markets, brands, facilities, customers, and competitors to identify emerging trends, anticipate risks, provide solutions, and formulate appropriate long-term strategies.
• Monitor legislation, regulations, case law, and government enforcement activities relating to the legal areas related to the institution’s operations and proactively communicate to leadership the impact on operations.
• Oversee, liaise with, and supervise outside counsel.
• Provide legal counsel on institutional compliance with FERPA, HIPPA, Title IX, and other relevant regulations impacting higher education institutions.
• Serve as a key advisor during crises, ensuring legal compliance in institutional responses to investigations, litigations or public record inquiries.

Other Duties

• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Individuals must possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the essential function of the position or be able to explain or demonstrate how the essential functions may be performed, with or without reasonable accommodations, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

• Deep understanding of commercial law, contract law, and intellectual property law.
• Substantial knowledge of federal and state labor and employment laws as well as privacy, First Amendment, and whistleblower issues.
• An open, transparent, and collaborative approach.
• Experience with complex agreements in a highly regulated environment, sophisticated business transactions, litigation, investigations, and student and faculty matters.
• Strong legal background in complex agreements and business transactions.
• Experience in litigation and investigations.
• Knowledge of student and faculty matters

Hours, Classification, and Status: 

This is a full-time, staff, benefits-eligible, exempt position.

Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Depending on the Institute's needs, frequent working evenings and partial weekends are required.

Salary range: $170,000 - $210,000 annualized. The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.

Physical and Mental Requirements

Ability to maintain good concentration level while dealing with interruptions; attention to detail with emphasis on accuracy; capable of giving, receiving, and analyzing information; formulating work plans; and articulating goals and action plans. Sitting in a normal seated position for extended periods. Standing for extended periods. Reaching and extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction. Finger dexterity is required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than the whole hand(s), or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard.

Communication skills using the spoken word. Ability to see within normal parameters. Ability to hear within normal parameters. Ability to bend and stoop, for example, to file. Ability to move about. Ability to lift and carry short distances up to 20 lbs., for example, to lift or move office supplies, files, books, and packages.

Occasionally, will be required to stand for prolonged periods at activities/events on and off-campus.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Keck Graduate Institute is an equal-opportunity employer. It does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all terms and conditions of employment. KGI strongly encourages candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.