Assistant General Counsel

To enrich education through diversity, The College of New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff committed to teaching and working in a diverse environment, and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans

Job Title: Assistant General Counsel
Department: Office of General Counsel
Job Category: Non-Unit
Close Date: N/A
Salary: For non-unit positions, salary commensurate with experience and is accompanied by a competitive benefits package.

Position Summary:

Responsibilities Include:

• Primary responsibility will be provision of day-to-day legal counsel for all labor and employment issues and representation of the College in select employment-related litigation and administrative matters;
• Additional provision of counsel in the areas of academic and student affairs; accessibility; contracts and purchasing, including real estate and construction; regulatory compliance; grants and sponsored research; intellectual property; discrimination; litigation; torts; environmental health and safety; criminal law; emergency and risk management; privacy and data security; government employee ethics; public records and open public meetings; public finance; risk management and insurance; constitutional law; and College governance issues;
• Responding to federal and state administrative agencies;
• Researching, reviewing, and providing legal opinions regarding current laws and regulations affecting College operations;
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts;
• Providing litigation support;
• Preparing Board resolutions;
• Developing policies and procedures;
• Serving on College committees as assigned;
• Providing training to College constituents; and
• Other duties as assigned.

• High ethical standards and demonstrated work ethic;
• Excellent listening, oral and written communication, and other interpersonal skills;
• Proficient research and analytical skills, and sound judgment;
• Ability to identify a broad array of legal issues that arise in a public higher education setting;
• Commitment and aptitude to excel in a broad general practice of law;
• Ability to develop and negotiate a wide variety of agreements;
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other members of the Office and institutional clients; and successfully interact with the broader campus community and external audiences from academia, industry, and government;
• Ability to prioritize tasks; organize work; handle multiple unrelated matters concurrently in a timely and proficient manner;
• Ability to make sound decisions and employ strong analytical skills and effective problem-solving skills to prevent or resolve complex problems; and
• Aptitude to combine legal considerations with program and policy objectives in development of practical solutions that meet institutional needs.
  
  

• JD or LLB degree from an accredited U.S. law school;
• Not less than 5 years' related professional legal experience in providing labor and employment counsel and representation;
• Admitted and in good standing in New Jersey or other state bar; admission to New Jersey bar required within one year of appointment; and
• Proficiency in Microsoft and Google suites of applications.

Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations in order to perform the essential functions of the position. If the requested accommodation(s) cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, the applicant may not be eligible for the position.

• Employment experience as legal counsel in an institution of higher education, government entity or large organization;
• Strong academic and professional credentials;
• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts; and
• Creative problem-solving skills.

Employer Qualifications:

• Final offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and reference checks.
• Residency Requirement: In accordance with the New Jersey First Act P.L. 2011 c.70, effective September 1, 2011, new public employees in certain positions (faculty exempt) are required to obtain New Jersey residency within one (1) year of employment. Applicants must meet the requirements listed.

About TCNJ

TCNJ is a highly selective institution that has earned national recognition for its commitment to excellence. Founded in 1855, TCNJ has become an exemplar of the best in public higher education and is consistently acknowledged as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the nation. TCNJ currently is ranked as one of the 75 "Most Competitive" schools in the nation by Barron's Profiles of American Colleges and is rated the No. 1 public institution in the northern region of the country by U.S. News & World Report. TCNJ was named the #10 value in public higher education by the Princeton review in 2009 and, in 2006, was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa chapter - an honor shared by less than 10 percent of colleges and universities nationally. A strong liberal arts core forms the foundation for programs offered through TCNJ's seven schools - Arts & Communication; Business; Education; Humanities and Social Sciences; Science; Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science; and Engineering. TCNJ faculty members are teacher-scholars who share a commitment to liberal learning. TCNJ is located within an hour, by train, of New York City and Philadelphia. The College's campus is set on 289 tree-lined acres in suburban Ewing Township and is known for its natural beauty and has 39 major buildings.

Employee Benefits:

As a member of The College of New Jersey Community, you will be a part of an exciting and rewarding public university career. Eligible full-time employees will be able to take advantage of a generous benefits package that includes health, welfare, and retirement benefits, including:

• Comprehensive benefit plans covering medical, dental and prescription plans
• Generous leave entitlements program and Energy Savings Program
• Employee and dependent Tuition Waiver and Reimbursement Program
• Pension, retirement, and deferred compensation plans, group life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee affinity groups
• New Jersey State Employee Discount Program (Pet insurance, cell phone plan discounts, discounted amusement park tickets, etc.)
• Access to extensive learning opportunities

To view a comprehensive list of benefits available to employees, visit our Health Benefits Plans and Programs page to learn more!

Application Instructions:

Qualified candidates should apply online at: careers@tcnj.edu and submit a letter of interest, resume (CV), as well as the names and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be considered until a viable candidate is selected.